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Thuany M, Viljoen C, Gomes TN, Knechtle B, Scheer V. Mental Health in Ultra-Endurance Runners: A Systematic Review. Sports Med 2023; 53:1891-1904. [PMID: 37535248 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-023-01890-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among ultra-endurance runners (UER), the mental, behavioral, and physical demands of training/competition can result in maladaptive outcomes. Mental health issues are common in athletes and can impact psychology, physical health, and performance. OBJECTIVE To synthesize information regarding the incidence/prevalence and factors associated with mental health issues among UER. METHODS Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Cochrane databases, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Medline Ovid using key terms related to UER (e.g., trail running, road running) and psychological issues (e.g., exercise addiction, depression). Inclusion criteria included original articles published in peer-reviewed journals in English, using qualitative or quantitative approaches. We considered papers reporting incidence/prevalence and associated factors with mental health outcomes in UER of both sexes, all ages, and levels of competition (e.g., elite, nonprofessional runners). The Joanna Briggs Institute Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies critical appraisal tool was used for quality assessment. RESULTS A total of 282 studies were identified, and 11 studies were included in the final selection. A total of 3670 UER were included in the studies. The prevalence of mental health issues among UER ranged between 32.0% and 62.5% for eating disorders, from 11.5% to 18.2% for exercise addiction, 18.6% for depressive symptoms, and 24.5% for sleep disturbance. Exercise addiction was not related to weekly volume, but a strong relationship with exercise in an unstructured space, age, and body mass index was shown. CONCLUSION Mental health issues among UER are common, especially eating disorders, exercise addiction, sleep disturbances, and depressive symptoms. Further high-quality studies are needed to examine underlying factors and find preventative strategies to protect UER. REGISTRATION The protocol of this systematic review was registered at the PROSPERO-CRD42022338743.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mabliny Thuany
- Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Carel Viljoen
- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Thayse Natacha Gomes
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Physical Activity for Health Cluster, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Brazil
| | - Beat Knechtle
- Medbase St. Gallen am Vadianplatz, St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Volker Scheer
- Ultra Sports Science Foundation, Pierre-Bénite, France
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Fariod M, Olher RR, Sousa CV, Scheer V, Cuk I, Nikolaidis PT, Thuany M, Weiss K, Knechtle B. Pacing Variation in Multistage Ultramarathons: Internet-Based Cross-Sectional Study. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e46650. [PMID: 37610796 PMCID: PMC10483293 DOI: 10.2196/46650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ultramarathon running is the most popular ultraendurance competition in terms of the number of races and runners competing annually worldwide; however, no study has compared pacing and performance over a long period. OBJECTIVE This study analyzes the pacing of successful finishers and nonfinishers in multistage ultramarathons worldwide. METHODS A total of 4079 athletes (men=3288; women=791) competing in 99 multistage ultramarathon events from 1983 to 2021 were analyzed, including the number of participants, age, gender, rank, and running speed of successful finishers. RESULTS The results showed a significant increase in the number of events (n=338) and a significant increase in the number of finishers and nonfinishers (n=5575) in the ultramarathons worldwide during this period. The general linear models (GLMs) of pacing variation showed nonsignificant effects for gender (F1,36.2=2.5; P=.127; ηp2=0.063) and age group (F10,10=0.6; P=.798; ηp2=0.367), but it showed a significant interaction (gender × age) effect (F10,2689=2.3; P=.008; ηp2=0.009). Post hoc analyses showed that men have a higher pacing variation than women in the under 30 years (U30), U35, U45, and U50 groups. Additionally, the fastest women's age group (U35) had the lowest pacing variation. The GLM of pacing variation by gender and event distance showed significant effects for both gender (F1,3=18.5; P<.001; ηp2=0.007) and distance (F2,3=20.1; P<.001; ηp2=0.015). Post hoc analyses showed a growing pacing variation with increasing race distance for both men and women. In addition, men had a higher variation in long events. Furthermore, there was a significant main effect for both genders (F1,3=33.7; P<.001; ηp2=0.012) and rank (F1,3=136.6; P<.001; ηp2=0.048) on performance, with men being faster than women. Pacing varied greatly due to gender (F1,3=4.0; P=.047; ηp2=0.001), with a lower (ie, more even) pacing variation for male athletes in the top 3 finishers. Male nonfinishers showed a higher performance than female nonfinishers (F1,1340=25.6; P<.001), and no difference was identified for pacing variation (F1,789=1.5; P=.228) based on gender. In addition, a weak but significant correlation (r=-0.130; P<.001) was identified between the average running speed and pacing variation for both female and male nonfinishers. CONCLUSIONS In summary, multistage ultramarathon competitions showed an increasing number of competitors and a higher performance challenge. Men have a higher pacing (ie, less even) variation than women, especially observed in longer events. A higher pacing variation was associated with lower performance for men, women, and nonfinishers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mielad Fariod
