Pacing in ultra-marathon running: the Western States 100-mile endurance run 2006–2023

Pacing has been investigated in different running races, including ultra-marathons. We have, however, little knowledge about pacing in ultra-trail running. To date, no study has investigated pacing in one of the most iconic ultra-trail running races, the ‘Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run’ (WSER), which covers 160 km (100 miles) and includes significant elevation changes (6000 vertical meters uphill and 7500 vertical meters downhill). Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate pacing for successful finishers in WSER regarding gender, age, and performance level. Official results and split times for the WSER were obtained from the race website, including elevation data from 3837 runners, with 3068 men (80%) and 769 women (20%) competing between 2006 and 2023. The mean race speed was calculated for each participant, as well as the average mean checkpoint speed for each of the 18 race checkpoints (17 aid stations and finish point). The percentage of change in checkpoint speed (CCS) in relation to the average race speed was calculated. CCS was calculated for each of the 18 checkpoints to evaluate each runner’s pacing strategy. The average change in checkpoint speed (ACCS) of each participant was calculated as a mean of the 18 CCSs. Eight age groups were formed. Since there were very few runners younger than 25 and older than 65 years, these age groups were merged into < 30 and 60 > groups, respectively. Four performance groups were formed by four quartiles, each consisting of 25% of the total sample separately for men and women. Pacing shows great variability between checkpoints in both men and women, mainly influenced by elevation. Although the race profile is mostly downhill, it appears that the pacing trend is towards positive pacing. The differences between men and women were mainly at the beginning of the race (men start faster) and towards the end (men slow down more). Men have more pacing variability than women, with significant differences in the youngest age group, as well as the 40–44 and 50–54 age groups. In addition, younger men have more variability in pace compared to older men. There are no significant differences in age groups in women. Finally, the slowest and fastest ultra runners had less pacing variability than medium level runners. Pacing in WSER-runners shows great variability between checkpoints in both men and women. Pacing is positive and highly influenced by elevation. Men start faster than women, and men slow down more than women. Pacing differs in male but not in female age group runners. The slowest and fastest ultra runners had less pacing variability than medium level runners.

Pop-Up Mostindien Marathon

The season kicked off on February 22nd with the Pop-Up Most India Marathon, where the members of the 100 Marathon Club Switzerland were able to add another marathon to their account.

Christian Marti was on the hunt for marathon number 600 and Beat Knechtle for marathon 500.

Analysis of the 10-day ultra-marathon using a predictive XG boost model

Ultra-marathon running races are held as distance-limited or time-limited events, ranging from 6 h to 10 days. Only a few runners compete in 10-day events, and so far, we have little knowledge about the athletes’ origins, performance, and event characteristics. The aim of the present study was to investigate the origin and performance of these runners and the fastest race locations. A machine learning model based on the XG Boost algorithm was built to predict running speed from the athlete´s age, gender, country of origin, country where the race takes place, the type of race and the kind of running surface. The model explainability tools were then used to investigate how each independent variable would influence the predicted running speed. The model rated the origin of the athlete as the most important predictor, followed by age group, running on dirt path, gender, running on asphalt, and event location. Running on dirt path led to a significant reduction of running speed, while running on asphalt showed faster running speeds compared to other surfaces. Most athletes came from USA, followed by Russia, Germany, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Most of the runners competed in USA. The fastest 10-day runners were from Finland and Israel. The fastest 10-day races were held in Greece. Most 10-day runners originated from USA, but the fastest runners originate from Finland and Israel. The fastest race courses were in Greece. Running on dirt paths leads to a significant reduction in running speed while running on asphalt leads to faster running speeds.

The influence of origin and race location on performance in IRONMAN® age group triathletes

