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Influence of the world’s most challenging mountain ultra-marathon on energy cost and running mechanics

  • Original Article
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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the effects of the world’s most challenging mountain ultra-marathon (Tor des Géants® 2012) on the energy cost of three types of locomotion (cycling, level and uphill running) and running kinematics.

Methods

Before (pre-) and immediately after (post-) the competition, a group of ten male experienced ultra-marathon runners performed in random order three submaximal 4-min exercise trials: cycling at a power of 1.5 W kg−1 body mass; level running at 9 km h−1 and uphill running at 6 km h−1 at an inclination of +15 % on a motorized treadmill. Two video cameras recorded running mechanics at different sampling rates.

Results

Between pre- and post-, the uphill-running energy cost decreased by 13.8 % (P = 0.004); no change was noted in the energy cost of level running or cycling (NS). There was an increase in contact time (+10.3 %, P = 0.019) and duty factor (+8.1 %, P = 0.001) and a decrease in swing time (−6.4 %, P = 0.008) in the uphill-running condition.

Conclusion

After this extreme mountain ultra-marathon, the subjects modified only their uphill-running patterns for a more economical step mechanics.

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Abbreviations

θ A (°):

Ankle angle

\(\dot{V}\)CO2 (L min−1):

Carbon dioxide output

t c (s):

Contact time

CT (s):

Cycle time

DF (%):

Duty factor

EC:

End of contact

C cycl (kJ L−1):

Energy cost of cycling

C r (J m−1 kg−1):

Energy cost of running

MUM:

Extreme mountain ultra-marathon

θ F (°):

Foot angle

GE (%):

Gross efficiency

IC:

Initial contact

θ K (°):

Knee angle

\(\dot{W}\) vert (W kg−1):

Mechanical work rate

\(\dot{V}\)O2 (L min−1):

Oxygen uptake

\(\dot{V}\)E (L min−1):

Pulmonary ventilation

t −1c (s−1):

Rate of force application

RER:

Respiratory exchange ratio

θ L (°):

Shank angle

SF (Hz):

Stride frequency

SL (m):

Stride length

t s (s):

Swing time

θ T (°):

Thigh angle

\(\dot{V}\)E/\(\dot{V}\)CO2 :

Ventilatory equivalent ratio for carbon dioxide

\(\dot{V}\)E/\(\dot{V}\)O2 :

Ventilatory equivalent ratio for oxygen

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the subjects involved in the present study for their participation, especially during the test sessions in the fatigue condition. We would also like to express our gratitude to Aurelio Marguerettaz, the Regione Autonoma della Valle d’Aosta, the Tor de Géants® Organizing Committee, the Courmayeur Trailers, and Maurizio Capolupo. We thank also Kenneth A. Britsch for checking the manuscript for English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Gianluca Vernillo, Andrea Zignoli, Barbara Pellegrini & Federico Schena

  2. CeRiSM, Research Center ‘Sport, Mountain and Health’, University of Verona, via Matteo del Ben, 5/b, 38068, Rovereto, TN, Italy

    Gianluca Vernillo, Aldo Savoldelli, Andrea Zignoli, Pietro Trabucchi, Barbara Pellegrini & Federico Schena

  3. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, ISSUL, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Grégoire P. Millet

Authors
  1. Gianluca Vernillo
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  2. Aldo Savoldelli
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  3. Andrea Zignoli
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  4. Pietro Trabucchi
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  5. Barbara Pellegrini
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  6. Grégoire P. Millet
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  7. Federico Schena
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Correspondence to Gianluca Vernillo.

Additional information

Communicated by Jean-René Lacour.

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Vernillo, G., Savoldelli, A., Zignoli, A. et al. Influence of the world’s most challenging mountain ultra-marathon on energy cost and running mechanics. Eur J Appl Physiol 114, 929–939 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2824-y

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