COVID-19 Infection in Ultramarathon Runners: Findings of the Ultrarunners Longitudinal TRAcking Study.

OBJECTIVE: Ultramarathon runners are a unique patient population who have been shown to have a lower rate of severe chronic medical conditions. This study aimed to determine the effect that COVID-19 infection has had on this population and their running behavior. DESIGN: The Ultrarunners Longitudinal TRAcking (ULTRA) Study is a large longitudinal study of ultramarathon runners. Questions on health status, running behavior, and COVID-19 infection were included in the most recent survey. SETTING: Community survey. PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred thirty-four ultramarathon runners participated in the study. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Personal, exercise, and COVID-19 infection history. RESULTS: 52.7% of study participants reported having been symptomatic from a COVID-19 infection, with 6.7% testing positive multiple times. Participants required a total of 4 days of hospitalization. The most common symptoms included fever (73.6%), fatigue (68.5%), sore throat (68.2%), runny nose (67.7%), and cough (67.4%). Cardiovascular symptoms, which are of particular interest in the running population, included shortness of breath (46.3%), tachycardia (44.7%), chest pain (36.2%), and wheezing (33.3%). A total of 50 subjects (6.8%) reported long COVID (symptoms lasting more than 12 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: Severe COVID-19 infection has been rare in this population of ultramarathon runners, although symptomatic infection that affects running is common. To support the well-being of this group of highly active athletes, clinicians should appreciate that cardiovascular symptoms are common and the long-term significance of these symptoms in runners is unknown. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2 prospective study.

Predicted Risk for Exacerbation of Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia from Indiscriminate Postrace Intravenous Hydration of Ultramarathon Runners.

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) can be exacerbated by aggressive hydration. OBJECTIVE: This work predicts the percentage of athletes at risk for exacerbation of EAH from indiscriminate hydration after an ultramarathon. METHODS: Postrace serum sodium, creatinine, creatine kinase (CK), and urea nitrogen concentrations were determined for 161-km ultramarathon participants. Body mass was measured prior to and immediately after the race. Incidents when serum CK was > 20,000 U/L or creatinine ≥ 1.5 times estimated baseline were considered to be "at risk for receiving I.V. hydration" if presenting to a hospital. Those with EAH without body mass loss during the race were considered "overhydrated" and "at risk for EAH exacerbation." RESULTS: Among 627 finishers, 16 (2.6%) were at risk for EAH exacerbation. Considering 421 observations at risk for receiving I.V. hydration, 16 (47.1%) of the 34 observations with EAH were at risk for EAH exacerbation. Among those at risk for receiving I.V. hydration and with EAH, serum urea nitrogen and creatine concentration as a multiple of estimated baseline were lower (p < 0.05) for those at risk for EAH exacerbation, compared with those without overhydration, but there were no clinically useful laboratory findings to distinguish these two groups due to considerable overlap of values. CONCLUSIONS: Whether in the field or hospital setting, I.V. hydration of an athlete after an ultramarathon carries a notable risk for exacerbating EAH, so clinicians should use caution when hydrating athletes after endurance events.

Nutrition for Ultramarathon Running: Trail, Track, and Road.

Ultramarathon running events and participation numbers have increased progressively over the past three decades. Besides the exertion of prolonged running with or without a loaded pack, such events are often associated with challenging topography, environmental conditions, acute transient lifestyle discomforts, and/or event-related health complications. These factors create a scenario for greater nutritional needs, while predisposing ultramarathon runners to multiple nutritional intake barriers. The current review aims to explore the physiological and nutritional demands of ultramarathon running and provide general guidance on nutritional requirements for ultramarathon training and competition, including aspects of race nutrition logistics. Research outcomes suggest that daily dietary carbohydrates (up to 12 g·kg-1·day-1) and multiple-transportable carbohydrate intake (∼90 g·hr-1 for running distances ≥3 hr) during exercise support endurance training adaptations and enhance real-time endurance performance. Whether these intake rates are tolerable during ultramarathon competition is questionable from a practical and gastrointestinal perspective. Dietary protocols, such as glycogen manipulation or low-carbohydrate high-fat diets, are currently popular among ultramarathon runners. Despite the latter dietary manipulation showing increased total fat oxidation rates during submaximal exercise, the role in enhancing ultramarathon running performance is currently not supported. Ultramarathon runners may develop varying degrees of both hypohydration and hyperhydration (with accompanying exercise-associated hyponatremia), dependent on event duration, and environmental conditions. To avoid these two extremes, euhydration can generally be maintained through "drinking to thirst." A well practiced and individualized nutrition strategy is required to optimize training and competition performance in ultramarathon running events, whether they are single stage or multistage.

