HEAT STRESS AFFECTS HIGH ABILITY MARATHONERS MORE THAN LOWER ABILITY ATHLETES

Ely, M. R., Martin, D. E., Cheuvront, S. N., & Montain, S. J. (2008). Effect of heat stress on marathon pacing is dependent on runner ability. ACSM 55th Annual Meeting Indianapolis, Presentation Number, 1932.

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This study determined how heat stress influenced the pacing of runners of differing abilities throughout a marathon. Race results were obtained from three Japanese Women’s championship marathons that included 5-km splits, finishing time, and corresponding weather conditions. A total of 62 race years’ outcomes were analyzed using the race winner and 25th, 50th and 100th place finishers.

The difference between the first (0-5-km) and last (35-40-km) 5-km split times (the pace differential) for the 100th place finishers was the same in cool (5-10°C) as temperate (15.1-21°C) conditions. The pace differential for the 50th place finishers tended to increase with heat stress but was not significantly different. In contrast, heat stress resulted in a slowing of pace for the 25th place finishers and race winners.

Implication. Heat stress had a greater negative effect on the ability of faster runners (winner, 25th place) to maintain race pace while having no significant effect on slower runners (50th, 100th place).

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