Anthropometry and pre-race experience of finishers and nonfinishers in a multistage ultra-endurance run--Deutschlandlauf 2007

Percept Mot Skills. 2009 Aug;109(1):105-18. doi: 10.2466/PMS.109.1.105-118.

Abstract

The effects of anthropometry and pre-race experience on race performance were investigated in male nonprofessional ultra-runners performing a multistage run of 1,200 km over 17 days. Of 24 athletes examined pre-race, 14 (58%) dropped out during the race due to overuse injuries of the lower limbs. During the race, body mass, thickness of the calf skin-fold, skeletal muscle mass, and percent body fat decreased significantly, while circumference of the upper arm, thickness of triceps, and abdominal skin-fold as well as Body Mass Index decreased significantly in the finishers. Neither anthropometry nor pre-race experience and training volume nor previously finished races were associated with the race time of the finishers. In future studies of ultra-runners, the influence of psychological (cognitive and emotional) predictors on race outcome should be investigated.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Achievement
  • Adult
  • Anthropometry / methods*
  • Athletic Performance / physiology*
  • Body Constitution / physiology*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Competitive Behavior / physiology*
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Physical Endurance / physiology*
  • Physical Fitness / physiology
  • Running / physiology*
  • Skinfold Thickness