Metheven’s average power increased from 235 W in Session 1 to 273 W in Session 5, a gain of 38 W, or 16%.
At the same time, his average heart rate fell by 4 bpm. In other words, he was producing more power with less cardiovascular strain.
His power-to-heart-rate relationship improved from 1.51 to 1.80 W per bpm, a 19.2% improvement over the five sessions.
This is one of the clearest indicators of the adaptation taking place. As the sessions progressed, Metheven was able to do more work without a corresponding increase in cardiovascular effort.
The sessions also suggested an improvement in Metheven’s ability to sustain his output in the heat.
Power fade improved from 29% to 16%, with his lowest observed fade of 14% in Session 4. While heat training is physically demanding, repeated exposure can help athletes develop adaptations that make it easier to manage thermal strain and maintain performance when conditions get hot.
Throughout the protocol, Metheven's peak core temperature remained within a relatively consistent range of 39.00–39.36°C, with the highest value occurring during Session 4.
