The problem with ultra-endurance athletes

Wortley, George C.; Islas, Arthur

doi:10.1136/bjsports-2011-090399

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Teutsch et al ( 2013 ) explained these results by the increasing number of ultra-marathon events organized over recent years. Moreover, long-distance races cause great stress to the athletes’ body and therefore, runners have to limit the number of long distance ultra-marathons they compete in (Wortley et al 2011 ). In addition, Krouse et al ( 2011 ) found that the strongest motivation factors for female ultra-marathoners were general health orientation and psychological coping.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age and ultra-marathon performance - 50 to 1,000 km distances from 1969 – 2012

et al. 2014

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We investigated age and performance in distance-limited ultra-marathons held from 50 km to 1,000 km. Age of peak running speed and running speed of the fastest competitors from 1969 to 2012 in 50 km, 100 km, 200 km and 1,000 km ultra-marathons were analyzed using analysis of variance and multi-level regression analyses. The ages of the ten fastest women ever were 40 ± 4 yrs (50 km), 34 ± 7 yrs (100 km), 42 ± 6 yrs (200 km), and 41 ± 5 yrs (1,000 km). The ages were significantly different between 100 km and 200 km and between 100 km and 1,000 km. For men, the ages of the ten fastest ever were 34 ± 6 yrs (50 km), 32 ± 4 yrs (100 km), 44 ± 4 yrs (200 km), and 47 ± 9 yrs (1,000 km). The ages were significantly younger in 50 km compared to 100 km and 200 km and also significantly younger in 100 km compared to 200 km and 1,000 km. The age of the annual ten fastest women decreased in 50 km from 39 ± 8 yrs (1988) to 32 ± 4 yrs (2012) and in men from 35 ± 5 yrs (1977) to 33 ± 5 yrs (2012). In 100 km events, the age of peak running speed of the annual ten fastest women and men remained stable at 34.9 ± 3.2 and 34.5 ± 2.5 yrs, respectively. Peak running speed of top ten runners increased in 50 km and 100 km in women (10.6 ± 1.0 to 15.3 ± 0.7 km/h and 7.3 ± 1.5 to 13.0 ± 0.2 km/h, respectively) and men (14.3 ± 1.2 to 17.5 ± 0.6 km/h and 10.2 ± 1.2 to 15.1 ± 0.2 km/h, respectively). In 200 km and 1,000 km, running speed remained unchanged. In summary, the best male 1,000 km ultra-marathoners were ~15 yrs older than the best male 100 km ultra-marathoners and the best female 1,000 km ultra-marathoners were ~7 yrs older than the best female 100 km ultra-marathoners. The age of the fastest 50 km ultra-marathoners decreased across years whereas it remained unchanged in 100 km ultra-marathoners. These findings may help athletes and coaches to plan an ultra-marathoner’s career. Future studies are needed on the mechanisms by which the fastest runners in the long ultra-marathons tend to be older than those in shorter ultra-marathons.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age and ultra-marathon performance - 50 to 1,000 km distances from 1969 – 2012

et al. 2014

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“…Despite reports that prolonged exercise and large training loads may impair immunity and increase the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections [6], ultra-endurance athletes report fewer missed work or school days due to illness and injury compared with the normal population, and generally exhibit a low incidence of chronic disease [7]. However, health concerns have been raised about participation in ultra-endurance events, including long-term cardiac damage, potentially mediated by the high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are produced during exercise [2,8]. Thus, a number of studies have examined whether redox homeostasis is altered after bouts of ultra-endurance exercise.…”

Section: Scientific Interest In Ultra-endurance Exercisementioning

confidence: 99%

Ultra-endurance exercise: unanswered questions in redox biology and immunology

Turner

Bennett

Bosch

et al. 2014

Biochemical Society Transactions

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Ultra-endurance races are extreme exercise events that can take place over large parts of a day, several consecutive days or over weeks and months interspersed by periods of rest and recovery. Since the first ultra-endurance races in the late 1970s, around 1000 races are now held worldwide each year, and more than 100000 people take part. Although these athletes appear to be fit and healthy, there have been occasional reports of severe complications following ultra-endurance exercise. Thus there is concern that repeated extreme exercise events could have deleterious effects on health, which might be brought about by the high levels of ROS (reactive oxygen species) produced during exercise. Studies that have examined biomarkers of oxidative damage following ultra-endurance exercise have found measurements to be elevated for several days, which has usually been interpreted to reflect increased ROS production. Levels of the antioxidant molecule GSH (reduced glutathione) are depleted for 1 month or longer following ultra-endurance exercise, suggesting an impaired capacity to cope with ROS. The present paper summarizes studies that have examined the oxidative footprint of ultra-endurance exercise in light of current thinking in redox biology and the possible health implications of such extreme exercise.

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“…Most healthcare providers would agree that racing an Ironman triathlon after 50 years of age is not good for the body. But most older Ironman triathletes will say that training for an Ironman triathlon is one of the healthiest things they can do (Wortley & Islas 2011). Where should the limits be set?…”

Section: Practical Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relative improvements in endurance performance with age: evidence from 25 years of Hawaii Ironman racing

Lepers

Rüst

Stapley

et al. 2012

AGE

102

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Despite of the growth of ultra-endurance sports events (of duration >6 h) over the previous few decades, the age-related declines in ultra-endurance performance have drawn little attention. The aim of the study was to analyse the changes in participation and performance trends of older (>40 years of age) triathletes between 1986 and 2010 at the Hawaii Ironman triathlon consisting of 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42 km running. Swimming, cycling, running and total times of the best male and female triathletes between 18 and 69 years of age who competed in the Hawaii Ironman triathlon were analysed. The relative participation of master triathletes increased during the 1986-2010 period, while the participation of triathletes younger than 40 years of age decreased. Linear regression showed that males older than 44 years and females older than 40 years significantly improved their performances in the three disciplines and in the total time taken to complete the race. Gender differences in total time performance significantly decreased in the same time period for all age groups between the 40-44 and 55-59 years ones. The reasons for these relative improvements of Ironman athlete performances in older age groups remain, however, unknown. Further studies investigating training regimes, competition experience or sociodemographic factors are needed to gain better insights into the phenomenon of increasing participation and improvement of ultra-endurance performance with advancing age.

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The problem with ultra-endurance athletes

Cited by 12 publications

References 3 publications

Age and ultra-marathon performance - 50 to 1,000 km distances from 1969 – 2012

Age and ultra-marathon performance - 50 to 1,000 km distances from 1969 – 2012

Ultra-endurance exercise: unanswered questions in redox biology and immunology

Relative improvements in endurance performance with age: evidence from 25 years of Hawaii Ironman racing

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