Even Pacing Is Associated with Faster Finishing Times in Ultramarathon Distance Trail Running—The “Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc” 2008–2019

Daniel Suter, Caio Victor Sousa, Lee Hill, Volker Scheer, Pantelis Theo Nikolaidis and Beat Knechtle
Additional contact information
Daniel Suter: Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
Caio Victor Sousa: Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Lee Hill: Division of Gastroenterology & Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada
Volker Scheer: Ultra Sports Science Foundation, 109 Boulevard de l’Europe, 69310 Pierre-Bénite, France
Pantelis Theo Nikolaidis: School of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Beat Knechtle: Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-11

Abstract: In recent years, there has been an increasing number of investigations analyzing the effects of sex, performance level, and age on pacing in various running disciplines. However, little is known about the impact of those factors on pacing strategies in ultramarathon trail running. This study investigated the effects of age, sex, and performance level on pacing in the UTMB ® (Ultra-trail du Mont Blanc) and aimed to verify previous findings obtained in the research on other running disciplines and other ultramarathon races. Data from the UTMB ® from 2008 to 2019 for 13,829 race results (12,681 men and 1148 women) were analyzed. A general linear model (two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)) was applied to identify a sex, age group, and interaction effect in pace average and pace variation. A univariate model (one-way ANOVA) was used to identify a sex effect for age, pace average, and pace variation for the fastest men and women. In our study, pace average and a steadier pace were positively correlated. Even pacing throughout the UTMB ® correlated with faster finishing times. The average pace depended significantly on sex and age group. When considering the top five athletes in each age group, sex and age group also had significant effects on pace variation. The fastest women were older than the fastest men, and the fastest men were faster than the fastest women. Women had a higher pace variation than men. In male competitors, younger age may be advantageous for a successful finish of the UTMB ® . Faster male runners seemed to be younger in ultramarathon trail running with large changes in altitude when compared to other distances and terrains.

Keywords: pacing; trail running; sex difference; ultramarathon (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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