Influence of a slow-start on overall performance and running kinematics during 6-h ultramarathon races

Abstract The aim of this study was to describe the pacing during a 6-h ultramarathon (race 1) and to investigate whether a slow-start affects performance, running kinematic changes, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and fatigue (ROF) (race 2). After a critical speed test, participants completed two 6-h ultramarathons. Race 1 (n = 16) was self-paced, whereas in race 2 (n = 10), athletes performed the initial 36 min at speeds 18% below the mean speed of the initial 36 min of race 1. In race 1, participants adopted an inverse sigmoid pacing. Contact times increased after 1 h, and flight times decreased after 30 min (all P ≤ .009); stride length reduced after 1 h 30 min (all P = .022), and stride frequency did not change. Despite the lower speeds during the first 10% of race 2, and higher speeds at 50% and 90%, performance remained unchanged (57.5 ± 10.2 vs. 56.3 ± 8.5 km; P = .298). However, RPE and ROF were lowered for most of race 2 duration (all P < .001). For the comparison of kinematic variables between races, data were normalised by absolute running speed at each time point from 1 h onwards. No differences were found for any of the kinematic variables. In conclusion, decreasing initial speed minimises RPE and ROF, but does not necessarily affect performance. In addition, running kinematic changes do not seem to be affected by pacing manipulation.

[1]  Pierre Samozino,et al.  Changes in running kinematics, kinetics, and spring-mass behavior over a 24-h run. , 2011, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[2]  S. Mclean,et al.  Influence of exercise duration on cardiorespiratory responses, energy cost and tissue oxygenation within a 6 hour treadmill run , 2017, PeerJ.

[3]  M. Hoffman Pacing by winners of a 161-km mountain ultramarathon. , 2014, International journal of sports physiology and performance.

[4]  G. Millet,et al.  Central and peripheral contributions to neuromuscular fatigue induced by a 24-h treadmill run. , 2010, Journal of applied physiology.

[5]  E. B. Akimov,et al.  Physiological effects of an ultra-marathon run , 2012, Human Physiology.

[6]  Wayne Lombard,et al.  Reliability of metrics associated with a counter-movement jump performed on a force plate , 2017 .

[7]  DAVID J. Smith,et al.  Training principles and issues for ultra-endurance athletes , 2005, Current sports medicine reports.

[8]  P. Taboga,et al.  Changes in Running Mechanics During a 6-Hour Running Race. , 2017, International journal of sports physiology and performance.

[9]  F. Hettinga,et al.  Pacing Decision Making in Sport and the Effects of Interpersonal Competition: A Critical Review , 2018, Sports Medicine.

[10]  Samuele M. Marcora,et al.  The limit to exercise tolerance in humans: mind over muscle? , 2010, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[11]  G. Millet,et al.  Stress and recovery states after a 24 h ultra-marathon race: A one-month follow-up study , 2011 .

[12]  Arthur Henrique Bossi,et al.  Pacing Strategy During 24-Hour Ultramarathon-Distance Running. , 2017, International journal of sports physiology and performance.

[13]  L. Passfield,et al.  A Novel Field Test to Determine Critical Speed , 2011 .

[14]  G. Millet,et al.  Calf Compression Sleeves Change Biomechanics but Not Performance and Physiological Responses in Trail Running , 2017, Front. Physiol..

[15]  M. Hoffman,et al.  Influence of temperature and performance level on pacing a 161 km trail ultramarathon. , 2011, International journal of sports physiology and performance.

[16]  V. Tricoli,et al.  The countermovement jump to monitor neuromuscular status: A meta-analysis. , 2017, Journal of science and medicine in sport.

[17]  L. Passfield,et al.  A 1-year study of endurance runners: training, laboratory tests, and field tests. , 2014, International journal of sports physiology and performance.

[18]  G. Millet,et al.  High-intensity sprint fatigue does not alter constant-submaximal velocity running mechanics and spring-mass behavior , 2011, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[19]  G. Millet,et al.  Neuromuscular Consequences of an Extreme Mountain Ultra-Marathon , 2011, PloS one.

[20]  John P. Porcari,et al.  Regulation of Pacing Strategy during Athletic Competition , 2011, PloS one.

[21]  G. Borg Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. , 1982, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[22]  The effect of 6 h of running on brain activity, mood, and cognitive performance , 2016, Experimental Brain Research.

[23]  Grégoire P. Millet,et al.  Influence of the world’s most challenging mountain ultra-marathon on energy cost and running mechanics , 2014, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[24]  G. Millet,et al.  Does the Running Economy Really Increase after Ultra-Marathons? , 2017, Front. Physiol..

[25]  Mike I Lambert,et al.  Changes in Running Speeds in a 100 KM Ultra-Marathon Race. , 2004, Journal of sports science & medicine.

[26]  C. Capelli,et al.  Running economy during a simulated 60-km trial. , 2014, International journal of sports physiology and performance.

[27]  M. Hoffman,et al.  Sacrificing economy to improve running performance--a reality in the ultramarathon? , 2012, Journal of applied physiology.

[28]  Francis Degache,et al.  Changes in running mechanics and spring-mass behaviour induced by a 5-hour hilly running bout , 2013, Journal of sports sciences.

[29]  Gerald Matthews,et al.  Assessment of Motivational States in Performance Environments , 2001 .

[30]  Chris R Abbiss,et al.  Describing and Understanding Pacing Strategies during Athletic Competition , 2008, Sports medicine.

[31]  R. Meeusen,et al.  Role of Ratings of Perceived Exertion during Self-Paced Exercise: What are We Actually Measuring? , 2015, Sports Medicine.

[32]  Louise Martin,et al.  The influence of performance level, age and gender on pacing strategy during a 100-km ultramarathon , 2016, European journal of sport science.

[33]  B. Knechtle,et al.  Pacing strategy in male elite and age group 100 km ultra-marathoners , 2015, Open access journal of sports medicine.

[34]  G. Millet,et al.  The time courses of runners’ recovery-stress responses after a mountain ultra-marathon: Do appraisals matter? , 2019, European journal of sport science.

[35]  Y. Nabekura,et al.  Pacing strategy in a 24-hour ultramarathon race , 2016 .

[36]  Paavo V. Komi,et al.  A simple method for measurement of mechanical power in jumping , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[37]  L. Passfield,et al.  A single-visit field test of critical speed. , 2014, International journal of sports physiology and performance.

[38]  A. Bosch,et al.  Similarities and Differences in Pacing Patterns in a 161-km and 101-km Ultra-Distance Road Race , 2016, Journal of strength and conditioning research.

[39]  A. St. Clair Gibson,et al.  Development and Validity of the Rating-of-Fatigue Scale , 2017, Sports Medicine.