COVID-19 Infection in Ultramarathon Runners: Findings of the Ultrarunners Longitudinal TRAcking Study.

Objective: Ultramarathon runners are a unique patient population who have been shown to have a lower rate of severe chronic medical conditions. This study aimed to determine the effect that COVID-19 infection has had on this population and their running behavior.

Design: The Ultrarunners Longitudinal TRAcking (ULTRA) Study is a large longitudinal study of ultramarathon runners.

Repeatability of Ad Libitum Water Intake during Repeated 1 h Walking/Jogging Exercise Sessions Conducted under Hot Ambient Conditions.

A drinking strategy aiming to replace a given percentage of the sweat losses incurred during exercise should result in reproducible fluid intake volume and, hence, fluid balance from one exercise session to the other performed under similar scenarios. Whether this may also be the case with ad libitum drinking during exercise is unclear. We characterized the repeatability of ad libitum water intake during repeated 1 h exercise sessions and examined its effect over time on fluid balance and selected physiological functions and perceptual sensations.

The Foot and Ankle in Ultramarathon Runners: Results of the Ultrarunners Longitudinal TRAcking (ULTRA) Study.

Background: The foot and ankle play a critical role in ultramarathon running. Because foot and ankle injuries are the most common location of injury in this group, proper care is essential for prevention. In this sport, small issues can become big problems over such long distances, and understanding the preventative measures taken by ultramarathon runners may provide insight for other athletes looking to avoid similar problems.

Programmed vs. Thirst-Driven Drinking during Prolonged Cycling in a Warm Environment.

We compared the effect of programmed (PFI) and thirst-driven (TDFI) fluid intake on prolonged cycling performance and exercise associated muscle cramps (EAMC). Eight male endurance athletes (26 ± 6 years) completed two trials consisting of 5 h of cycling at 61% V˙O2peak followed by a 20 km time-trial (TT) in a randomized crossover sequence at 30 °C, 35% relative humidity. EAMC was assessed after the TT with maximal voluntary isometric contractions of the shortened right plantar flexors.

Treatment with Oral Ondansetron for Ultramarathon-Associated Nausea: The TOO FUN Study.

Nausea and vomiting are common for runners during ultramarathons and often contribute to non-finishes. We aimed to determine the efficacy of ondansetron, a commonly used antiemetic, to treat nausea and vomiting in runners during an ultramarathon. Runners who had a previous history of frequent nausea or vomiting during races and entered in 160, 80, and 55 km ultramarathons in 2018 and 2019 were randomized in a double-blind fashion to 4 mg ondansetron or placebo capsules to use if they developed nausea or vomiting during the race with the ability to take three additional doses.

State of the Science on Ultramarathon Running After a Half Century: A Systematic Analysis and Commentary.

Purpose: To systematically examine scientific publishing related to ultramarathon running.

Methods: PubMed-indexed publications through 2019 were identified in which the work involved data collection at or in association with an ultramarathon running event, included experimental running trials of ultramarathon duration using human subjects, focused on human ultramarathon runners as the study participants, or were directed at discussing some aspect of ultramarathon running or ultramarathon runners. The characteristics of each publication were tabulated.

Proteinuria in a high-altitude 161-km (100-mile) ultramarathon.

Purpose: Urine dipstick analysis (UDA) is a useful tool in clinical practices. Abnormalities in UDA parameters have been observed as a result of extreme exercise. The exact incidence of UDA abnormalities, particularly proteinuria, as the result of running ultramarathons is unknown.

Recommendations on the Appropriate Level of Medical Support at Ultramarathons.

Participation in ultramarathons continues to grow, especially among older individuals and among younger runners who may have less running and wilderness experience than many past participants. While ultramarathons tend to have relatively few serious medical issues, adverse medical incidents do occur. These factors make it increasingly important that appropriate safety precautions and medical support are defined and implemented at these events to enhance the safety of participants, spectators, and volunteers.

Participant Opinions and Expectations about Medical Services at Ultramarathons: Findings from the Ultrarunners Longitudinal TRAcking (ULTRA) Study.

