Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Amateur Runners' Performance: An Analysis through Monitoring Devices.

This retrospective study aimed to analyze the return to running of non-professional runners after experiencing asymptomatic or mild COVID-19. Participants aged 18-55 years who maintained a training load of ≥10 km/week for at least three months prior to diagnosis and utilized Garmin/Polar apps were included. From these devices, parameters such as pace, distance, total running time, cadence, and heart rate were collected at three intervals: pre-COVID, immediately post-COVID, and three months after diagnosis. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for analysis (significance was set at ≤0.05). Twenty-one participants (57.1% male; mean age 35.0 ± 9.8 years) were included. The results revealed a significant decrease in running duration and distance two weeks after diagnosis, without significant changes in other parameters. Three months after infection, no differences were observed compared to pre-infection data, indicating a return to the pre-disease training load. These findings underscore the transient impact of COVID-19 on training performance among non-professional runners with mild or asymptomatic symptoms, highlighting the importance of tailored strategies for resuming running after infection.

Training intensity distribution on running time in amateur endurance runners: a scoping review / Distribución de intensidades de entrenamiento sobre el tiempo de carrera en corredores recreativos de resistencia: revisión de alcance

Problem: Intensity in endurance training is important for improving race time; its optimal handling in amateur runners has not been extensively studied. The polarized training intensity distribution (TID) model emerges as a possibility to reduce race time; however, effect of this model remains to be demonstrated compared to other TID models. Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the current state of the evidence and its the gaps, according to the effect of the polarized TID model on race time in amateur runners compared to other TID models. Method: A scoping review without date restrictions was carried out in PubMed, EBSCO, SciELO, LILACS, and Google Scholar. Randomized controlled studies, quasi-experimental studies, and case studies, which comprise polarized TID model in amateur runners on race time, were include. Results: Five studies evaluated the effect on running time using the polarized TID model compared to other models in amateur runners; four of them did not show differences between groups in the race times in two, five, and ten km. Only one study showed significant diferences in the race time at 21 km. Conclusions: The model with polarized TID did not show significant differences in race time compared to other models, except for a case report in which the polarized TID was higher by 21 km compared to the threshold TID: 1 hour. 20 min. 22 seconds and 1 hour. 26 min. 34s, respectively. The scarce evidence found, the heterogeneity in the distances in the evaluated race time, the distribution of zones in the same TID, the duration of the interventions, and the monitoring of the loads, are the main limitations found in the studies. The polarized TID could contribute to adherence, lower perception of effort, and injury prevention. However, this must be tested in future studies.

Problema: La intensidad en el entrenamiento de la resistencia es importante para mejorar el tiempo de carrera; su manipulación óptima en corredores recreativos no ha sido estudiada ampliamente. El modelo de distribución de intensidad del entrenamiento (DIE) polarizado emerge como posibilidad para reducir el tiempo de carrera. Sin embargo, falta demostrar su efecto comparado con otros modelos de DIE. Objetivo: Explorar el estado actual de la evidencia científica y sus vacíos respecto al efecto del modelo de DIE polarizado sobre el tiempo de carrera en corredores recreativos, en comparación con otros modelos de DIE. Método: Se realizó una revisión de alcance sin restricción de fechas en PubMed, EBSCO, SciELO, LILACS y Google Scholar. Se incluyeron estudios controlados aleatorios, estudios cuasiexperimentales y estudios de caso, que tuvieran como DIE el modelo polarizado en corredores recreativos sobre el tiempo de carrera. Resultados: Cinco estudios evaluaron el efecto en el tiempo de carrera usando el modelo de DIE polarizado comparado con otros modelos en corredores recreativos; cuatro de ellos no mostraron diferencias entre grupos en los tiempos de carrera en dos, cinco y diez km. Solo un estudio mostró diferencias significativas en el tiempo de carrera en 21 km. Conclusiones: El modelo con DIE polarizado no mostró diferencias significativas en el tiempo de carrera comparado con otros modelos, a excepción de un reporte de caso en el cual la DIE polarizado fue superior en 21 km comparado la DIE umbral: 1 hora. 20 min. 22 s y 1 hora. 26 min. 34 s, respectivamente. La escasa evidencia encontrada, la heterogeneidad en las distancias en el tiempo de carrera evaluado, la distribución de zonas en una misma DIE, la duración de las intervenciones y la monitorización de las cargas son las principales limitaciones encontradas en los estudios. La DIE polarizado podría contribuir a la adherencia, a una menor percepción del esfuerzo y a la prevención de lesiones. No obstante, esto debe ser probado en estudios futuros.

