title: Long-term ultra-marathon running and arterial compliance.
abstract: Recent reports that habitual marathon runners demonstrate higher levels of stiffness and cardiovascular risk factors have been of great interest to the medical and scientific community. Ultra-marathon running, that is any distance >42.2 km, is increasing in popularity; however, little is known regarding the physiological effects of the sport's unique training and racing practices on vascular health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize and compare the arterial compliance of male long-term (>5 years) ultra-marathoners with recreationally active controls, and examine the associations of training related practices with systemic arterial compliance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employed a case-control comparison design using long-term habitual ultra-marathon runners (n=18) and an age matched cohort of normative recreationally active males.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arterial compliance was measured at rest using radial applanation tonometry (CR-2000, HDI) for diastolic pulse contour analysis. Compliance was compared with normative data, participant characteristics, and associated exercise parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In representative ultra-endurance runners, large artery compliance of long-term participants was reduced compared with physically active age-matched controls (p=0.03) and is related to select training variables. Specifically, in a representative subset for whom we obtained detailed training data, decreased compliance was related to longer typical running distance per training session (r=-0.72, p=0.03); however, more broad definitions of frequency, intensity, and duration revealed no association for the runners as a whole.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the known associations of arterial stiffness with future cardiovascular events, ultra-endurance runners may be at an increased risk of a cardiovascular event compared with their normally active counterparts.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada, Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Activity and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, Canada; Human Performance and Health Laboratory, University of PEI, Charlottetown, Canada.
authors.forename: Jamie F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Burr
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada, Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Activity and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, Canada; Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: C Taylor
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Drury
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada, Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Activity and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, Canada; Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Aaron A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada, Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Activity and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, Canada.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivey
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada, Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Activity and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, Canada.
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada, Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Physical Activity and Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, Canada; Experimental Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Electronic address: darrenwb@mail.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Darren E R
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Warburton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003187:Compliance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Applanation tonometry; Cardiovascular risk; Exercise; Health; Physiology; Vasculature