Background This work explores the opinions and expectations of ultramarathon runners about medical services and their perceived quality during ultramarathons. Methods Focused questions related to medical services at ultramarathons were included in the 2018 survey of Ultrarunners Longitudinal TRAcking (ULTRA) Study enrollees. Results Among the 1,156 respondents, 83.

Too much too early? An analysis of worldwide childhood ultramarathon participation and attrition in adulthood.

Background: Physical inactivity is associated with chronic disease and premature death, but excessive exercise can also lead to injury. Ultramarathon running is popular among adults but has not been assessed in children. To analyze ultramarathon participation in children and to determine if they continue running ultramarathons into adulthood provide some evidence of associated health risks.

Belief in the need for sodium supplementation during ultramarathons remains strong: findings from the Ultrarunners Longitudinal TRAcking (ULTRA) study.

In the past, ultramarathon runners have commonly believed that consuming sodium supplements, as capsules or tablets, will prevent exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH), dehydration, muscle cramping, and nausea, but accumulating evidence indicates that sodium supplementation during ultramarathons is not necessary and may be potentially dangerous. In this work, beliefs about whether sodium supplements should be made available at ultramarathons were assessed during 2018 among 1152 participants of the Ultrarunners Longitudinal TRAcking (ULTRA) study, of which 85.2% had completed an ultramarathon during 2014-2018.

Nutrition for Ultramarathon Running: Trail, Track, and Road.

Ultramarathon running events and participation numbers have increased progressively over the past three decades. Besides the exertion of prolonged running with or without a loaded pack, such events are often associated with challenging topography, environmental conditions, acute transient lifestyle discomforts, and/or event-related health complications. These factors create a scenario for greater nutritional needs, while predisposing ultramarathon runners to multiple nutritional intake barriers.

Impact of Ad Libitum Versus Programmed Drinking on Endurance Performance: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Background: Debate continues on how athletes should hydrate during exercise. Several studies have recently been published comparing the effect of ad libitum (ALD) and programmed drinking (PD) on endurance performance (EP).

Objective: This work examined whether one drinking strategy offers an EP advantage over the other.

Proper Hydration During Ultra-endurance Activities.

The health and performance of ultra-endurance athletes is dependent on avoidance of performance limiting hypohydration while also avoiding the potentially fatal consequences of exercise-associated hyponatremia due to overhydration. In this work, key factors related to maintaining proper hydration during ultra-endurance activities are discussed. In general, proper hydration need not be complicated and has been well demonstrated to be achieved by simply drinking to thirst and consuming a typical race diet during ultra-endurance events without need for supplemental sodium.

Predicted Risk for Exacerbation of Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia from Indiscriminate Postrace Intravenous Hydration of Ultramarathon Runners.

Background: Asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) can be exacerbated by aggressive hydration.

Objective: This work predicts the percentage of athletes at risk for exacerbation of EAH from indiscriminate hydration after an ultramarathon.

Methods: Postrace serum sodium, creatinine, creatine kinase (CK), and urea nitrogen concentrations were determined for 161-km ultramarathon participants.

Predictors of clinical success with stabilization exercise are associated with lower levels of lumbar multifidus intramuscular adipose tissue in patients with low back pain.

Investigate the construct validity of prognostic factors purported to predict clinical success with stabilization exercise for low back pain by exploring their associations with lumbar multifidus composition. Patients with low back pain were recruited from a hospital imaging department. The presence of fivepredictors (age <40 years, positive prone instability test, aberrant trunk flexion movements, straight leg raise range of motion >91°, spinal hypermobility) were identified by standardized physical examination.

Correction to: Considerations in the Use of Body Mass Change to Estimate Change in Hydration Status During a 161-Kilometer Ultramarathon Running Competition.

In Table 2 of the original publication, an error was made in the calculations for endogenous substrate oxidation which, subsequently, altered the values for total change in body mass.

Ad libitum drinking adequately supports hydration during 2 h of running in different ambient temperatures.

Purpose: To examine if ad libitum drinking will adequately support hydration during exertional heat stress.

Methods: Ten endurance-trained runners ran for 2 h at 60% of maximum oxygen uptake under different conditions. Participants drank water ad libitum during separate trials at mean ambient temperatures of 22 °C, 30 °C and 35 °C.