Considerations for ultra-endurance activities: part 1- nutrition.

Ultra-endurance activities (≥ 4h) present unique challenges that, beyond fatigue, may be exacerbated by sub-optimal nutrition during periods of increased requirements and compromised gastrointestinal function. The causes of fatigue during ultra-endurance exercise are multi-factorial. However, mechanisms can potentially include central or peripheral fatigue, thermal stress, dehydration, and/or endogenous glycogen store depletion; of which optimising nutrition and hydration can partially attenuate. If exercise duration is long enough (e.g. ≥ 10h) and exercise intensity low enough (e.g. 45-60% of maximal oxygen uptake), it is bio-energetically plausible that ketogenic adaptation may enhance ultra-endurance performance, but this requires scientific substantiation. Conversely, the scientific literature has consistently demonstrated that daily dietary carbohydrates (3-12g/kg/day) and carbohydrate intake (30-110g/h) during ultra-endurance events can enhance performance at individually tolerable intake rates. Considering gastrointestinal symptoms are common in ultra-endurance activities, effective dietary prevention and management strategies may provide functional, histological, systemic, and symptomatic benefits. Taken together, a well-practiced and individualized fuelling approach is required to optimize performance in ultra-endurance events.

Considerations for ultra-endurance activities: part 2 - hydration.

It is not unusual for those participating in ultra-endurance (> 4 hr) events to develop varying degrees of either hypohydration or hyperhydration. Yet, it is important for ultra-endurance athletes to avoid the performance limiting and potentially fatal consequences of these conditions. During short periods of exercise (< 1 hr), trivial effects on the relationship between body mass change and hydration status result from body mass loss due to oxidation of endogenous fuel stores, and water supporting the intravascular volume being generated from endogenous fuel oxidation and released with glycogen oxidation. However, these effects have meaningful implications during prolonged exercise. In fact, body mass loses well over 2% may be required during some ultra-endurance activities to avoid hyperhydration. Therefore, the typical hydration guidelines to avoid more than 2% body mass loss do not apply in ultra-endurance activities and can potentially result in hyperhydration. Fortunately, achieving the balance of proper hydration during ultra-endurance activities need not be complicated and has been well demonstrated to generally be achieved by simply drinking to thirst and avoiding excessive sodium supplementation with intention of replacing all sodium losses during the exercise.

Ad libitum drinking adequately supports hydration during 2 h of running in different ambient temperatures.

PURPOSE: To examine if ad libitum drinking will adequately support hydration during exertional heat stress. METHODS: Ten endurance-trained runners ran for 2 h at 60% of maximum oxygen uptake under different conditions. Participants drank water ad libitum during separate trials at mean ambient temperatures of 22 °C, 30 °C and 35 °C. Participants also completed three trials at a mean ambient temperature of 35 °C while drinking water ad libitum in all trials, and with consumption of programmed glucose or whey protein hydrolysate solutions to maintain euhydration in two of these trials. Heart rate, oxygen uptake, rectal temperature, perceived effort, and thermal sensation were monitored, and nude body mass, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and plasma osmolality were measured before and after exercise. Water and mass balance equations were used to calculate hydration-related variables. RESULTS: Participants adjusted their ad libitum water intake so that the same decrease in body mass (1.1-1.2 kg) and same decrease in body water (0.8-0.9 kg) were observed across the range of ambient temperatures which yielded significant differences (p < .001) in sweat loss. Overall, water intake and total water gain replaced 57% and 66% of the water loss, respectively. The loss in body mass and body water associated with ad libitum drinking resulted in no alteration in physiological and psychophysiological variables compared with the condition when hydration was nearly fully maintained (0.3 L body water deficit) relative to pre-exercise status from programmed drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Ad libitum drinking is an appropriate strategy for supporting hydration during running for 2 h duration under hot conditions.

