Thursday, September 16, 2010

Looks or Training Volume? Which is more important for ultra runners?

What matters more to performance in ultrarunners? Training or anthropometric parameters? The results from this research were published recently, combined with interesting facts on running performance such as:

  • Skin-fold thickness is positively associated with performances over 1,500m -10,000m and marathons
  • Length of upper leg is a positive associations with running times over 800,1500 and 5000m
  • Circumferences of chest and thigh are positively associated with running times over 800m
  • Upper arm circumference is positively associated with 10,000m running times and ultrarunners

Characteristics of Ultrarunners

  • Lower BMI
  • Lower amounts of fat at abdomen and legs

At the end of the day, the results of the study indicate that training volume and personal best time in marathon have a greater impact on performance when you are going the distance.

Want to read the full article? Contact us at askalibrarian@sirc.ca

Knechtle, B., Wirth, A., Knechtle, P., and Rosemann, T. (2010) Training Volume and Personal Best Time in Marathon, Not Anthropometric Parameters, are Associated with Performance in Male 100-km Ultrarunners. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 24(3), 604-609.

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