Mountain Running Research Articles

Anthropometry and Dietary Intake before and during a Competition in Mountain Runners.

Mountain running is a non-Olympic sport consisting of uphill or up- and downhill races at moderate-to-high altitude. Special nutritional requirements are anticipated, but no nutritional data of mountain runners are available. In three studies, physique of elite and recreational athletes (N = 62), maximum oxygen uptake (N = 3), and prerace and race day dietary intake (N = 6) were measured (mean ± SD). Mean oxygen uptake was 68.7 ± 5.2 mL/kg/min. Energy and carbohydrate intake before a race (29 ± 15 km, 1596 ± 556 m HD) was 3199 ± 701 kcal/d (13.4 ± 2.9 MJ/d) and 497 ± 128 g/d (8.3 ± 1.8 g/kg/d) in German national team members. Fluid intake was calculated as 2783 ± 1543 mL/d. During the race, athletes consumed 336 ± 364 kcal and 927 ± 705 mL of fluids. Substrate intake per hour was calculated as 23 ± 22 g of carbohydrates and 4.0 ± 3.2 g of proteins. In conclusion, anthropometric and oxygen uptake characteristics of mountain runners were similar to those reported for elite distance runners. Carbohydrate intake before and during the race was below recommendations for endurance athletes. This is of concern when considering the increased reliance on carbohydrates at altitude.

Race Performance and Exercise Intensity of Male Amateur Mountain Runners During a Multistage Mountain Marathon Competition Are Not Dependent on Muscle Strength Loss or Cardiorespiratory Fitness

The aims of this study were to quantify the cardiorespiratory fitness level of amateur mountain runners and to characterize the related cardiorespiratory and muscular strain during a multistage competition. Therefore, 16 male amateur participants performed an incremental treadmill test before the Transalpine-Run 2010. Besides race time, heart rate (HR) was monitored using portable HR monitors during all stages, and countermovement jump ability was assessed after each stage. Overall race time and race times of the single stages were not related to any of the cardiorespiratory fitness parameters assessed during the incremental treadmill test (e.g., V[Combining Dot Above]O2max, ventilatory threshold). Average HR during the first stage was 81 ± 7% of the maximal HR and decreased to 73 ± 6% during the following stages. Creatine kinase activity as an indirect marker of muscle damage and strain amounted to 1,100 ± 619 U·L-1 after the third stage and was related to the decrease in the mean HR between stage 1 and stage 2 (r = -0.616, p < 0.05). Jump ability decreased continuously in the course of the race but was not related to exercise intensity. In conclusion, this study showed that race performance during a multistage mountain marathon does not depend on cardiorespiratory fitness parameters determined in the laboratory. Furthermore, the mean HR decreased after the first stage and remained constant during the following stages independent of the decreased muscle strength. We interpret these data to mean that performance differences were a result of insufficient recovery after the first day of multistage mountain running and the different individual pacing strategies. It is worth mentioning that also other factors, not determined in this investigation, could be responsible for the present outcomes (e.g., nutrition, genetics, psychological and environmental factors, or different training programs).

En sti er en sti – eller? Udvalgte resultater fra projektet Rum og rammer for aktivt udeliv

Research indicates that physical surroundings and outdoor facilities have an impact on peoples active outdoor recreation. Most research however has a quantitative approach, and there seems to be a lack of research and knowledge regarding people’s preferences and experiences of places related to their activity and their motives for being active in the outdoors. The study Rum og rammer for aktivt udeliv [Spaces for Active Outdoor Recreation]intends to study specific places and analyse how and why these places correspond to motives and needs from selected groups of users. Methods are case studies using observation and qualitative interviews. In this article we present selected results regarding motives for outdoor recreation and meanings and implications of paths to mountain bikers and runners. Results show both important differences and similarities with regard to motives and to meanings and implications of paths between mountain bikers and runners. The study underlines the importance of taking a qualitative approach looking at specific places and specific groups. It gives valuable knowledge to be used in planning and designing for active outdoor recreation with perspectives to improving people’s health and quality of life.

Effects of Individual Aerobic Performance on Finish Time in Mountain Running

It was hypothesized that for each mountain running competition, there is a certain individual performance level below which running times increase dramatically. The running times of 869 finishers of 3 international mountain running competitions have been analysed. A hyperbolic association was demonstrated between finish times in mountain running competitions and individual performance at the anaerobic threshold (VO2AT(Race)). Due to the non-linear association, there is an increasing effect on both the finish time and the change of finish time with decreasing aerobic performance. In all three competitions, the change of finish time is about 7 times more pronounced in mountain runners with the lowest VO2ATL,, compared to those with the highest values of VO2AT(Race). Both athletes and organizers should keep in mind these effects of decreasing aerobic performance on running times and potentially associated risks.

Validation of a German Version of the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS28) and Motivation Analysis in Competitive Mountain Runners

This study validated a German version of the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS28) and investigated the sex-specific and age-related differences in motivation of competitive mountain runners. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the SMS28 was based on translation and back-translation methodology. Acceptable validity of the German version of the SMS28 was indicated by the high correlations (.81 to .98) of scores on the seven subscales for the English and German versions completed by 15 subjects. Motivation analysis was performed with 127 competitive male and female mountain runners. The seven subscales of the German version showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's coefficient alphas .70 to .85). Findings on motivation of competitive mountain runners were a decline across age groups of Intrinsic motivation toward accomplishment for both sexes and an age-related decline of External regulation only for females. These motivational changes might well be associated with the observed diminishing numbers of older participants in mountain running competitions.

