Earlier shift in race pacing can predict future performance during a single-effort ultramarathon under sleep deprivation

Adiponectin, leptin, cortisol, neuropeptide Y and profile of mood states in athletes participating in an ultramarathon during winter: An observational study

Background: The Montane^® Yukon Arctic Ultra (YAU) is one of the longest (690 km) and coldest (+10.6°C-43.9°C) ultramarathons worldwide. Taking part in an ultramarathon is associated with great physiological and psychological stress, which can affect one's mood, level of hormones, and peptides. The current study aimed to identify relationships between peptides, hormones, and mood states in participants during this ultramarathon. Methods: The study cohort consisted of 36 participants (19 men, 17 women, 38.64 ± 9.12 years) split into a finisher (n = 10), non-finisher (n = 19), and control group (n = 7). Data were collected at four time points: baseline (PRE), during (D1 after 277 km, D2 after 383 km), and after the race (POST). Questionnaires were used to assess ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), total quality of recovery (TQR), and profile of mood states (POMS-SF). Serum NPY, leptin, adiponectin, and cortisol were measured. Results: Among non-finishers, scores for confusion, anger, depression, and tension-anxiety (PRE vs. D2, p < 0.05) increased, while vigor decreased (PRE vs. D1, p < 0.05). In contrast, finishers' tension-anxiety scores decreased (PRE vs. D1, p < 0.05). Fatigue increased in finishers (PRE vs. POST, p < 0.05) and non-finishers (PRE vs. D1, p < 0.05). In non-finishers, depressive mood correlated positively with leptin, anger, and confusion at several time points (p < 0.001). In finishers, NPY correlated with TQR at PRE (p < 0.05), while leptin correlated negatively with TQR at POST (p < 0.05). Tension-anxiety correlated highly with perceived exertion in non-finishers (p < 0.001) and with cortisol in finishers (p < 0.05) and non-finishers (p < 0.001). In finishers, confusion correlated negatively with NPY (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The study reveals an essential interplay between hormones and mood states affecting performance: Leptin was associated with anger and a depressive mood state in non-finishers and worse recovery in finishers. In contrast, NPY appeared linked to a lower confusion score and heightened recovery in finishers. A simultaneous increase in depressed mood, anger, tension-anxiety, and confusion might harm performance and lead to race failure.

Sleep and nutritional profile of endurance and ultra-endurance running athletes

Sleeping and eating before and during an ultramarathon can directly affect an athlete's performance, who may also have their physiological adaptations and recovery process hindered by sleeping problems. Endurance and ultra-endurance athletes may have different sleep and nutrition profiles. Thus, this study aimed to describe the sleep profile (during preparation) and nutritional profile (during competition) of endurance (10-20km) and ultra-endurance (50-100km) running athletes. For this, 16 healthy volunteers answered questionnaires related to sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index), chronotype (morningness-eveningness questionnaire), and sleepiness (excessive daytime sleepiness questionnaire). Immediately after a competition, a form prepared by the research team about nutritional variables and volunteers' food records during the competition was applied. According to test scoring criteria (Pittsburgh sleep quality index >5; sleepiness >10), endurance running athletes showed low sleep quality. In addition, all athletes showed consumption of carbohydrates and lipids below the recommended, but excessive consumption of proteins. A positive association between sleepiness and sodium intake in endurance runners was observed (r=0.862; p=0.027). Sleep efficiency and race time showed a negative correlation only for ultra-endurance athletes (r=-0.834; p=0.039). The data obtained show that endurance athletes presented more sleep pattern alterations, however, endurance and ultra-endurance athletes showed inadequate nutritional consumption during the competition.

Sleep-Wake Behaviour of 200-Mile Ultra-Marathon Competitors: A Case Study

The aim of this study was to examine the sleep-wake behaviour of 200-mile ultra-marathon runners before, during, and after a competition. A longitudinal, observational study was conducted to collect the sleep data of four (two females; mean age: 45.5 ± 3.1 years) runners competing in a 200-mile ultra-marathon (N = 4). Wrist-worn activity monitors, in conjunction with self-report sleep diaries, were used to measure sleep, beginning seven days prior to the race and concluding seven days following the race (2-19 June 2021). Descriptive analysis of runners' subjective and objective sleep data was conducted. All runners completed the 200-mile event in an average of 82.5 ± 7.1 h. On average, runners obtained 4.7 ± 3.0 h of sleep from 4.8 ± 2.4 sleep episodes, averaging 59.9 ± 49.2 min of sleep per episode. Runners averaged 6.0 ± 1.3 h of sleep per night in the week before the competition and 6.3 ± 1.3 h per night in the week following the competition. Runners in the 200-mile (326 km) ultra-marathon drastically restricted their sleep. However, obtained sleep, the number of sleep episodes, and sleep episode length were greater than those previously reported with 100-mile (161 km) runners. In-race sleep data suggest an increased need for sleep as race duration increases. Interestingly, runners obtained less than the recommended ~8 h of sleep per night, in both pre-race and post-race phases of the competition.