Contribution of Solid Food to Achieve Individual Nutritional Requirement during a Continuous 438 km Mountain Ultramarathon in Female Athlete

The Relationship between 24 h Ultramarathon Performance and the "Big Three" Strategies of Training, Nutrition, and Pacing

BACKGROUND

The present case study examined the relationship between 24 h ultramarathon performance and the "big three" strategies of training, nutrition, and pacing.

METHODS

A 32-year-old male ultramarathon runner (body mass: 68.5 kg, height: 179 cm) participated in a 24 h ultramarathon race. Training status was quantified based on from a GPS sports watch. The nutritional status was evaluated during the week leading up to the race, and blood glucose level and heart rate were measured during the race.

RESULTS

His aim of the distance was 200 km, but the actual performance was 171.760 km. The blood glucose level was stable because of adequate CHO intake before (7.2 ± 0.8 g/kg/day) and during the race (48 g/h). The running speed decreased in the middle and later stages of the race despite adequate CHO intake and a lack of high intensity running in the early stage of the race. The longest training session before the race (80 km) had to be significantly shorter compared to the aim.

CONCLUSIONS

For optimal 24 h ultramarathon performance, the "big three" strategies of training, nutrition, and pacing are all important. However, the performance level estimated based on previous studies may be achievable even with insufficient training, as long as the nutritional and pacing strategies are appropriate.

Study of the kinetics of the determinants of performance during a mountain ultra marathon: Multidisciplinary protocol of the first Trail Scientifique de Clécy 2021 (Preprint)

Background

The growing interest of the scientific community in trail running has highlighted the acute effects of practice at the time of these races on isolated aspects of physiological and structural systems; biological, physiological, cognitive, and muscular functions; and the psychological state of athletes. However, no integrative study has been conducted under these conditions with so many participants and monitoring of pre-, per-, and postrace variables for up to 10 days over a distance close to 100 miles.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the kinetics of the performance parameters during a 156 km trail run and 6000 m of elevation gain in pre-, per-, and postrace conditions. The general hypothesis is based on significant alterations in the psychological, physiological, mechanical, biological, and cognitive parameters.

Methods

The Trail Scientifique de Clécy took place on November 11, 2021. This prospective experimental study provides a comprehensive exploration of the constraints and adaptations of psychophysiological and sociological variables assessed in real race conditions during a trail running of 156 km on hilly ground and 6000 m of elevation gain (D+). The study protocol allowed for repeatability of study measurements under the same experimental conditions during the race, with the race being divided into 6 identical loops of 26 km and 1000 m D+. Measurements were conducted the day before and the morning of the race, at the end of each lap, after a pit stop, and up to 10 days after the race. A total of 55 participants were included, 43 (78%) men and 12 (22%) women, who were experienced in ultra–trail-running events and with no contraindications to the practice of this sport.

Results

The launch of the study was authorized on October 26, 2021, under the trial number 21-0166 after a favorable opinion from the Comité de Protection des Personnes Ouest III (21.09.61/SIRIPH 2G 21.01586.000009). Of the 55 runners enrolled, 41 (75%) completed the race and 14 (25%) dropped out for various reasons, including gastric problems, hypothermia, fatigue, and musculoskeletal injuries. All the measurements for each team were completed in full. The race times (ie, excluding the measurements) ranged from 17.8206 hours for the first runner to 35.9225 hours for the last runner. The average time to complete all measurements for each lap was 64 (SD 3) minutes.

Conclusions

The Trail Scientifique de Clécy, by its protocol, allowed for a multidisciplinary approach to the discipline. This approach will allow for the explanation of the studied parameters in relation to each other and observation of the systems of dependence and independence. The initial results are expected in June 2022.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR1-10.2196/38027