Significance of pollen and spores distribution to the barrier function of the Longitudinal Range-Gorge Region, Southwest China

35 surface soil samples and 28 profile soil samples were collected in Longitudinal Range-Gorge Region, Southwest China. The distribution of pollen and spores and their relationship with the environment are analyzed. The results show that there are significant differences in pollen and spores taxa, amounts, dominant taxa and florae between the eastern and western flanks of the Ailao Mountain. There are more pollen and spores taxa, a greater amount and complexity on the western flank of the mountain than those on the eastern flank, while the dominant taxa are more centralized and prominent on the eastern flank of the Ailao Mountain. As for the plant florae distribution, there are significant differences in the number of taxa and composition between the eastern and the western flanks. The analysis of profile pollen and spores assemblage shows that its trends of variation are basically in accordance with the surface pollen and spores, which are also indicators of the environmental differences between the two flanks of the mountain. These significant spatial differences of pollen and spores are very close to the regional topography and climate difference. The mountain running perpendicular to the moisture-laden air flow serves as a barrier and the monsoon circulations the east and the west of the mountain result in different energy-moisture characteristics. We conclude that the main patterns of the pollen and spores can be attributed to the environmental differences.

Towards research-based approaches for solving body composition problems in sports: ski jumping as a heuristic example

Extremely low body weight and associated eating and body composition disorders are becoming prevalent in many sports, and can be summarised into three groups: I. Sports in which weight restricts...

Superior Endurance Performance in Aging Mountain Runners

Background: Oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold (VO₂AT) is considered as the main determinant for endurance performance in humans. Endurance performance steeply decreases with aging but seems to be kept exceedingly high in elite mountain runners. Methods: To obtain the age- and gender-related upper limits of endurance performance in this sport, we analyzed the results of the World Masters Athletic Championships in Mountain Running 2007. Additionally, to investigate the relationship between the individual VO₂AT values and running times, laboratory tests were performed in 10 mountain runners. Results: The World Championships race times of the first 5 finishers of the 5-year age groups did not differ significantly from 35 to 49 years. The corresponding mean (± SD) values of the VO₂AT were 68.0 ± 1.7 ml/min/kg in males and 58.1 ± 1.9 ml/min/kg in females. In the following age groups up to 70+ there was a decrease in the VO₂AT of 29.1% in males and 33.9% in females. Conclusion: Thus, at the beginning of the 3rd millennium, elite mountain runners demonstrate that VO₂AT and probably also VO_2max may be held at top levels in humans up to the age of 45–49 years in both sexes. Despite the following decrease, endurance capacity remains about 3.5-fold higher in elite mountain runners up to 70+ years when compared to their untrained peers.

Effects of Extreme Endurance Running on Cardiac Autonomic Nervous Modulation in Healthy Trained Subjects

This study examined spectral components of heart rate variability (HRV) during endurance mountain running in 8 healthy trained subjects. The data showed that during this type of mountain running, all spectral components of HRV may severely decrease, particularly very-low-frequency and low-frequency (LF) power, suggesting extreme activation of the sympathetic nervous system. The physiologic response of the heart in this situation was the downregulation of the beta-adrenergic receptors to protect myocardial function, with a subsequent increase in parasympathetic tone, reflected by an increase in high-frequency (HF) power and a decrease in the LF/HF ratio.

Fauna of Ephemeroptera in the running waters of west Serbia

During the period 1988 - 1996 the Ephemeroptera diversity in West Serbia was studied. These investigations included 124 springs, considerable number of spring regions, as well as rivers: the Susica, Djetinja, Skrapez Pocibrava, Banja, Gradac, Jablanica, Obnica and Kolubara. Total of 45 taxa belonging to 8 families were identified. At the majority of sampling locations: Baetis rhodani, Baetis sp., Ecdyonurus sp., Ephemera danica Ephemerella ignita, Caenis moesta, Habroleptoides modesta and Ilhitrogena semicolorata were present. The smallest Ephemeroptera diversity in the studied waters was recorded in springs and the greatest one in middle parts of the mountain running waters.

Comparison of quaternary deposit environment among Lushan, Huangshan and Tianmu mountains

The data of Fe3+/Fe2+ show that the lowest annual air temperature of the Lushan, Huangshan and Tianmu mountains was not below 0°C, therefore, glacier couldn’t develop in these regions. According to palaeomagnetic test combined with the phenomenon of reticulate pattern ground and lithologic identification, the authors elaborate that the “Poyang moraine” is mainly the fluvial sediments of the early period of the Middle Pleistocene. It was formed by transportation of the ancient Ganjiang River under the humid hot climate. For CM image, the Dajiaochang profile of the Lushan Mountain is very similar to periglacial and the debris flow deposits, but the profile of Jiangpochang and Yaoshaling have many kinds of geneses, i.e., debris flow, water debris flow and alluvial etc. In the south piedmont of the Huangshan Mountain, slope gravity and slope seasonal running water transportation are mainly deposit factors. In the “glacial varve” of the Denglongqiao profile of the Tianmu Mountain, its CaO and Na2O content is lower than the nonglacial varve, the fact shows that it has the features of the violent leaching, weathering and nonglacial action.

Mountain running

Mountain running

The Economic Benefits of Mountain Running The Pike's Peak Marathon

This paper reports willingness to pay for a trip to participate in the Pikes Peak Marathon as estimated by travel cost analysis of published 1981 to 1984 race results. Stratification of the demand ...