Citation

Khodaee M, Spittler J, Hill J, Hoffman M. Br. J. Sports Med. 2014; 48(7): 619.

Affiliation

University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.160

PMID

24620201

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effect of injuries during training on ultramarathon performance. OBJECTIVE: Determine effects of injuries during training on race performance. DESIGN: Observational study using a self-administered pre-race survey. Finish times were obtained from race results posted online. SETTING: The 2013 Leadville Trail 100 (LT100) and Western States Endurance Run (WSER). PARTICIPANTS: Participants of LT100 and WSER 161 km ultramarathons. RISK FACTOR ASSESSMENT: Age, gender, educational level, prior completion of a 161 km ultramarathon, shoe type, self-report of foot strike pattern, and injuries or illnesses interfering with training in the past year were considered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome measure was whether sustaining an injury or illness resulting in missed training days affected successful completion of an ultramarathon. RESULTS: Out of 1206 LT100 and 408 WSER entrants, 893 and 368 completed the pre-race survey (73.9% and 90.1%, respectively). Most participants were male (82%) with average age of 41 years. 52.3% of LT100 and 72.3% of WSER starters finished the races under the 30 hour cutoff time. Among respondents, 40% had masters or higher degrees and 45% reported using dietary supplements on a regular basis. Respondents reported 1432 (multiple answers per runner) injury episodes causing less than a week of missed training and 641 injury episodes causing a week or longer of missed training in the past year. Pain in Achilles (n=196), lower iliotibial band (n=164), upper hamstring (n=115), and groin pain (n=106) were the most common reported issues interfering with training. Only 45 (2.8%) of respondents reported sustaining a stress fracture during training in the past year. Of these, 27 (60%) involved the metatarsals and 10 (22%) involved the tibia. Using a binary logistic regression model, sustaining an injury during the training, age, gender, educational level, prior completion of a 161 km ultramarathon, shoe type, and self-report of foot strike pattern did not affect finish status (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Many ultramarathon runners sustain injuries and illnesses interfering with training schedule, but this does not seem to be a predictor of successfully completing the race.

Language: en