Leg Skinfold Thicknesses and Race Performance in Male 24-Hour Ultra-Marathoners

Abstract

The association of skinfold thicknesses with race performance has been investigated in runners competing over distances of ≤50 km. This study investigated a potential relation between skinfold thicknesses and race performance in male ultra-marathoners completing >50 km in 24 hours. Variables of anthropometry, training, and previous performance were related to race performance in 63 male ultra-marathoners aged 46.9 (standard deviation [SD] 10.3) years, standing 1.78 (SD 0.07) m in height, and weighing 73.3 (SD 7.6) kg. The runners clocked 146.1 (SD 43.1) km during the 24 hours. In the bivariate analysis, several variables were associated with race performance: body mass (r = -0.25); skinfold thickness at axilla (r = -0.37), subscapula (r = -0.28), abdomen (r = -0.31), and suprailiaca (r = -0.30); the sum of skinfold thicknesses (r = -0.32); percentage body fat (r = -0.32); weekly kilometers run (r = 0.31); personal best time in a marathon (r = -0.58); personal best time in a 100-km ultra-run (r = -0.31); and personal best performance in a 24-hour run (r = 0.46). In the multivariate analysis, no anthropometric or training variable was related to race performance. In conclusion, in contrast to runners up to distances of 50 km, skinfold thicknesses of the lower limbs were not related to race performance in 24-hour ultra-marathoners.

Predictor variables for a half marathon race time in recreational male runners

“…In accordance with our hypothesis, both body mass index as a variable of anthropometry and speed in running during the training sessions as a variable of training were related to the half marathon race time. Although skin-fold thicknesses of the lower limbs were related to running performance in elite athletes 9, lower limb skin-fold thicknesses no longer appeared to be predictive in runners when corrected in a multivariate analysis with characteristics of training and previous experience 31–33…”

 Running speed during training and percent body fat predict race time in recreational male marathoners

“…Depending on the length and duration of a race, athletic performance seems to be influenced by physiological characteristics,37 specific anthropometric properties,8–21 and training variables,9,11,22–29 in addition to other characteristics, including age,1,30 gender,18,30 and nutrition 31…”

Ultramarathon Running: Medical Issues

“…Regarding anthropometric characteristics, leg skin-fold thickness -which were highly predictive of short-distance runners [26] -were only predictive in bi-variate analyses, but no in multi-variate analyses, with ultra-marathon running performance [24,27]. In ultramarathoners, body mass index and body fat seemed to be more important anthropometric characteristics [22,28].…”