No abstract

Ein Wettkampf unter Hitzebedingungen ist für Athlet/-innen und Betreuerteam eine besondere Herausforderung. Mit einem optimalen Hitzemanagement sind Hitzeschäden vermeidbar und es können Leistungsvorteile gegenüber der Konkurrenz entwickelt werden. Optimales Hitzemanagement beginnt dabei viele Monate vor dem Wettkampf.

AimsThis study aimed to investigate the impact of an ultramarathon (UM) with a distance of 100 miles on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV).Methods28 runners (25 men and 3 women) underwent 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring 1 week before the UM, immediately after the UM and after a week of recovery. The influence of age, body mass index (BMI), HR and HRV on the run time and recovery was investigated.ResultsA rise in the baseline HR (18.98%) immediately after the run accompanied by a significant drop in the SD of all normal RR intervals (7.12%) 1 week after. Except for the runners’ age, BMI, HR and HRV showed no influence on the competition time. Full return of HRV to the athletes’ baseline did not occur within 1 week. There were no significant differences between finishers and non-finishers in the analysed parameters.ConclusionThe present results show that a 100-mile run leads to an increase in sympathetic activity and thus to an increase in HR and a decrease in HRV. Also, HRV might be a suitable parameter to evaluate the state of recovery after a 100-mile run but does not help to quantify the status of recovery, as the damage to the tendomuscular system primarily characterises this after completing a UM.