In brief This study describes the physiological profile and training pattern of ultramarathoners and their performance variables during an ultramarathon. The authors studied 17 experienced male ultramarathoners who had completed a 50-mile race. They were arbitrarily divided into two groups for comparison: those who finished in less than six hours (elite) and those who finished in more than six hours (nonelite). The elite ultramarathoners averaged 96 miles per week in training runs with a long single run of 35 miles before a race. They averaged 84% of Vo2 max throughout the 50-mile race. The nonelite runners averaged 60 miles per week with a long run of 27 miles before a race. They averaged 72% of Vo2 max. All subjects expended approximately 6,000 kcal during the race and had low levels of blood lipids.
In brief: Two ultramarathon world-record holders were studied immediately after a 50-mile race and in a laboratory under controlled conditions. Blood samples were obtained before and after running and were analyzed for lactate, glucose, glycerol, and free fatty acid. Muscle biopsies were also performed and analyzed for glycogen, enzyme activity, and fiber type. Results showed that although these runners are fit their physiological data are not extreme or unique and are similar to data obtained from marathoners.
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