Ultra-obligatory running among ultramarathon runners.

Participants in the Ultrarunners Longitudinal TRAcking (ULTRA) Study were asked to answer "yes" or "no" to the question "If you were to learn, with absolute certainty, that ultramarathon running is bad for your health, would you stop your ultramarathon training and participation?" Among the 1349 runners, 74.1% answered "no". Compared with those answering "yes", they were younger (p < 0.0001), less likely to be married (p = 0.019), had less children (p = 0.0095), had a lower health orientation (p < 0.0001) though still high, and higher personal goal achievement (p = 0.0066), psychological coping (p < 0.0001) and life meaning (p = 0.0002) scores on the Motivations of Marathoners Scales. Despite a high health orientation, most ultramarathon runners would not stop running if they learned it was bad for their health as it appears to serve their psychological and personal achievement motivations and their task orientation such that they must perceive enhanced benefits that are worth retaining at the risk of their health.

Eye function and physiology following a 161-km foot race.

Significant visual impairment occurs in a small percentage of ultramarathon participants and is thought to be due to corneal edema. Yet, the usual effects of prolonged exercise on the eye have not been previously reported. Eight study volunteers who completed the 161-km Western States Endurance Run underwent pre-race and post-race binocular and monocular visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and corneal thickness measurements. None was symptomatic with visual impairment during the race and they demonstrated no changes from pre-race to post-race in visual acuity (p = 0.11-0.95 for right, left and combined), intraocular pressure (p = 0.11-0.43 for the both eyes) and corneal thickness (p = 0.30-0.99 for both eyes at three corneal areas). We conclude that there is no evidence that ultramarathon running has an acute effect on eye function or physiology when the runner has no symptoms or findings of visual impairment.

A randomized controlled trial of manual therapy and pneumatic compression for recovery from prolonged running - an extended study.

Manual therapy (MT) and intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) are recovery methods used by endurance athletes with little evidence supporting effectiveness. This randomized controlled trial evaluated effectiveness of four daily post-race treatments of a specific MT protocol and IPC compared with supine rest on recovery following an ultramarathon among 56 ultramarathoners. Groups were comparable across all characteristics examined, including post-race plasma creatine kinase concentration. Subject completed timed 400 m runs before the race and on days three, five, seven and 14 post- race, and also provided muscle pain and soreness ratings and fatigue scores immediately before and after treatments, and during the 14 days post- race. Daily subjective measures and 400 m run times were not improved by either treatment, but both treatments reduced (p < .05) muscular fatigue scores acutely after treatment following the race and on post-race day 1, and MT improved (p < .05) muscle pain and soreness acutely following the race.

Determinants of recovery from a 161-km ultramarathon.

The primary study objective was to identify determinants of short-term recovery from a 161-km ultramarathon. Participants completed 400 m runs at maximum speed before the race and on days 3 and 5 post-race, provided a post-race blood sample for plasma creatine kinase (CK) concentration, and provided lower body muscle pain and soreness ratings (soreness, 10-point scale) and overall muscular fatigue scores (fatigue, 100-point scale) pre-race and for 7 days post-race. Among 72 race finishers, soreness and fatigue had statistically returned to pre-race levels by 5 days post-race; and 400 m times at days 3 and 5 remained 26% (P = 0.001) and 12% (P = 0.01) slower compared with pre-race, respectively. CK best modelled soreness, fatigue and per cent change in post-race 400 m time. Runners with the highest CKs had 1.5 points higher (P < 0.001) soreness and 11.2 points higher (P = 0.006) fatigue than runners with the lowest CKs. For the model of 400 m time, a significant interaction of time with CK (P < 0.001) indicates that higher CKs were linked with a slower rate of return to pre-race 400 m time. Since post-race CK was the main modifiable determinant of recovery following the ultramarathon, appropriate training appears to be the optimal approach to enhance ultramarathon recovery.