The IRONMAN® (IM) triathlon is a popular multi-sport, where age group athletes often strive to qualify for the IM World Championship in Hawaii. The aim of the present study was to investigate the location of the fastest IM racecourses for age group IM triathletes. This knowledge will help IM age group triathletes find the best racecourse, considering their strengths and weaknesses, to qualify. To determine the fastest IM racecourse for age group IM triathletes using descriptive and predictive statistical methods. We collected and analyzed 677,702 age group IM finishers’ records from 228 countries participating in 444 IM competitions held between 2002 and 2022 across 66 event locations. Locations were ranked by average race speed (performance), and countries were sorted by number of records in the sample (participation). A predictive model was built with race finish time as the predicted variable and the triathlete’s gender, age group, country of origin, event location, average air, and water temperatures in each location as predictors. The model was trained with 75% of the available data and was validated against the remaining 25%. Several model interpretability tools were used to explore how each predictor contributed to the model’s predictive power, from which we intended to infer whether one or more predictors were more important than the others. The average race speed ranking showed IM Vitoria-Gasteiz (1 race only), IM Copenhagen (8 races), IM Hawaii (18 races), IM Tallinn (4 races) and IM Regensburg (2 races) in the first five positions. The XG Boost Regressor model analysis indicated that the IM Hawaii course was the fastest race course and that male athletes aged 35 years and younger were the fastest. Most of the finishers were competing in IM triathlons held in the US, such as IM Wisconsin, IM Florida, IM Lake Placid, IM Arizona, and IM Hawaii, where the IM World Championship took place. However, the fastest average times were achieved in IM Vitoria-Gasteiz, IM Copenhagen, IM Hawaii, IM Tallin, IM Regensburg, IM Brazil Florianopolis, IM Barcelona, or IM Austria with the absolutely fastest race time in IM Hawaii. Most of the successful IM finishers originated from the US, followed by athletes from the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and France. The best mean IM race times were achieved by athletes from Austria, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, and Denmark. Regarding environmental conditions, the best IM race times were achieved at an air temperature of ∼27°C and a water temperature of ∼24°C. IM age group athletes who intend to qualify for IM World Championship in IM Hawaii are encouraged to participate in IM Austria, IM Copenhagen, IM Brazil Florianopolis, and/or IM Barcelona in order to achieve a fast race time to qualify for the IM World Championship in IM Hawaii where the top race times were achieved. Most likely these races offer the best ambient temperatures for a fast race time.

Key factors influencing cycling performance and overall race time in the Ironman 70.3 for amateur athletes

Previous study has shown that cycling is the most predictive modality in the Ironman 70.3 triathlon distance. As a result, understanding the physiological and anthropometric variables that are mostly closely related to cycling performance can help coaches and athletes to direct their training programs. This study aimed to investigate the physiological, anthropometric, and general training characteristics influencing overall race time and cycling split time in Ironman 70.3. The present study also investigated the significance of body composition as a performance-related variable. A questionnaire was used to assess training characteristics in 12 athletes (six men and six women), body composition in dual X-ray absorptiometry, and physiological variables in an incremental cardiopulmonary test. Ironman 70.3 São Paulo–Brazil 2023 was completed by all participants. The relationship between performance and the variables measured were investigated, and a multiple regression model for cycling split time and overall race time was developed. Functional threshold power (FTP) can predict cycling split time in Ironman 70.3 (r2 = 0.638, p = 0.002). Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (r2 = 0.667, p = 0.001) can predict overall race time. FTP and VO2max are also strongly related to lean mass and fat mass percentage. While FTP is the most important predictor of cycling split time, V˙O2max is the most important predictor of overall race time in an Ironman 70.3. Furthermore, because body composition (fat mass %) and muscle mass (kg) are variables strongly related to FTP and VO2max, we recommend that coaches and athletes consider to conduct a body composition assessment.

The fastest 24-hour ultramarathoners are from Eastern Europe

Ultramarathon running is of increasing popularity, where the time-limited 24-hour run is one of the most popular events. Although we have a high scientific knowledge about different topics for this specific race format, we do not know where the best 24-hour runners originate from and where the fastest races are held. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the origin of these runners and the fastest race locations. A machine learning model based on the XG Boost algorithm was built to predict running speed based on the athlete´s age, gender, country of origin and the country where the race takes place. Model explainability tools were used to investigate how each independent variable would influence the predicted running speed. A sample of 171,358 race records from 63,514 unique runners from 73 countries participating in 24-hour races held in 57 countries between 1807 and 2022 was analyzed. Most of the athletes originated from the USA, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Russia, Australia, Austria, and Canada. Tunisian athletes achieved the fastest average running speed, followed by runners from Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Island, Croatia, Slovenia, and Israel. Regarding the country of the event, the ranking looks quite similar to the participation by the athlete, suggesting a high correlation between the country of origin and the country of the event. The fastest 24-hour races are recorded in Israel, Romania, Korea, the Netherlands, Russia, and Taiwan. On average, men were 0.4 km/h faster than women, and the fastest runners belonged to age groups 35–39, 40–44, and 45–49 years. In summary, the 24-hour race format is spread over the world, and the fastest athletes mainly originate from Eastern Europe, while the fastest races were organized in European and Asian countries.