- Department of Orthopedic, Traumatology and Reconstructive Surgery, Klinikum Frankfurt-Höchst, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Rafael Reis Olher
- Department of Physical Education, University Center of Central Plateau Apparecido dos Santos, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Caio Victor Sousa
- Health and Human Sciences, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Volker Scheer
- Ultra Sports Science Foundation, Pierre-Benite, France
| | - Ivan Cuk
- Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, Belgrade,
| | | | | | - Katja Weiss
- Institute of Primary Care, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Beat Knechtle
- Medbase St Gallen Am Vadianplatz, St Gallen, Switzerland
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Kosendiak A, Król M, Ligocka M, Kepinska M. Eating habits and nutritional knowledge among amateur ultrarunners. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1137412. [PMID: 37497055 PMCID: PMC10365969 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1137412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Many studies concerning the diet of physically active people refer to individuals who run; however, the importance of nutrition in professional and amateur sports plays a different role. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional behavior and knowledge of amateur ultrarunners. This study involved a group of 308 respondents (89 women and 219 men) aged 18 -65. It investigated the influence of the level of knowledge about nutrition, gender, education, and smoking on dietary food habits and eating frequency. Methods The KomPAN questionnaire was used to determine the dietary habits, diet quality, lifestyle, and nutrition knowledge of ultramarathon runners. The nutrition knowledge influenced the eating habits and frequency of specific meals expressed as the Healthy Diet Index-10 (HDI-10) and Unhealthy Diet Index-14 (UDI-14). Results In women with sufficient knowledge about nutrition, lower HDI-10 scores were observed compared to those with a good level of knowledge, while men did not show a similar relationship. However, the effect of smoking on the frequency of food intake in men was noted. Interestingly, male smokers had a lower UDI-14 score than non-smokers. Depending on the level of knowledge, female and male ultrarunners more often or less frequently used selected food products. In turn, no effect of education on the frequency of consumption of specific foods was observed. Discussion Such different results are most likely caused by the specificity of the study group, which consisted of amateur runners. Additionally, the study looked at general eating habits, not those employed when preparing for marathons. In the future, more respondents should be surveyed, also taking into account nutrition during training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aureliusz Kosendiak
- Department of Physical Education and Sport, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Magdalena Król
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Division of Biomedical and Environmental Analyses, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marta Ligocka
- Students Scientific Association, Division of Biomedical and Environmental Analyses, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marta Kepinska
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Division of Biomedical and Environmental Analyses, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland
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Knechtle B, Weiss K, Villiger E, Scheer V, Gomes TN, Gajda R, Ouerghi N, Chtourou H, Nikolaidis PT, Rosemann T, Thuany M. The Sex Difference in 6-h Ultra-Marathon Running—The Worldwide Trends from 1982 to 2020. