Analysis of weight change and Borg rating of perceived exertion as measurements of runner health and safety during a 6-day, multistage, remote ultramarathon.
Journal Article
Objective
To determine the feasibility of using weight change and Borg score as tools for monitoring runner health and safety during a multistage, remote ultramarathon.Design
Observational cohort study of feasibility on nonblinded event participants.Setting
Six-day, multistage, remote ultramarathon in Utah.Participants
Twenty-seven athletes in the 2012 Desert R.A.T.S. (Race Across the Sand) ultramarathon.Assessment of risk factors
Participant weight, health conditions that limited race participation, such as fatigue or exhaustion, and Borg score were reviewed.Main outcome measures
Inability to complete a stage of the race (Did Not Finish status) or development of a clinically significant health condition during the race. Potential prognostic risk factors, such as a high Borg score and weight loss, were analyzed.Results
An overall decrease in weight was observed over the course of the event. Median percent weight changes were losses of 2.96% (day 1), 7.42% (day 2), 2.21% (day 4), and 3.35% (day 6). There was no statistically significant difference in percent weight change between the 14 runners who finished the race and the 13 runners who did not finish the race (U = 73; z = 0.189; P = 0.85). Runners' ability to complete the race was related to the development of adverse health conditions (P = 0.004). Median Borg scores reported were 15 (day 1), 17 (day 2), 13 (day 3), 16 (day 4), and 15 (day 6). Only 2 racers who finished the entire event without adverse events ever gave a Borg score of ≥ 18.Conclusions
The feasibility of weight change as a tool for monitoring runner health and safety in this setting is limited, but the Borg rating of perceived exertion warrants further study as a potential field expedient tool for monitoring runner health and safety during a multiday, remote ultramarathon.Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Joslin, J; Worthing, R; Black, T; Grant, WD; Kotlyar, T; Wojcik, SM
Published Date
- May 2014
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 24 / 3
Start / End Page
- 245 - 250
PubMed ID
- 24284951
Pubmed Central ID
- 24284951
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1536-3724
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 1050-642X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1097/jsm.0000000000000019
Language
- eng