Associations between environmental factors and running performance: An observational study of the Berlin Marathon

Extensive research has delved into the impact of environmental circumstances on the pacing and performance of professional marathon runners. However, the effects of environmental conditions on the pacing strategies employed by marathon participants in general remain relatively unexplored. This study aimed to examine the potential associations between various environmental factors, encompassing temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloud cover, wind speed, and dew point, and the pacing behavior of men and women. The retrospective analysis involved a comprehensive dataset comprising records from a total of 668,509 runners (520,521 men and 147,988 women) who participated in the ’Berlin Marathon’ events between the years 1999 and 2019. Through correlations, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, and machine learning (ML) methods, we investigated the relationships between adjusted average temperature values, barometric pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloud cover, wind speed, and dew point, and their impact on race times and paces. This analysis was conducted across distinct performance groups, segmented by 30-minute intervals, for race durations between 2 hours and 30 minutes to 6 hours. The results revealed a noteworthy negative correlation between rising temperatures and declining humidity throughout the day and the running speed of marathon participants in the ’Berlin Marathon.’ This effect was more pronounced among men than women. The average pace for the full race showed positive correlations with temperature and minutes of sunshine for both men and women. However, it is important to note that the predictive capacity of our model, utilizing weather variables as predictors, was limited, accounting for only 10% of the variance in race pace. The susceptibility to temperature and humidity fluctuations exhibited a discernible increase as the marathon progressed. While weather conditions exerted discernible influences on running speeds and outcomes, they did not emerge as significant predictors of pacing.

Sex difference in IRONMAN age group triathletes

The sex difference in athletic performance has been thoroughly investigated in single sport disciplines such as swimming, cycling, and running. In contrast, only small samples of long-distance triathlons, such as the IRONMAN® triathlon, have been investigated so far. The aim of the study was to examine potential sex differences in the three split disciplines by age groups in 5-year intervals in a very large data set of IRONMAN® age group triathletes. Data from 687,696 (553,608 men and 134,088 women) IRONMAN® age group triathletes (in 5-year intervals from 18–24 to 75+ years) finishing successfully between 2002 and 2022 an official IRONMAN® race worldwide were analyzed. The differences in performance between women and men were determined for each split discipline and for the overall race distance. Most finishers were in the age group 40–44 years. The fastest women were in the age group 25–29 years, and the fastest men were in the age group 30–34 years. For all split disciplines and overall race time, men were always faster than women in all groups. The performance difference between the sexes was more pronounced in cycling compared to swimming and running. From the age group 35–39 years until 60–64 years, the sex differences were nearly identical in swimming and running. For both women and men, the smallest sex difference was least significant in age group 18–24 years for all split disciplines and increased in a U-shaped manner until age group 70–74 years. For age groups 75 years and older, the sex difference decreased in swimming and cycling but increased in running. Considering the different characteristics of the race courses, the smallest performance gaps between men and women were found in river swimming, flat surface cycling and rolling running courses. The sex difference in the IRONMAN® triathlon was least significant in age group 18–24 years for all split disciplines and increased in a U-shaped manner until age group 70–74 years. For 75 years and older, the sex difference decreased in swimming and cycling but increased in running.

Road and trail running from 5 km to an ultra-marathon – trends in Switzerland from 1999 to 2019

This study aimed to verify participation and performance in all road and trail-based races in Switzerland over two decades (1999–2019). This is a secondary data-based study. We used 1,149,182 race records (788,818 from men and 360,364 from women) from 407,944 unique finishers of the 5 km, 10 km, half-marathon, marathon, and ultra-marathon races in Switzerland, between 1999 and 2019. Data included the athletes’ genders, ages, race distances, and types of races (road or trail). the men to-women ratio was calculated and box plots were used to present differences according to gender, age groups, and race distances in both terrains. Differences between the groups were calculated. The men-to-women ratio has generally decreased in all race distances over the years. runners competing in road based races were faster than those in a trail run in all distances. Men had faster finish times than women independent of age, except those competing in 10 km trail races. In road-based races, the men-to-women ratio was higher among older marathoners, while for trail runs, a higher men-to-women ratio was shown for older half-marathoners and participants in 10 km races. For 5 km, 10 km, half-marathon, and ultra-marathon races, a decrease in running speed differences was shown until the age of 50 years. In Switzerland, most of the runners competed in road-based races, but the interest in trail running has increased. the men-to-women ratio declined over time, which could show an increase in the interest of women to participate in endurance activities.