Physiological and Race Pace Characteristics of Medium and Low-Level Athens Marathon Runners
This study examined physiological and race pace characteristics of medium- (finish time < 240 min) and low-level (finish time > 240 min) recreational runners who participated in a challenging marathon route with rolling hills, the Athens Authentic Marathon. Fifteen athletes (age: 42 ± 7 years)...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Sports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/8/9/116 |
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| author | Aristides Myrkos Ilias Smilios Eleni Maria Kokkinou Evangelos Rousopoulos Helen Douda |
| author_facet | Aristides Myrkos Ilias Smilios Eleni Maria Kokkinou Evangelos Rousopoulos Helen Douda |
| author_sort | Aristides Myrkos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examined physiological and race pace characteristics of medium- (finish time < 240 min) and low-level (finish time > 240 min) recreational runners who participated in a challenging marathon route with rolling hills, the Athens Authentic Marathon. Fifteen athletes (age: 42 ± 7 years) performed an incremental test, three to nine days before the 2018 Athens Marathon, to determine maximal oxygen uptake (VO<sub>2</sub> max), maximal aerobic velocity (MAV), energy cost of running (ECr) and lactate threshold velocity (vLTh), and were analyzed for their pacing during the race. Moderate- (<i>n</i> = 8) compared with low-level (<i>n</i> = 7) runners had higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) VO<sub>2</sub> max (55.6 ± 3.6 vs. 48.9 ± 4.8 mL·kg<sup>−1</sup>·min<sup>−1</sup>), MAV (16.5 ± 0.7 vs. 14.4 ± 1.2 km·h<sup>−1</sup>) and vLTh (11.6 ± 0.8 vs. 9.2 ± 0.7 km·h<sup>−1</sup>) and lower ECr at 10 km/h (1.137 ± 0.096 vs. 1.232 ± 0.068 kcal·kg<sup>−1</sup>·km<sup>−1</sup>). Medium-level runners ran the marathon at a higher percentage of vLTh (105.1 ± 4.7 vs. 93.8 ± 6.2%) and VO<sub>2</sub> max (79.7 ± 7.7 vs. 68.8 ± 5.7%). Low-level runners ran at a lower percentage (<i>p</i> < 0.05) of their vLTh in the 21.1–30 km (total ascent/decent: 122 m/5 m) and the 30–42.195 km (total ascent/decent: 32 m/155 m) splits. Moderate-level runners are less affected in their pacing than low-level runners during a marathon route with rolling hills. This could be due to superior physiological characteristics such as VO<sub>2</sub> max, ECr, vLTh and fractional utilization of VO<sub>2</sub> max. A marathon race pace strategy should be selected individually according to each athlete’s level. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:02:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6fd45f9087aa46d7bf99ab8c1d6b301d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4663 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:02:49Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sports |
| spelling | doaj.art-6fd45f9087aa46d7bf99ab8c1d6b301d2023-11-20T10:53:50ZengMDPI AGSports2075-46632020-08-018911610.3390/sports8090116Physiological and Race Pace Characteristics of Medium and Low-Level Athens Marathon RunnersAristides Myrkos0Ilias Smilios1Eleni Maria Kokkinou2Evangelos Rousopoulos3Helen Douda4School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, GreeceSchool of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, GreeceSchool of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, GreeceErgoscan Physical Performance Evaluation Center, Ionias 110, 17456 Alimos, GreeceSchool of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, GreeceThis study examined physiological and race pace characteristics of medium- (finish time < 240 min) and low-level (finish time > 240 min) recreational runners who participated in a challenging marathon route with rolling hills, the Athens Authentic Marathon. Fifteen athletes (age: 42 ± 7 years) performed an incremental test, three to nine days before the 2018 Athens Marathon, to determine maximal oxygen uptake (VO<sub>2</sub> max), maximal aerobic velocity (MAV), energy cost of running (ECr) and lactate threshold velocity (vLTh), and were analyzed for their pacing during the race. Moderate- (<i>n</i> = 8) compared with low-level (<i>n</i> = 7) runners had higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) VO<sub>2</sub> max (55.6 ± 3.6 vs. 48.9 ± 4.8 mL·kg<sup>−1</sup>·min<sup>−1</sup>), MAV (16.5 ± 0.7 vs. 14.4 ± 1.2 km·h<sup>−1</sup>) and vLTh (11.6 ± 0.8 vs. 9.2 ± 0.7 km·h<sup>−1</sup>) and lower ECr at 10 km/h (1.137 ± 0.096 vs. 1.232 ± 0.068 kcal·kg<sup>−1</sup>·km<sup>−1</sup>). Medium-level runners ran the marathon at a higher percentage of vLTh (105.1 ± 4.7 vs. 93.8 ± 6.2%) and VO<sub>2</sub> max (79.7 ± 7.7 vs. 68.8 ± 5.7%). Low-level runners ran at a lower percentage (<i>p</i> < 0.05) of their vLTh in the 21.1–30 km (total ascent/decent: 122 m/5 m) and the 30–42.195 km (total ascent/decent: 32 m/155 m) splits. Moderate-level runners are less affected in their pacing than low-level runners during a marathon route with rolling hills. This could be due to superior physiological characteristics such as VO<sub>2</sub> max, ECr, vLTh and fractional utilization of VO<sub>2</sub> max. A marathon race pace strategy should be selected individually according to each athlete’s level.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/8/9/116enduranceaerobic performancelactate thresholdrunning economymaximal oxygen consumptionoxygen fractional utilization |
| spellingShingle | Aristides Myrkos Ilias Smilios Eleni Maria Kokkinou Evangelos Rousopoulos Helen Douda Physiological and Race Pace Characteristics of Medium and Low-Level Athens Marathon Runners Sports endurance aerobic performance lactate threshold running economy maximal oxygen consumption oxygen fractional utilization |
| title | Physiological and Race Pace Characteristics of Medium and Low-Level Athens Marathon Runners |
| title_full | Physiological and Race Pace Characteristics of Medium and Low-Level Athens Marathon Runners |
| title_fullStr | Physiological and Race Pace Characteristics of Medium and Low-Level Athens Marathon Runners |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physiological and Race Pace Characteristics of Medium and Low-Level Athens Marathon Runners |
| title_short | Physiological and Race Pace Characteristics of Medium and Low-Level Athens Marathon Runners |
| title_sort | physiological and race pace characteristics of medium and low level athens marathon runners |
| topic | endurance aerobic performance lactate threshold running economy maximal oxygen consumption oxygen fractional utilization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/8/9/116 |
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