Ultramarathon running: Medical issues

Abstract

An ultra-endurance performance is defined as any performance lasting for longer than six hours. Ultramarathons can be held as single stage races in distance- and time-limited races and as multistage races. The longest ultramarathons cover several thousands of kilometers and can endure for up to two months. Ultramarathoners were generally men, have a mean age of ~45 years, are married, and are well educated where percentage of female finishers is at ~20 %. Ultramarathoners are different to marathoners regarding anthropometry and training where ultramarathoners complete more running kilometers in training than marathoners do, but they run more slowly during training than marathoners. Apart from anthropometric characteristics such as body mass index and body as well as training characteristics such as volume and speed during running training, previous experience is the most important predictor variable for successful ultramarathon performance. Generally, women compete slower than men in ultramarathon running; however, women were able to reduce the sex gap in recent years. The fastest race times are achieved at 35-45 years for both women and men. Generally, ultramarathoners are not able to meet their energetic demands during a race and a partially considerable energy deficit results. The main running-related musculoskeletal injuries in ultramarathoners were Achilles tendinopathy and patellofemoral syndrome. Although we know a lot about physiology, anthropometry, training, and performance in these ultramarathoners, we do not know why these persons compete in these races, what motivates them, and why the number of master ultramarathoners increases across years.