Changes of Mood and Cognitive Performance before and after a 100 km Nighttime Ultramarathon Run

The effects of sleep deprivation and extreme exertion on cognitive performance at the world-record breaking Suffolk Back Yard Ultra-marathon

Using a prospective observational design, this study investigated the hypothesis that competing in the Suffolk Back Yard Ultra-marathon, would result in impaired cognitive performance and examined whether pre-race sleep patterns could mitigate this. Fifteen runners (1 female) volunteered to undertake this study and eleven males were included in the final analysis. Before the race and after withdrawal participants completed the following cognitive performance tasks: 2 Choice Reaction Time (2CRT), Stroop, and the Tower Puzzle. Pre-race sleep strategies were subjectively recorded with a 7-day sleep diary. Following race withdrawal, reaction time increased (Δ 77±68 ms; p = 0.004) in the 2CRT and executive function was impaired in the Stroop task (Interference score Δ -4.3±5.6 a.u.; p = 0.028). Decision making was not affected in the Tower Puzzle task. There was a significant correlation between the pre-race 7-day average sleep scores and both 2CRT Δ throughput (r = 0.61; p = 0.045) and 2CRT Δ RT (r = -0.64; p = 0.034). This study supports the hypothesis that running an ultra-marathon, which includes at least one night of sleep deprivation, impairs cognitive performance and provides novel evidence suggesting good sleep quality, in the week prior to an ultra-marathon, could minimise these effects.

Effect of an Ultra-Endurance Event on Cardiovascular Function and Cognitive Performance in Marathon Runners

Background

Ultra-marathon running participation has become increasingly more popular in recent years; however, there is inconclusive evidence concerning the effects of participation on cognition and cardiovascular function. The purpose of this study was to examine alterations in cardiovascular function and cognitive performance and their association in ultra-marathon runners prior to and following an ultra-endurance event.

Methods

In total, 24 runners (19 males and 5 females) participated in an ultra-marathon race (FatDog120) held in British Columbia, Canada. Participants competed in varying races distances [48 km (n = 2), 80 km (n = 7), 113 km (n = 3), and 193 km (n = 12)]. Cognition was assessed prior to and upon race completion using simple reaction time, choice reaction time, discrimination reaction time, and recognition memory (% correct). Cardiovascular function was assessed prior to and upon race completion using radial applanation tonometry for diastolic pulse contour examination.

Results

Cognitive performance displayed significantly (p < 0.001) slower reaction times post-race for simple (30.2%), discrimination (22.7%), and choice reaction time (30.5%), as well as a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in memory test performance (−8.2%). A significant association between systemic vascular resistance and choice reaction time was observed post-race (r = 0.41, p < 0.05). Significant changes in post-race cardiovascular function were observed in resting heart rate (31.5%), cardiac output (27.5%), mean arterial blood pressure (−5.6%), total systemic resistance (−17.6%), systolic blood pressure (−7.0%), pulse pressure (−11.2%), and rate pressure product (22.4%). There was evidence of enhanced cardiovascular function being associated with improved cognitive performance before and after the ultra-endurance event.

Conclusion

Ultra endurance running is associated with marked impairments in cognitive performance that are associated (at least in part) with changes in cardiovascular function in healthy adults.