Does exhaustion modify acceleration running signature?

Previous studies have demonstrated the acceleration signal presents a typical running signature, which allows for the extraction of reliable information. However, few studies have focused on the exhaustion-induced variability of the acceleration signature during running. The present study included 10 participants who ran at a constant speed on a treadmill until exhaustion. The participants were equipped with three accelerometers, located at the lumbar spine, tibia, and foot. The results showed that all the participants kept a constant pace throughout the test (coefficient of variation <5%). Similarities between acceleration signatures were observed using the coefficient of multiple correlation. For the longitudinal axis of the lumbar spine, the longitudinal axis of the tibia, and the anteroposterior axis of the tibia, running signatures were not affected by exhaustion (coefficient of multiple correlation >0.8). For all the other axes, the signature was impacted within and between the states of exhaustion. Signatures were particularly different for the foot sensors, which makes it difficult to use to extract reliable information. The results showed that the coefficient of multiple correlation allowed the quantification of the variability of the running signature, and that each axis and measuring point varied in how they were influenced by exhaustion.

Blood serum denaturation profile examined by differential scanning calorimetry reflects the effort put into ultramarathon by amateur long-distance runners.

The impact of participation in the ultramarathon on the health and mental and physical condition is very complex. Undoubtedly, exercise brings many benefits but also involves health risks. Especially such an extreme effort as the one associated with finishing the ultramarathon run, can be dangerous to the health of the runner. With the variety of possible biomarkers of excessive fatigue that threaten health and life, a question arises which of them are the best and which should be considered in amateur long-distance runners showing particularly high individual variability. In this study differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been applied to show the overall effect of the 12-h run on blood sera of participants. Serum samples were obtained from the blood of ten male amateur long-distance runners, collected before and immediately after the run. Distinct changes in the shape of DSC curves have been observed for serum after finishing the run relative to pre-race serum. Statistically significant differences between stages "before" and "after" ultramarathon running have been found for parameters of the endothermic transition associated with denaturation of serum proteins. An increase in the temperature (from 70.9 ± 0.9 to 75.8 ± 2.9 °C) and excess heat capacity (from 0.859 ± 0.201 to 1.102 ± 0.226 Jg-1 °C-1) at peak maximum, the enthalpy of serum denaturation (from 18.55 ± 6.52 to 22.08 ± 5.61 Jg-1) and the first moment of the thermal transition with respect to the temperature (from the value of 67.0 ± 2.1 to 72.6 ± 2.1 °C) has been observed. These results show a clear impact of running an ultramarathon on the participant's blood serum.

Post-marathon Decline in Right Ventricular Radial Motion Component Among Amateur Sportsmen.

Moderate physical activity has a positive impact on health, although extreme forms of sport such as marathon running may trigger exercise-induced cardiac fatigue. The explicit distinction between the right ventricular (RV) physiological response to training and maladaptive remodeling has not yet been determined. In this study, we aimed to analyze the impact of running a marathon on RV mechanics in amateur athletes using three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (ECHO) and the ReVISION method (RV separate wall motion quantification). A group of 34 men with a mean age of 40 ± 8 years who successfully finished a marathon underwent ECHO three times, i.e., 2 weeks before the marathon (stage I), at the marathon finish line (stage II), and 2 weeks after the marathon (stage III). The ECHO findings were then correlated with the concentrations of biomarkers related to myocardial injury and overload and also obtained at the three stages. On finishing the marathon, the amateur athletes were found to have a significant (p < 0.05) increase in end-diastolic (with a median of 51.4 vs. 57.0 ml/m2) and end-systolic (with a median of 24.9 vs. 31.5 ml/m2) RV volumes indexed to body surface area, reduced RV ejection fraction (RVEF) (with a median of 51.0% vs. 46.0%), and a decrease in RV radial shortening [i.e., radial EF (REF)] (with a mean of 23.0 ± 4.5% vs. 19.3 ± 4.2%), with other RV motion components remaining unchanged. The post-competition decrease in REF was more evident in runners with larger total volume of trainings (R 2 = 0.4776, p = 0.0002) and higher concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (r = 0.43, p < 0.05) during the preparation period. The decrease in REF was more prominent in the training of marathoners more than 47 km/week. At stage II, marathoners with a more marked decrease in RVEF and REF had higher galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels (r = -0.48 and r = -0.39, respectively; p < 0.05). Running a marathon significantly altered the RV performance of amateur athletes. Transient impairment in RV systolic function resulted from decreased radial shortening, which appeared in those who trained more extensively. Observed ECHO changes correlated with the concentrations of the profibrotic marker Gal-3.