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58020179. [PMID: 35208503 PMCID: PMC8876730 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58020179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The 6-h ultra-marathon is the shortest time-limited ultra-marathon race, but little has been investigated regarding this race format. Previously, only the age of peak performance in the context of longer time-limited ultra-marathons was determined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the trends in 6-h ultra-marathon races from 1982 to 2020 for female and male ultra-runners, the participation and performance by countries, the age of peak performance, and the differences in performance regarding countries. Materials and Methods: The sample included 23,203 female ultra-runners, aged 18–83 years, and 87,264 male ultra-runners, aged 18–85 years, who were finishers in a 6-h ultra-marathon held between 1982 and 2020. The age of peak performance was tested using the Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by the Bonferroni Correction. The difference in performance by countries was verified using a linear regression model with the fastest runners from Russia in women, and Tunisia in men, used as reference. Results: Over the years, the men-to-women ratio decreased. The mean age was 43.20 ± 9.30 years for female and 46.09 ± 10.17 years for male runners. Athletes in younger age groups were faster than athletes in older age groups. Most female and male participants originated from Germany. Women from Russia (10.01 ± 1.28 km/h) and men from Tunisia (12.16 ± 1.46 km/h) were the fastest. Conclusions: In summary, in 6-h ultra-marathons held between 1982 and 2020, the participation for both women and men increased, while the men-to-women ratio decreased. The mean age was higher in men compared to women. Most female and male runners originated from Germany, but the fastest women were from Russia, and the fastest men from Tunisia. Future studies need to investigate whether Russian women and Tunisian men are also the best in other distance-limited ultra-marathon races, such as 12-h and 24-h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beat Knechtle
- Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland;
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8000 Zurich, Switzerland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Katja Weiss
- Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland;
| | - Elias Villiger
- Klinik für Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland;
| | - Volker Scheer
- Ultra Sports Science Foundation, 69310 Pierre-Benite, France;
- Department Sports and Health, Institute of Sports Medicine, Paderborn University, 33098 Paderborn, Germany
| | - Thayse Natacha Gomes
- Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Brazil;
| | - Robert Gajda
- Center for Sports Cardiology, Gajda-Med Medical Center in Pułtusk, 06-100 Pułtusk, Poland;
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Prevention, Jan Dlugosz University in Częstochowa, 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland
| | - Nejmeddine Ouerghi
- High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, UR13JS01, Kef 7100, Tunisia;
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Rabta Hospital, University of Tunis El Manar, LR99ES11, Tunis 1007, Tunisia
| | - Hamdi Chtourou
- Institut Supérieur du Sport et de l’Education Physique de Sfax, Université de Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia;
- Activité Physique, Sport et Santé, UR18JS01, Observatoire National du Sport, Tunis 1003, Tunisia
| | | | - Thomas Rosemann
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8000 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Mabliny Thuany
- Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal;
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Potential Long-Term Health Problems Associated with Ultra-Endurance Running: A Narrative Review. Sports Med 2021; 52:725-740. [PMID: 34542868 PMCID: PMC8450723 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-021-01561-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that physical activity reduces all-cause mortality and can prolong life. Ultra-endurance running (UER) is an extreme sport that is becoming increasingly popular, and comprises running races above marathon distance, exceeding 6 h, and/or running fixed distances on multiple days. Serious acute adverse events are rare, but there is mounting evidence that UER may lead to long-term health problems. The purpose of this review is to present the current state of knowledge regarding the potential long-term health problems derived from UER, specifically potential maladaptation in key organ systems, including cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, renal, immunological, gastrointestinal, neurological, and integumentary systems. Special consideration is given to youth, masters, and female athletes, all of whom may be more susceptible to certain long-term health issues. We present directions for future research into the pathophysiological mechanisms that underpin athlete susceptibility to long-term issues. Although all body systems can be affected by UER, one of the clearest effects of endurance exercise is on the cardiovascular system, including right ventricular dysfunction and potential increased risk of arrhythmias and hypertension. There is also evidence that rare cases of acute renal injury in UER could lead to progressive renal scarring and chronic kidney disease. There are limited data specific to female athletes, who may be at greater risk of certain UER-related health issues due to interactions between energy availability and sex-hormone concentrations. Indeed, failure to consider sex differences in the design of female-specific UER training programs may have a negative impact on athlete longevity. It is hoped that this review will inform risk stratification and stimulate further research about UER and the implications for long-term health.
