Prediction of marathon race time from physiological and training characteristics of male recreational runners

Prediction of marathon race time from physiological and training characteristics of male recreational runners

Článek WoS

Aim: Despite the increased popularity of outdoor endurance running races of different distances, little information exists about the role of training and physiological characteristics of recreational runners. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of training and physiological characteristics on the performance of recreational marathon runners. Methods: Recreational male marathon runners (n=125) - who finished the Athens classic marathon 2017 - performed a series of anthropometry and physical fitness tests including body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), sit-and-reach test (SAR), isometric muscle strength (assessed as the sum of four tests: right and left handgrip, trunk and legs dynamometry divided by body mass), squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ). Results: Running speed during the race correlated moderately with age (r=-0.34, p<0.001), and largely with the number of weekly training days (r=0.53, p<0.001) and weekly running distance (r=0.59, p<0.001), but not with the number of previously finished marathons (r=0.07, p=0.229). With regards to physiological characteristics, running speed correlated largely with body mass (r=-0.52, p<0.001), BMI (r=-0.60, p<0.001), BF (r=-0.64, p<0.001), VO2max (r=0.66, p<0.001), moderately with isometric muscle strength (r=0.42, p<0.001), small with anaerobic muscle power (r=0.19, p=0.019), but not with SAR (r=0.08, p=0.187), SJ (r=0.11, p=0.119) and CMJ (r=0.11, p=0.122). Race speed could be predicted (R2=0.63, standard error of the estimate=1.14) using the formula ‘8.76+0.101× VO2max +0.031×weekly training distance in km-0.201×BMI’. Conclusion: These findings highlighted the role of aerobic capacity, training and body mass status for the performance of recreational male runners in a marathon race. Considering the increased number of recreational runners competing in marathon races, the findings would be of great practical importance for coaches and trainers.

Aim: Despite the increased popularity of outdoor endurance running races of different distances, little information exists about the role of training and physiological characteristics of recreational runners. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of training and physiological characteristics on the performance of recreational marathon runners. Methods: Recreational male marathon runners (n=125) - who finished the Athens classic marathon 2017 - performed a series of anthropometry and physical fitness tests including body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), sit-and-reach test (SAR), isometric muscle strength (assessed as the sum of four tests: right and left handgrip, trunk and legs dynamometry divided by body mass), squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ). Results: Running speed during the race correlated moderately with age (r=-0.34, p<0.001), and largely with the number of weekly training days (r=0.53, p<0.001) and weekly running distance (r=0.59, p<0.001), but not with the number of previously finished marathons (r=0.07, p=0.229). With regards to physiological characteristics, running speed correlated largely with body mass (r=-0.52, p<0.001), BMI (r=-0.60, p<0.001), BF (r=-0.64, p<0.001), VO2max (r=0.66, p<0.001), moderately with isometric muscle strength (r=0.42, p<0.001), small with anaerobic muscle power (r=0.19, p=0.019), but not with SAR (r=0.08, p=0.187), SJ (r=0.11, p=0.119) and CMJ (r=0.11, p=0.122). Race speed could be predicted (R2=0.63, standard error of the estimate=1.14) using the formula ‘8.76+0.101× VO2max +0.031×weekly training distance in km-0.201×BMI’. Conclusion: These findings highlighted the role of aerobic capacity, training and body mass status for the performance of recreational male runners in a marathon race. Considering the increased number of recreational runners competing in marathon races, the findings would be of great practical importance for coaches and trainers.

physiological characteristics, performance prediction in marathon run, anthropometric characteristics

physiological characteristics, performance prediction in marathon run, anthropometric characteristics

CHLÍBKOVÁ, D.; KNECHTLE, B.; NIKOLAIDIS, P.

2020

03.10.2019

Scandinavian Physiological Society. Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

United States

Special Issue: Abstracts of the 98th Meeting of the German Physiological Society, 30 September ‐ 2 October 2019, Ulm, Germany

227

1748-1716

Acta Physiologica

227

S719

Spojené království Velké Británie a Severního Irska

1

2

2

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336148111_Prediction_of_Marathon_Race_Time_from_Physiological_and_Training_Characteristics_of_Male_Recreational_Runners

Prediction of Marathon Race Time from Physiological and Training Characteristics of Male Recreational Runners