Right Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction after Marathon Run.

It has been raised that marathon running may significantly impair cardiac performance. However, the post-race diastolic function has not been extensively analyzed. We aimed to assess whether the marathon run causes impairment of the cardiac diastole, which ventricle is mostly affected and whether the septal (IVS) function is altered. The study included 34 male amateur runners, in whom echocardiography was performed two weeks before, at the finish line and two weeks after the marathon. Biventricular diastolic function was assessed not only with conventional Doppler indices but also using the heart rate-adjusted isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRTc). After the run, IVRTc elongated dramatically at the right ventricular (RV) free wall, to a lesser extent at the IVS and remained unchanged at the left ventricular lateral wall. The post-run IVRTc_IVS correlated with IVRTc_RV (r = 0.38, p < 0.05), and IVRTc_RV was longer in subjects with IVS hypertrophy (88 vs. 51 ms; p < 0.05). Participants with measurable IVRT_RV at baseline (38% of runners) had longer post-race IVRTc_IVS (102 vs. 83 ms; p < 0.05). Marathon running influenced predominantly the RV diastolic function, and subjects with measurable IVRT_RV at baseline or those with IVS hypertrophy can experience greater post-race diastolic fatigue.

Amateur Runners' Commitment: An Analysis of Sociodemographic and Sports Habit Profiles.

The aim of this work is to analyse the commitment to running among urban runners by identifying groups regarding commitment to this sport and by defining their sociodemographic profile and their sports habits. A sample of 1806 participants in popular urban races in the city of Valencia was interviewed using an 11-item questionnaire on commitment to running, sociodemographic characteristics, and sports habits. The psychometric properties of the running-commitment scale allowed for the identification of two factors in commitment to running: enthusiasm for running (6 items) and affliction from running (5 items). Subsequently, a cluster analysis combining hierarchical and non-hierarchical methods was performed, identifying three groups of runners: highly committed (n = 650), moderately committed (n = 749), and slightly committed (n = 407). Highly committed runners positively rate all aspects of running enthusiasm (M = 4.15), while moderately committed runners show a more neutral attitude (M = 3.41) and slightly committed runners disagree on these aspects (M = 2.41). Both highly (M = 1.32) and moderately (M = 2.04) committed runners disagree on the affliction-related aspects of running, while slightly committed runners show a trend towards neutrality on some affliction indicators. The variables referring to age, level of studies, sports habits, and running addiction contributed to differentiating the identified groups.

Exercise addiction and its related factors in amateur runners.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study examines exercise addiction (EA) in amateur runners from a multidimensional approach, including demographics (age, sex, educational attainment, and financial situation), training factors (duration of running activity, weekly time spent running, mean workout distance per session, other sports activities, and childhood physical activity), psychological features (perceived health, life satisfaction, loneliness, stress, anxiety, depression, body shape, and eating disorders), and anthropometrics (body mass index) that might predict EA. METHODS: The well-validated Exercise Dependence Scale (EDS) was applied to evaluate the prevalence of EA in amateur runners. A multinomial logistic regression was performed to find explanatory variables of risk of EA using the SPSS 24.0 statistical software. RESULTS: A total of 257 runners (48.9% females, Mage = 40.49, SD = 8.99 years) with at least 2 years running activity participated in an anonymous questionnaire survey. About 53.6% of respondents were characterized as non-dependent symptomatic and 37.8% as non-dependent asymptomatic. About 8.6% had prevalence of being at risk of EA. The logistic regression model displayed five variables that significantly predicted the risk of EA: (a) anxiety, (b) loneliness, (c) weekly time spent running, (d) childhood physical activity, and (e) education level. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that loneliness and anxiety may lead to withdrawal and uncontrolled behavior that in turn leads to increased amount of exercise in amateur runners. Lower level of education attainment is also a likely risk of EA development, and childhood sports activity is a predictor.

