Physiological and Race Pace Characteristics of Medium and Low-Level Athens Marathon Runners

Abstract

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 (VO2 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- (n = 8) compared with low-level (n = 7) runners had higher (p < 0.05) VO2 max (55.6 ± 3.6 vs. 48.9 ± 4.8 mL·kg−1·min−1), MAV (16.5 ± 0.7 vs. 14.4 ± 1.2 km·h−1) and vLTh (11.6 ± 0.8 vs. 9.2 ± 0.7 km·h−1) and lower ECr at 10 km/h (1.137 ± 0.096 vs. 1.232 ± 0.068 kcal·kg−1·km−1). Medium-level runners ran the marathon at a higher percentage of vLTh (105.1 ± 4.7 vs. 93.8 ± 6.2%) and VO2 max (79.7 ± 7.7 vs. 68.8 ± 5.7%). Low-level runners ran at a lower percentage (p < 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 VO2 max, ECr, vLTh and fractional utilization of VO2 max. A marathon race pace strategy should be selected individually according to each athlete’s level.

Correlation Properties of Heart Rate Variability during a Marathon Race in Recreational Runners: Potential Biomarker of Complex Regulation during Endurance Exercise

“…In regard to the question pertaining to the agreement of external vs. internal load monitoring several observations are of note. In accordance with recent findings (Santos et al, 2006;Myrkos et al, 2020), most of the runners in this study ran a slower second half of the race as displayed in their reduced running speed (positive pacing profile). Despite a slower pace in the second part of the race, DFA-alpha1 declined to values well into those associated with severe intensity domains (Gronwald et al, 2020b).…”

Heart Rate Does Not Reflect the %VO2max in Recreational Runners during the Marathon

“…Previous reports of the physiological HR-. VO 2 relationship and race pace characteristics of recreational marathoners were based on treadmill tests using a classical, and unrealistically strict incremental paced protocol [6]. The HR-.…”

“…Marathon running has increased in popularity since humans first set foot on the moon and with this popularization emerged a new category of runners, namely: "recreational marathon runners" [1][2][3]. These runners are eager [4], less well trained, and experimenters [5,6]. Hal Higdon, an experienced coach, and marathon runner (the first American 1964 Boston marathon finisher; 2:21:55) [7], purports that the key to performance in the marathon is proper pacing.…”

Relationship between Step Characteristics and Race Performance during 5000-m Race

“…Based on the findings of our studies, we concluded that smaller changes in SL and CT are advantageous for achieving better race performance because they are associated with lower running-induced fatigue. Maintaining a consistent running pace is an effective pacing strategy for maximizing performance in endurance races, and an over-running pace in the early stage of the race has a risk of developing excess fatigue and decreasing the running pace in the late stage of the race [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. Taken together, maintaining a consistent running pace, which can minimize changes in SL and CT would be an important race strategy to achieve superior race performance in endurance races.…”