Similarities and differences in anthropometry and training between recreational male 100-km ultra-marathoners and marathoners.
Several recent investigations showed that the best marathon time of an individual athlete is also a strong predictor variable for the race time in a 100-km ultra-marathon. We investigated similarities and differences in anthropometry and training characteristics between 166 100-km ultra-marathoners and 126 marathoners in recreational male athletes. The association of anthropometric variables and training characteristics with race time was assessed by using bi- and multi-variate analysis. Regarding anthropometry, the marathoners had a significantly lower calf circumference (P < 0.05) and a significantly thicker skinfold at pectoral (P < 0.01), axilla (P < 0.05), and suprailiacal sites (P < 0.05) compared to the ultra-marathoners. Considering training characteristics, the marathoners completed significantly fewer hours (P < 0.001) and significantly fewer kilometres (P < 0.001) during the week, but they were running significantly faster during training (P < 0.001). The multi-variate analysis showed that age (P < 0.0001), body mass (P = 0.011), and percent body fat (P = 0.019) were positively and weekly running kilometres (P < 0.0001) were negatively related to 100-km race times in the ultra-marathoners. In the marathoners, percent body fat (P = 0.002) was positively and speed in running training (P < 0.0001) was negatively associated with marathon race times. In conclusion, these data suggest that performance in both marathoners and 100-km ultra-marathoners is inversely related to body fat. Moreover, marathoners rely more on speed in running during training whereas ultra-marathoners rely on volume in running training.
Institute of General Practice and for Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Christoph Alexander
CA
Rüst
Beat
B
Knechtle
Patrizia
P
Knechtle
Thomas
T
Rosemann
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001823:Body Composition; D049628:Body Size; D001835:Body Weight; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010807:Physical Endurance; D005082:Physical Exertion; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011998:Recreation; D012420:Running; D012885:Skinfold Thickness