Características psicológicas relacionadas con el rendimiento deportivo de runners adultos pertenecientes a clubes de Concepción / Psychological characteristics related to the athletic performance of adult runners affiliated to clubs of Concepcion

El presente estudio consistió en identificar las características psicológicas del rendimiento deportivo en atletas Runners de clubes pertenecientes a la ciudad de Concepción, Chile. El estudio fue de diseño no experimental-transversal de alcance descriptivo. Para recolectar los datos se aplicó el cuestionario de características psicológicas relacionadas con el rendimiento deportivo (CPRD). La información que entregó el cuestionario CPRD, señala que los resultados fluctúan sobre los promedios esperados y que son considerados normales según el Baremo estándar: "CPRD" control estrés 80,00%, influencia de evaluación 85,00%, motivación 70,00%, autoconfianza 73,08%, influencia del entrenador 76,80%, habilidad para establecer objetivos 72,12%, cohesión social 86,30% y ansiedad previa competencia 48,32%. De acuerdo a los resultados, su rendimiento deportivo es satisfactorio. Dentro de las características psicológicas mencionadas, se pueden destacar; la ansiedad, atención, autoconfianza, motivación, estrés y cohesión social. Todas ellas son características que afectan Significativamente el rendimiento deportivo.

The following study consisted of identifying the psychological characteristics of the amateur runners belonging to the clubs of Concepcion Chile. The research was quantitative of non-experimental transversal of descriptive scope. To collect data a questionnaire, involving the psychological characteristics associated with sport performance (CPRD) was applied. The information obtained by the CPRD show that the results are in average of the expected results, and are considered normal according to standar scale: "CPRD" stress control 80,00%, influence of evaluation 85,00%, motivation 70,00%, selfconfidence 73,08%, coach influence 76,80%, set goals 72,12%, social cohesion 86,30%, anxiety before competition 48,32%. According to these results, their sports performance is satisfactory. Alongside the psychological characteristics previously mentioned it could be highlighted anxiety, attention, selfconfidence, motivation, stress and social cohesion. These characteristics affect significantly sports performance.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities in amateur male marathon runners.

BACKGROUND: Sports activity has become extremely popular among amateurs. Electrocardiography is a useful tool in screening for cardiac pathologies in athletes; however, there is little data on electrocardiographic abnormalities in the group of amateur athletes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the abnormalities in resting and exercise electrocardiograms (ECGs) in a group of amateur athletes, and try to determine whether the criteria applied for the general population or for athletes' ECGs should be implemented in this group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 40 amateur male marathon runners, 3 consecutive 12-lead ECGs were performed: 2-3 weeks before (stage 1), just after the run (stage 2) and 2-3 weeks after the marathon (stage 3). Resting (stage 1) and exercise (stage 2) ECGs were analyzed following the refined criteria for the assessment of athlete's ECG (changes classified as training-related, borderline or training-unrelated). RESULTS: In resting ECGs, at least 1 abnormality was found in 92.5% of the subjects and the most common was sinus bradycardia (62.5%). In post-exercise ECGs, at least 1 abnormality was present in 77.5% of the subjects and the most common was right atrium enlargement (RAE) (42.5%). Training-related ECG variants were more frequent at rest (82.5% vs 42.5%; p = 0.0008), while borderline variants - after the run (22.5% vs 57.5%; p = 0.0004). Training-unrelated abnormalities were found in 15% and 10% of the subjects, respectively (p-value - nonsignificant), and the most common was T-wave inversion. CONCLUSIONS: Even if the refined criteria rather than the criteria used for normal sedentary population were applied, the vast majority of amateur runners showed at least 1 abnormality in resting ECGs, which were mainly training-related variants. However, at rest, in 15% of the subjects, pathologic training-unrelated abnormalities were found. The most frequent post-exercise abnormality was right atrial enlargement. General electrocardiographic screening in amateur athletes should be taken into consideration.

Changes in the acid-base balance and lactate concentration in the blood in amateur ultramarathon runners during a 100-km run.

The aim of this study was to analyse the acid-base balance and partial pressure of blood gases of participants during a 100-km run. Fourteen experienced amateur ultramarathon runners (age: 43.36±11.83 years; height: 175.29±6.98 cm; weight: 72.12±7.36 kg) completed the 100-km run. Blood samples were taken before the run; after 25, 50, 75, and 100 km; and 12 and 24 hours after the run. There were significant differences (p<0.05) between the mean values registered for acid-alkaline balance, buffering alkalies, and current bicarbonate in each segment of the run, especially during the third, fourth, and fifth segments of the run (i.e., between 50 and 100 km), and there were only significant differences associated with buffering alkalies and current bicarbonate during the recovery. However, all the changes were within the physiological norm. A significant decrease in the compressibility of oxygen was observed after 100 km (from 92.80±15.67 to 88.36±13.71 mmHg) and continued during the recovery to 75.06±8.60 mmHg 12 h after the run. Also there was a decrease in saturation to a mean value of 93.78±3.10 at 12 h after the run. Generally the amateurs runners are able to adjust their running speed so as not to provoke a significant acid-base imbalance or lactate acid accumulation.