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An Analysis of Participation and Performance of 2067 100-km Ultra-Marathons Worldwide

Author

Listed:
  • Angelika Stöhr

    (Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland)

  • Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis

    (Exercise Physiology Laboratory, 18450 Nikaia, Greece
    School of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece)

  • Elias Villiger

    (Institute of Primary Care, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Caio Victor Sousa

    (Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Volker Scheer

    (Ultra Sports Science Foundation, 69130 Pierre-Bénite, France)

  • Lee Hill

    (Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology & Nutrition, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada)

  • Beat Knechtle

    (Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland
    Institute of Primary Care, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland)

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the number of successful finishers and the performance of the athletes in 100-km ultra-marathons worldwide. A total of 2067 100-km ultra-marathon races with 369,969 men and 69,668 women competing between 1960 and 2019 were analyzed, including the number of successful finishers, age, sex, and running speed. The results showed a strong increase in the number of running events as well as a strong increase in the number of participants in the 100-km ultra-marathons worldwide. The performance gap disappeared in athletes older than 60 years. Nevertheless, the running speed of athletes over 70 years has improved every decade. In contrast, the performance gap among the top three athletes remains persistent over all decades (F = 83.4, p < 0.001; p η 2 = 0.039). The performance gap between the sexes is not significant in the youngest age groups (20–29 years) and the oldest age groups (>90 years) among recreational athletes and among top-three athletes over 70 years. In summary, especially for older athletes, a 100-km ultra-marathon competition shows an increasing number of opponents and a stronger performance challenge. This will certainly be of interest for coaches and athletes in the future, both from a scientific and sporting point of view.

Suggested Citation

  • Angelika Stöhr & Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis & Elias Villiger & Caio Victor Sousa & Volker Scheer & Lee Hill & Beat Knechtle, 2021. "An Analysis of Participation and Performance of 2067 100-km Ultra-Marathons Worldwide," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:362-:d:475326
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karin J. Waldvogel & Pantelis T. Nikolaidis & Stefania Di Gangi & Thomas Rosemann & Beat Knechtle, 2019. "Women Reduce the Performance Difference to Men with Increasing Age in Ultra-Marathon Running," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Beat Knechtle & Volker Scheer & Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis & Caio Victor Sousa, 2020. "Participation and Performance Trends in the Oldest 100-km Ultramarathon in the World," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-12, March.
    3. Dennis-Peter Born & Ishbel Lomax & Michael Romann, 2020. "Variation in competition performance, number of races, and age: Long-term athlete development in elite female swimmers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-14, November.
    4. Volker Scheer & Stefania Di Gangi & Elias Villiger & Thomas Rosemann & Pantelis T. Nikolaidis & Beat Knechtle, 2020. "Participation and Performance Analysis in Children and Adolescents Competing in Time-Limited Ultra-Endurance Running Events," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-12, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Beat Knechtle & Margarida Gomes & Volker Scheer & Robert Gajda & Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis & Lee Hill & Thomas Rosemann & Caio Victor Sousa, 2021. "From Athens to Sparta—37 Years of Spartathlon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-9, May.
    2. Marion Remilly & Benoit Mauvieux & Joffrey Drigny, 2023. "Personality Traits Associated with the Risk of Exercise Dependence in Ultraendurance Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Eladio Collado-Boira & Pablo Baliño & Ana Boldo-Roda & Ignacio Martínez-Navarro & Bárbara Hernando & Paula Recacha-Ponce & Carlos Hernando & María Muriach, 2021. "Influence of Female Sex Hormones on Ultra-Running Performance and Post-Race Recovery: Role of Testosterone," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-12, October.
    4. Kengo Ishihara & Naho Inamura & Asuka Tani & Daisuke Shima & Ai Kuramochi & Tsutomu Nonaka & Hiroshi Oneda & Yasuyuki Nakamura, 2021. "Contribution of Solid Food to Achieve Individual Nutritional Requirement during a Continuous 438 km Mountain Ultramarathon in Female Athlete," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-16, May.

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