Management of Suspected Fluid Balance Issues in Participants of Wilderness Endurance Events.

Dehydration and exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) are both relatively common conditions during wilderness endurance events. Whereas dehydration is treated with fluids, EAH is appropriately managed with fluid restriction and a sodium bolus but can worsen with isotonic or hypotonic fluids. Therefore, caution is recommended in the provision of postevent rehydration in environments where EAH is a potential consideration because accurate field assessment of hydration status can be challenging, and measurement of blood sodium concentration is rarely possible in the wilderness. Dehydration management with oral rehydration is generally adequate and preferred to intravenous rehydration, which should be reserved for athletes with sustained orthostasis or inability to tolerate oral fluid ingestion after some rest. In situations where intravenous hydration is initiated without known blood sodium concentration or hydration status, an intravenous concentrated sodium solution should be available in the event of acute neurological deterioration consistent with the development of EAH encephalopathy.

Does Acute Kidney Injury From an Ultramarathon Increase the Risk for Greater Subsequent Injury?

OBJECTIVE: Examine whether the acute kidney injury (AKI) commonly observed among ultramarathon participants places the individual at risk for subsequent AKI of worse magnitude. DESIGN: Observational. SETTING: Western States Endurance Run. PARTICIPANTS: Race finishers with postrace blood studies. INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: Acute kidney injury after 1 race. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Extent of AKI in subsequent race. RESULTS: Among 627 finishes in which serum creatinine values were known, 36.2% met "risk" or "injury" criterion with this group characterized by having faster finish times, greater body weight loss during the race, and higher postrace serum creatine kinase and urea nitrogen concentrations when compared with those not meeting the criteria. We identified 38 runners who had undergone postrace blood analyses at multiple races among which 16 (42.1%) met the risk or injury criterion at the first race. Of those 16 runners, 12 (75%) met the criteria at a subsequent race, an incidence that was higher (P = 0.0026) than the overall 36.2% incidence. For most (56.2%) of the 16 runners meeting the criteria at the first race, the subsequent race caused less increase in serum creatinine concentration and decrement in estimated glomerular filtration rate than the first race. CONCLUSIONS: Mild AKI is common in 161-km ultramarathons, but there was no evidence that previous AKI caused greater renal dysfunction from a subsequent exercise stimulus of similar magnitude. This offers some reassurance to runners and their physicians that mild to moderate AKI in the setting of an ultramarathon is not cumulative or without complete recovery of kidney function when stressed.

Nausea is associated with endotoxemia during a 161-km ultramarathon.

This study explored possible contributing factors to gastrointestinal distress, including endotoxemia, hyperthermia, dehydration and nutrition, during a 161-km ultramarathon. Thirty runners participated in the study and 20 finished the race. At three checkpoints and the finish, runners were interviewed to assess the incidence and severity of 12 gastrointestinal symptoms and to determine dietary intake. Core temperature was measured at the same locations. Runners were weighed pre-race, at the three checkpoints and the finish to monitor hydration status. Blood markers for endotoxemia (sCD14) and inflammation (interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein) were measured pre- and post-race. Gastrointestinal symptoms were experienced by most runners (80%), with nausea being the most common complaint (60%). Runners with nausea experienced significantly greater (P = 0.02) endotoxemia than those without nausea (sCD14 mean increase 0.7 versus 0.5 µg · mL(-1)). There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.652, P = 0.005) between nausea severity and endotoxemia level. Inflammatory response, core temperature, hydration level and race diet were similar between runners with and without nausea. This study links endotoxemia to nausea in ultramarathon runners. Other possible contributing factors to nausea such as hyperthermia, dehydration and nutrition did not appear to play a role in the symptomatic runners in this study.

Is Sodium Supplementation Necessary to Avoid Dehydration During Prolonged Exercise in the Heat?

