Norseman Research
Welcome to the research corner
Norseman has become a Mecca for field research. This is why, every year close to a dozen researchers pack their bags, cases and trailers full of syringes, probes, scanners and big machines that goes “ping”. They then relocate to Eidfjord and Gaustablikk. Here the the Norseman participants have proven to be both willing and engaged test subjects.
The RESEARCH CORNER here on our homepage aims to be a source of information about the ongoing projects. It will also be place for our researchers to share stuff that they find relevant and interesting for the endurance athlete.
This has all evolved from our Swim Safety Series
Photo: The 2019 Norseman Research Team. Supervised by Professor Jonny Hisdal (far left, middle row)
Cold Water Swimming. Is it Dangerous?
During the course of my Ph.D. journey, I have done several studies. Three of them I included in my Ph.D. thesis. I have learned several lessons. In the following, I will focus on some of the Norseman-related learning points of my thesis.
Dr Melau I presume.
In August 2015, our Safety Director Jørgen Melau was standing by the shoreline in Eidfjord. The water temperature was 10 degrees Celsius, and the Norseman safety director was pondering whether it was safe to expose 250 athletes to the 3.8 km swim in such cold conditions.
Do you really get cold when swimming?
The Norseman Research Team recently published a new study. The study was based on core temperatures measured during the Norseman swim in 2017, 2018, and 2019. We measured the core temperature up to one hour after the swim to see if we could identify an after-drop among the 51 athletes that were tested.
Krill oil and race distance
Based on data collection from the summer of 2019, our research team completed another research project last summer. Based on this, a new study taking a closer look at krill oil and race distance was published in Frontiers in Nutrition. The study was a collaboration between the Norseman research team and our partner researchers at Aker Biomarine.
Norseman: Endurance Science Seminar
On Monday November 2nd 2020, we brought together scientists from all over the world to help you become a better and safer athlete.
The seminar was presented by Zalaris & Aker BioMarine.
Post Race Lung Function
Our Norseman Research Team has just published a new paper in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. This is the first published paper, where the researchers have done investigations ongoing during the race.
Body Response to Norseman
The question is, how much exercise shall or can we do to improve health, and if excessive amounts are beneficial or not? With a growing interest in extreme sports, like long distance triathlon and ultra-marathon, it is an interesting question to ask.
How does the human body respond to such challenges?
The Cold Beginning
It was coincidental from the start. I never ever would have imagined that Norseman would give me the opportunity to start a new career. But it all changed five years ago. This is my personal story about why I started my PhD. And why a gathering of researchers now meet in Eidfjord every year.
Spray and Pray
The jump from the ferry in the Hardangerfjord is one of the most iconic happenings in Extreme Triathlons around the world. Have you ever wondered why we spray all Norseman athletes with ice-cold seawater before they jump? One of the reasons is to make cool pictures. However, as you might guess, this is by no means the most crucial purpose of the spray.
High intensive interval training for Norseman?
How do you train to best prepare for a long-distance triathlon like the Norseman? With finisher times spanning the range of 10-20 hours, it is a long haul.
Drones to the Rescue
We´re not there yet, but we definitely aim to be in the forefront when bringing new technologies in to make our race safer. The new possibilities opening up for making events like ours and the XTRI World Tour races safer is well worth looking into. What is the link between triathlon, research and drones? Read on!
Heat!
HEAT is a word we seldom use in conjunction with Norseman or extreme triathlon in general. Until now, when the Norseman Research team wants to give it special attention. In this article they will give you some insight into how warm you get during an activity. And how warmer environmental temperatures influences your core temperature. You might be surprised to see that heat, after all, is an important word in the Norseman dictionary.