Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, and pulmonary function changes associated with an ultraendurance triathlon.

Objective: We studied 8 triathletes competing in the 3-day World Ultraman Championships (day 1: 10-km swim, 165-km bike; day 2: 261-km bike; day 3: 85-km run) to determine the effect of extreme physical exertion on heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and pulmonary function, and their relation to overall athletic performance.

Methods: Baseline HR, MAP and pulmonary function measurements were made 2 days before the start of competition. During the competition, HR and MAP measurements were made less than 30 minutes before the start and 10 minutes after the finish each race day.

Physiological responses of ultraendurance athletes and nonathletes during an attempt to summit Denali.

Objective: To compare altitude responses of 2 ultraendurance athletes and 2 nonathletes during a 2-week expedition on Denali (Mount McKinley).

Methods: The severity of acute mountain sickness (AMS) symptoms (Lake Louise AMS guidelines) and pulmonary function parameters (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, peak expiratory flow) as well as resting heart rate and arterial oxygen saturation measurements were taken during the climb. Baseline measurements were made at 375 m, and field tests were performed at altitudes of 2200 m, 2400 m, 3000 m, 3400 m, 4100 m, 4300 m, and 10 m.

Cardiopulmonary physiology and responses of ultramarathon athletes to prolonged exercise.

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes of pulmonary function and autonomic cardiovascular control after an ultramarathon and their relation to performance. Eight entrants to the Canadian National Championship 100-km running race participated in the study. Pulmonary function and 30-s maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV30s) tests were conducted one day before the race and within 5 minutes of race completion.