The primary purpose of this work was to gain further insight into the need for sodium supplementation for maintenance of appropriate hydration during prolonged exercise under hot conditions. Participants of a 161-km ultramarathon (ambient temperature reaching 39° C) underwent body weight measurements immediately before, during, and after the race, and completed a postrace questionnaire about supplemental sodium intake and drinking strategies during 4 race segments. The postrace questionnaire was completed by 233 (78.7%) race finishers. Significant direct relationships were found for percentage weight change during the race with intake rate (r = 0.18, p = 0.0058) and total amount (r = 0.24, p = 0.0002) of sodium in supplements. Comparing those using no sodium supplements throughout the race (n = 15) with those using sodium supplements each race segment (n = 138), body weight change across the course showed significant group (p = 0.022), course location (p < 0.0001), and interaction (p = 0.0098) effects. Posttests revealed greater weight loss at 90 km (p = 0.016, -3.2 ± 1.6% vs. -2.2 ± 1.5%, mean ± SD) and the finish (p = 0.014, -3.2 ± 1.5% vs. -1.9 ± 1.9%) for those using no sodium supplements compared with those using sodium supplements each segment. Six runners who used no sodium supplements, drank to thirst, and only drank water or a mixture of mostly water with some electrolyte-containing drink finished with mean weight change of -3.4%. Although the use of supplemental sodium enhanced body weight maintenance, those not using sodium supplements maintained a more appropriate weight than those consistently using sodium supplements. Therefore, we conclude that the supplemental sodium is unnecessary to maintain appropriate hydration during prolonged exercise in the heat.

Etiological Foundation for Practical Strategies to Prevent Exercise-Related Foot Blisters.

This work outlines the etiological factors for exercise-related foot blisters and the pertinent prevention strategies related to these causes. Blisters result from shear forces within the epidermis causing cell necrosis. The extent of skin shear is influenced by friction at the skin and other interfaces, various skin characteristics, bony movement, and the shear modulus of the foot ware. The number of shear cycles is another factor in the development of blisters. Key preventative strategies include limiting the number of shear cycles, avoiding moisture and particulate accumulation next to the skin, frequent use of skin lubricants, elimination of pressure points through proper fitting and broken in shoes and callous removal, use of low shear modulus insoles, and induction of skin adaptations through proper training. Other methods requiring further research, but with theoretical support, include the use of taping and low friction patches over high-friction areas, and double-layered or toe socks.

Does oral buffered sodium supplementation reduce nausea and vomiting during an ultramarathon?

This work examines whether nausea or vomiting during an ultramarathon are due to a fluid or electrolyte imbalance, and if these symptoms can be reduced through the use of buffered sodium supplements. Starters (n = 376) of a 161.3-km ultramarathon underwent body weight measurements, 74.5% completed a post-race questionnaire, and 53.0% also underwent a post-race blood draw. The incidence of nausea or vomiting progressively increased during the race, and affected 60% of runners overall. Weight change and rate of sodium intake in supplements or in buffered sodium supplements did not differ between those with and without nausea or vomiting. Post-race serum sodium concentration also did not differ between those with and without symptoms in the last race segment. We conclude that weight change, the rate of sodium intake in supplements or in buffered sodium supplements, and serum sodium concentration are not related to symptoms of nausea or vomiting during a 161-km ultramarathon.

The influence of hydration state on thermoregulation during a 161-km ultramarathon.

It is advised that individuals should avoid losing >2% of their body mass during exercise in order to prevent hyperthermia. This study sought to assess whether a loss of >2% body mass leads to elevations in core temperature during an ultramarathon. Thirty runners agreed to take part in the study. Body mass and core temperature were measured at the start, at three locations during the race and the finish. Core temperature was not correlated with percent body mass change (p = 0.19) or finish time (p = 0.11). Percent body mass change was directly associated with finish time (r = 0.58, p < 0.01), such that the fastest runners lost the most mass (~3.5-4.0%). It appears that a loss of >3% body mass does not contribute to rises in core temperature. An emphasis on fluid replacement for body mass losses of this magnitude during prolonged exercise is not justified as a preventative measure for heat-related illnesses.

Exercise-associated hyponatremia with exertional rhabdomyolysis: importance of proper treatment.