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Scheer V, Rojas-Valverde D. Long-term health issues in ultraendurance runners: should we be concerned? BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2021; 7:e001131. [PMID: 34367656 PMCID: PMC8292805 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Volker Scheer
- Ultra Sports Science Foundation, Pierre-Benite, France
| | - Daniel Rojas-Valverde
- Centro de investigación y Diagnóstico en Salud y Deporte, Escuela Ciencias del Movimiento Humano y Calidad de Vida, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Heredia, Costa Rica.,Clínica de Lesiones Deportivas (Rehab&Readapt), Escuela Ciencias del Movimiento Humano y Calidad de Vida (CIEMHCAVI), Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
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Scheer V, Krabak BJ. Musculoskeletal Injuries in Ultra-Endurance Running: A Scoping Review. Front Physiol 2021; 12:664071. [PMID: 33868030 PMCID: PMC8044296 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.664071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Ultra-endurance running (UER) has seen an important increase in participation over the last few decades. Long hours of UER can lead to excessive stress on the body, resulting in musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI). UER is not a uniform sport and events can differ considerably in distance (over 42.195 km), time (e.g., events over 6 h) and multi-day or multi-stage events on various surfaces (e.g., track, on-road, off-road). The aims of this scoping review were therefore: (1) to examine the current evidence of MSKI, providing a synthesis of the most common MSKI by anatomical region and specific diagnosis; (2) categorize MSKI by type of UER activity (competition: time-limited; multi-stage; continuous UER events and training); (3) describe knowledge gaps in the literature and provide advice on potential further research. Our electronic literature search (PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science) identified a total of 13 studies (9 in competition, and 4 in training). Anatomical site, diagnosis and rate of injuries differ between competition and training as well as between different UER types. MSKI are observed in 18% of multi-stage events (0.7-1.8 injuries/runner and 7.2 injuries/1000 h). Most MSKI involve the lower leg (35.0%), ankle (16.8%), knee (13.1%) and foot (12.6%), with main diagnosis of medial tibial stress syndrome (30.1%) and patella femoral pain syndrome (PFPS; 7.2%). Single, continuous UER events differ between a 1005 km road race with almost all of the injuries due to overuse, with the main anatomical site of the knee (31%), ankle (28%) and lower leg (14%) and main diagnosis of PFPS (15.6%), compared to a 65 km trail race, with 32.8% of MSKI, mainly on the foot [plantar fasciitis (28.6%)], ankle [sprain (28.6%)] and knee. Timed-UER events (injury rate of 2.1 injuries/athlete) observed most injuries on the ankle (36%) and knee (19%), with the main diagnosis of tendinitis of the foot dorsiflexors (30%). Injuries during training most commonly affect, the back (42%), and knee (40%) and bone stress injuries (22%). Main diagnoses include ankle sprain (18%), iliotibial band injury (16%) and Achilles tendinopathy (11%). Future considerations include examining MSKI in different UER events, environments and surfaces, and on larger study populations. Establishing risk factors, examining sex differences and using a standard reporting system of MSKI in UER are also important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Scheer
- Ultra Sports Science Foundation, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Brian J Krabak
- University of Washington and Seattle Children's Sports Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
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Scheer V, Costa RJS, Doutreleau S, Knechtle B, Nikolaidis PT, Roberts WO, Stoll O, S Tenforde A, Krabak B. Recommendations on Youth Participation in Ultra-Endurance Running Events: A Consensus Statement. Sports Med 2021; 51:1123-1135. [PMID: 33704697 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-021-01441-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Participation in ultra-endurance running (UER) events continues to grow across ages, including youth athletes. The 50- and 100-km are the most popular distances among youth athletes. Most youth athletes are between 16-18 years; however, some runners younger than 12 years have successfully completed UER events. Parents, athletes, coaches, race directors, and medical professionals often seek advice regarding the safety of youth athletes participating in these events, especially with regard to potential short and long-term health consequences. UER may impact key organ systems during growth and development. We propose a decision-making process, based on current knowledge and the experience of the consensus group that addresses age regulations, medical and psychological well-being, training status and race-specific factors (such as distance, elevation change, remoteness, ambient temperatures, level of medical assistance, and type of provisions provided by the race organizers) to use until evidence of long-term consequences of UER in youth athletes is available. These recommendations are aimed at safe participation in UER events for youth athletes with a proper and individualized assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Scheer
