Training and Racing Behaviors of Omnivorous, Vegetarian, and Vegan Endurance Runners—Results from the NURMI Study (Step 1)

Abstract

As a key modulator of training adaptations and racing performance, nutrition plays a critical role in endurance runners’ success, and the training/racing behaviors of runners are potentially affected by their diet types. The present study aimed to investigate whether distance runners with a vegan diet (i.e., devoid of foods or ingredients from animal sources), vegetarian diet (i.e., devoid of meat and flesh foods), and omnivorous diet (i.e., a mixed diet with no restriction on food sources) have different training and racing patterns in general and based on race distance subgroups. A total of 3835 recreational runners completed an online survey. Runners were assigned to dietary (omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan) and race distance (<21 km, half-marathon, and marathon/ultra-marathon) groups. In addition to sociodemographic information, a complete profile of data sets focusing on running and racing behaviors/patterns was evaluated using a questionnaire-based epidemiological approach. There were 1272 omnivores (47% females), 598 vegetarians (64% females), and 994 vegans (65% females). Compared to vegans and vegetarians, omnivorous runners prepared for a longer time period for running events, had a higher number of half-marathons and marathons completed with a better finish time, and had more reliance on training under supervision (p < 0.05). The present findings indicate an important association of diet types with patterns of training and racing amongst endurance runners that may be related to different motives of omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan runners for participating in events.

Who Is Running in the D-A-CH Countries? An Epidemiological Approach of 2455 Omnivorous, Vegetarian, and Vegan Recreational Runners—Results from the NURMI Study (Step 1)

“…In the present study, the higher fraction of vegan and vegetarian participants could not be compared to similar studies on runners due to the sampling strategies implemented in the study design. However, research indicates that the prevalence of vegan/vegetarian diets among endurance runners is higher than among general populations [ 15 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. The prevalence of vegan/vegetarian diets has also been reported to be associated with sociodemographic variables among endurance runners (e.g., sex, educational level, BMI, health status) [ 16 , 29 , 30 ] and general populations (e.g., sex, educational level, ethnicity) [ 26 , 46 , 55 ].…”

“…However, research indicates that the prevalence of vegan/vegetarian diets among endurance runners is higher than among general populations [ 15 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. The prevalence of vegan/vegetarian diets has also been reported to be associated with sociodemographic variables among endurance runners (e.g., sex, educational level, BMI, health status) [ 16 , 29 , 30 ] and general populations (e.g., sex, educational level, ethnicity) [ 26 , 46 , 55 ]. However, it should be considered that due to the restricted social environment in the past decades, people were formerly more reluctant to call themselves vegetarians or vegans, but nowadays, it is expressed as trendy to follow these diets and socially accepted as healthy [ 15 , 56 ].…”

“…Step 1 (in which the present study belongs) aimed to determine the prevalence of vegan and non-vegan recreational athletes in running events by using a standardized questionnaire following an epidemiological approach. Detailed information about the methods of the Step 1 study has been described elsewhere [ 30 , 41 ]. The NURMI Study protocol [ 45 ] was approved by the ethics board of St. Gallen, Switzerland (May 6, 2015; EKSG 14/145).…”

“…Regardless of nutrition, the endurance runner lifestyle is highly influenced by training activities and competition schedules. Several individual and running-associated variables (e.g., age, sex, motivation, environment, race distance, nutrition, preparation phases, competition level) have been shown to affect runners’ training patterns [ 30 , 31 , 32 ]. To improve running adaptations and performance, it is recommended to plan and conduct training with great precision over different loading phases (including high volume, high intensity, and workout diversity) [ 33 ].…”

“…When comparing race distances, evidence shows that endurance runners competing in long distances (i.e., marathon and ultra-marathon) have a greater tendency to be supervised by a specialist (e.g., sports scientists, sport medicine physicians) [ 41 ]. In general, however, as scientific evidence investigating endurance runner behavior is mainly based on studies observing a mixed group of recreational and professional runners with a varied level of fitness and experience, caution is recommended when comparing training and racing behaviors of pooled groups of distance runners [ 30 ].…”