BACKGROUND: Proper acute management of exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) has been known for decades, yet this information has not been uniformly implemented. Since treatment of EAH with isotonic fluids can result in delayed recovery and death, it is important that proper acute management in the field and hospital be utilized. CASE REPORT: We describe a participant of the 161-km Western States Endurance Run (WSER) who presented with seizure after dropping out at 145 km. He had gained 2.2% of his initial weight by 126 km from using sodium supplements and drinking copious volumes of fluids. He was treated promptly in the field for presumed EAH with two intravenous boluses of 100 mL of 3% hypertonic saline and showed rapid improvement in neurologic status. His recovery was then delayed with the use of high volumes of intravenous isotonic fluids, apparently for concern over his mild exertional rhabdomyolysis. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic EAH should be acutely managed with hypertonic saline, whereas treatment with high volumes of isotonic fluids may delay recovery and has even resulted in deaths from cerebral edema. Concern over central pontine myelinolysis from rapid correction of hyponatremia in EAH is unsupported. Furthermore, the exertional rhabdomyolysis often associated with EAH, and the concern over progression to acute kidney failure, should not dictate initial treatment.

The right ventricle following ultra-endurance exercise: insights from novel echocardiography and 12-lead electrocardiography.

PURPOSE: There is contradictory evidence related to the impact of ultra-marathon running on right ventricular (RV) structure and function. Consequently, the aims of this study were to: (1) comprehensively assess RV structure and function before and immediately following a 100-mile ultra-marathon in highly trained runners, (2) determine the nature of RV recovery 6 h post-race, and (3) document 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) changes post-exercise. METHODS: Echocardiography and 12-lead ECG were assessed in 15 competitors in a repeated measures design before and immediately after completion of the 2013 Western States Endurance Race. A subset of nine was reassessed 6 h into recovery. Standard echocardiography was used to determine RV size, function and wall stress. Myocardial speckle tracking (MST) provided peak, time to peak and temporal indices for RV longitudinal strain and strain rates (ε and SR). RESULTS: RV size was increased post-race (inflow tract 14 %, outflow tract 11 %, P = 0.004 and 0.002). RV wall stress was elevated by 11 % post-race. Peak RV ε was reduced by 10 % (P = 0.007) and significantly delayed post-race (P = 0.008). Most changes in RV function persisted at the 6-h assessment. Post-race there was an increase in the prevalence of right-sided ECG changes. CONCLUSIONS: Completion of a 100-mile ultra-marathon resulted in acute changes in RV structure and function that persisted 6 h into recovery and are consistent with sustained exposure to an elevated RV wall stress. These findings were supported by right-sided changes to the 12-lead ECG.

The impact of chronic endurance and resistance training upon the right ventricular phenotype in male athletes.

OBJECTIVES: The traditional view of differential left ventricular adaptation to training type has been questioned. Right ventricular (RV) data in athletes are emerging but whether training type mediates this is not clear. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the RV phenotype in endurance- vs. resistance-trained male athletes. Secondary aims included comparison of RV function in all groups using myocardial speckle tracking, and the impact of allometric scaling on RV data interpretation. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional design assessed RV structure and function in 19 endurance-trained (ET), 21 resistance-trained (RT) and 21 sedentary control subjects (CT). Standard 2D tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking echocardiography assessed RV structure and function. Indexing of RV structural parameters to body surface area (BSA) was undertaken using allometric scaling. RESULTS: A higher absolute RV diastolic area was observed in ET (mean ± SD: 27 ± 4 cm(2)) compared to CT (22 ± 4 cm(2); P < 0.05) that was maintained after scaling. Whilst absolute RV longitudinal dimension was greater in ET (88 ± 9 mm) than CT (81 ± 10 mm; P < 0.05), this difference was removed after scaling. Wall thickness was not different between ET and RT and there were no between group differences in global or regional RV function. CONCLUSION: We present some evidence of RV adaptation to chronic ET in male athletes but limited structural characteristics of an athletic heart were observed in RT. Global and regional RV functions were comparable between groups. Allometric scaling altered data interpretation in some variables.