Publication detail

Prediction of marathon race time from physiological and training characteristics of male recreational runners

CHLÍBKOVÁ, D. KNECHTLE, B. NIKOLAIDIS, P.

Original Title

Prediction of marathon race time from physiological and training characteristics of male recreational runners

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Aim: Despite the increased popularity of outdoor endurance running races of different distances, little information exists about the role of training and physiological characteristics of recreational runners. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of training and physiological characteristics on the performance of recreational marathon runners. Methods: Recreational male marathon runners (n=125) - who finished the Athens classic marathon 2017 - performed a series of anthropometry and physical fitness tests including body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), sit-and-reach test (SAR), isometric muscle strength (assessed as the sum of four tests: right and left handgrip, trunk and legs dynamometry divided by body mass), squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ). Results: Running speed during the race correlated moderately with age (r=-0.34, p<0.001), and largely with the number of weekly training days (r=0.53, p<0.001) and weekly running distance (r=0.59, p<0.001), but not with the number of previously finished marathons (r=0.07, p=0.229). With regards to physiological characteristics, running speed correlated largely with body mass (r=-0.52, p<0.001), BMI (r=-0.60, p<0.001), BF (r=-0.64, p<0.001), VO2max (r=0.66, p<0.001), moderately with isometric muscle strength (r=0.42, p<0.001), small with anaerobic muscle power (r=0.19, p=0.019), but not with SAR (r=0.08, p=0.187), SJ (r=0.11, p=0.119) and CMJ (r=0.11, p=0.122). Race speed could be predicted (R2=0.63, standard error of the estimate=1.14) using the formula ‘8.76+0.101× VO2max +0.031×weekly training distance in km-0.201×BMI’. Conclusion: These findings highlighted the role of aerobic capacity, training and body mass status for the performance of recreational male runners in a marathon race. Considering the increased number of recreational runners competing in marathon races, the findings would be of great practical importance for coaches and trainers.

Keywords

physiological characteristics, performance prediction in marathon run, anthropometric characteristics

Authors

CHLÍBKOVÁ, D.; KNECHTLE, B.; NIKOLAIDIS, P.

Released

3. 10. 2019

Publisher

Scandinavian Physiological Society. Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

Location

United States

ISBN

1748-1716

Periodical

Acta Physiologica

Year of study

227

Number

S719

State

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Pages from

1

Pages to

2

Pages count

2

URL

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336148111_Prediction_of_Marathon_Race_Time_from_Physiological_and_Training_Characteristics_of_Male_Recreational_Runners

BibTex

@article{BUT159535,
  author="Daniela {Chlíbková} and Beat {Knechtle} and Pantelis T. {Nikolaidis}",
  title="Prediction of marathon race time from physiological and training characteristics of male recreational runners",
  journal="Acta Physiologica",
  year="2019",
  volume="227",
  number="S719",
  pages="1--2",
  issn="1748-1716",
  url="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336148111_Prediction_of_Marathon_Race_Time_from_Physiological_and_Training_Characteristics_of_Male_Recreational_Runners"
}

Documents

Prediction of Marathon Race Time from Physiological and Training Characteristics of Male Recreational Runners.pdf