Consistency Is Key When Setting a New World Record for Running 10 Marathons in 10 Days

Nicolas Berger, Daniel Cooley, Michael Graham, Claire Harrison, Georgia Campbell and Russ Best
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Nicolas Berger: School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Borough Road, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UK
Daniel Cooley: School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Borough Road, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UK
Michael Graham: School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Borough Road, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UK
Claire Harrison: Newcastle Nutrition Community Team, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle NE7 7AH, UK
Georgia Campbell: School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Borough Road, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UK
Russ Best: Centre for Sports Science & Human Performance, WINTEC, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-16

Abstract: Background: We describe the requirements and physiological changes when running 10 consecutive marathons in 10 days at the same consistent pace by a female ultra-endurance athlete. Methods: Sharon Gayter (SG) 54 yrs, 162.5 cm, 49.3 kg maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max) 53 mL/kg ?1 /min ?1 . SG completed 42.195 km on a treadmill every day for 10 days. We measured heart rate (HR), Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), oxygen uptake (VO 2 ), weight, body composition, blood parameters, nutrition, and hydration. Results: SG broke the previous record by ~2.5 h, with a cumulative completion time of 43 h 51 min 39 s. Over the 10 days, weight decreased from 51 kg to 48.4 kg, bodyfat mass from 9.1 kg to 7.2 kg (17.9% to 14.8%), and muscle mass from 23.2 kg to 22.8 kg. For all marathons combined, exercise intensity was ~60% VO 2 max; VO 2 1.6 ± 0.1 L.min ?1 /32.3 ± 1.1 mL.kg ?1 .min ?1 , RER 0.8 ± 0, HR 143 ± 4 b.min ?1 . Energy expenditure (EE) was 2030 ± 82 kcal/marathon, total EE for 10 days (including BMR) was 33,056 kcal, daily energy intake (EI) 2036 ± 418 kcal (20,356 kcal total), resulting an energy deficit (ED) of 12,700 kcal. Discussion: Performance and pacing were highly consistent across all 10 marathons without any substantial physiological decrements. Although overall EI did not match EE, leading to a significant ED, resulting in a 2.6 kg weight loss and decreases in bodyfat and skeletal muscle mass, this did not affect performance.

Keywords: ultra-endurance; Marathon; pacing; energy expenditure; world record; running (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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