Sports
Viça Saraiva on Amateur vs. Pro Triathlon and Race Tactics
On the Café com Tri podcast, the veteran triathlete discusses training balance, perceived exertion, and psychological bluffs.
On Café com Tri, Viça Saraiva reflects on the fine line between dedicated amateurs and professional triathletes. The veteran competitor explains why he races by perceived exertion rather than GPS screens and shares the mental tactics he uses on course.
The narrowing performance gap between elite age-groupers and professional athletes is one of the most debated topics in endurance sports today. On the Café com Tri podcast by Stemma Sports, Viça Saraiva shared insights from his decades in the sport regarding what truly separates the categories and how an obsession with high training volume can skew priorities for those who do not make a living from triathlon.
In Saraiva's view, age-group athletes who take on 20 to 30 hours of weekly training while balancing full-time jobs and families risk upending their core life priorities. Pouring extreme energy into the sport without being a professional takes a direct toll on family life and career performance—areas where full commitment should carry greater weight.
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Perceived exertion vs. the tyranny of numbers
Another central topic championed by Saraiva is gradually disconnecting from the tyranny of power meters and watches during an Ironman. The athlete revealed that he prefers to pace himself using the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), a methodology he also teaches his athletes so they can emotionally and physically understand training zones without relying solely on a GPS screen.
From the triathlete's perspective, the human mind is highly suggestible: seeing average power one or two watts above target can induce panic about blowing up on the marathon, while seeing lower numbers can trigger an early and fatal surge. During his races, his mental strategy centers on gratitude and positive mantras, keeping his body relaxed and consistent across the entire distance.
Mind games and reading rivals
Beyond physiological pacing, Saraiva detailed how his accumulated experience allows him to use psychological tactics and fair-play race bluffs. In head-to-head battles, feigning exhaustion to lull an opponent into complacency before an attack—or conversely, maintaining flawless posture while at redline to demoralize a pursuer—is all part of competitive racing dynamics.
In good spirits, the triathlete also recounted amusing behind-the-scenes moments, such as mistaking a fellow competitor during warm-ups at the Troféu Brasil due to identical wetsuits. He wrapped up his appearance by naming the 2019 Ironman Brazil his most unforgettable race and dulce de leche as his favorite post-workout fuel.
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