- Ultra Sports Science Foundation, 109 Boulevard de l'Europe, 69310, Pierre-Benite, France. .,Health Science Department, Universidad a Distancia de Madrid (UDIMA), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ricardo J S Costa
- Department of Nutrition Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Beat Knechtle
- Medbase St. Gallen am Vadianplatz, St. Gallen, Switzerland.,Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - William O Roberts
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Oliver Stoll
- Institute of Sport Science, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Adam S Tenforde
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Brian Krabak
- University of Washington and Seattle Children's Sports Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Endurance and Ultra-Endurance Running. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 57:medicina57010052. [PMID: 33435292 PMCID: PMC7827107 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57010052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Background and objectives: The COVID-19 outbreak has become a major health and economic crisis. The World Health Organization declared it a pandemic in March 2020, and many sporting events were canceled. Materials and Methods: We examined the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on endurance and ultra-endurance running (UER) and analyzed finishes and events during the COVID-19 pandemic (observation period March 2020–October 2020) to the same time period pre-COVID-19 outbreak (March 2019–October 2019). Results: Endurance finishes decreased during the pandemic (459,029 to 42,656 (male: 277,493 to 25,582; female 181,536 to 17,074; all p < 0.001). Similarly, the numbers of endurance events decreased (213 vs. 61 events; p < 0.001). Average marathon finishing times decreased during the pandemic in men (5:18:03 ± 0:16:34 vs. 4:43:08 ± 0:25:08 h:min:s (p = 0.006)) and women (5:39:32 ± 0:19:29 vs. 5:14:29 ± 0:26:36 h:min:s (p = 0.02)). In UER, finishes decreased significantly (580,289 to 110,055; p < 0.001) as did events (5839 to 1791; p < 0.001). Popular event locations in United States, France, UK, and Germany decreased significantly (p < 0.05). All distance and time-limited UER events saw significant decreases (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on endurance and UER, and it is unlikely that running activities return to pre-pandemic levels any time soon. Mitigation strategies and safety protocols should be established.
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An Analysis of Participation and Performance of 2067 100-km Ultra-Marathons Worldwide. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18020362. [PMID: 33418867 PMCID: PMC7825131 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18020362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the number of successful finishers and the performance of the athletes in 100-km ultra-marathons worldwide. A total of 2067 100-km ultra-marathon races with 369,969 men and 69,668 women competing between 1960 and 2019 were analyzed, including the number of successful finishers, age, sex, and running speed. The results showed a strong increase in the number of running events as well as a strong increase in the number of participants in the 100-km ultra-marathons worldwide. The performance gap disappeared in athletes older than 60 years. Nevertheless, the running speed of athletes over 70 years has improved every decade. In contrast, the performance gap among the top three athletes remains persistent over all decades (F = 83.4, p < 0.001; pη2 = 0.039). The performance gap between the sexes is not significant in the youngest age groups (20–29 years) and the oldest age groups (>90 years) among recreational athletes and among top-three athletes over 70 years. In summary, especially for older athletes, a 100-km ultra-marathon competition shows an increasing number of opponents and a stronger performance challenge. This will certainly be of interest for coaches and athletes in the future, both from a scientific and sporting point of view.
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