Age-related changes in 100-km ultra-marathon running performance

The aims of this study were (1) to investigate the participation and performance trends at the ‘100km Lauf Biel' in Switzerland from 1998 to 2010, and (2) to compare the age-related changes in 100-km running performance between males and females. For both sexes, the percent of finishers significantly (P < 0.01) decreased for the 18-29 and the 30-39-year age groups, while it significantly (P < 0.01) increased for the 40-49 and the 50-59-year age groups over the studied period. From 1998 to 2010, the mean age of the top ten finishers increased by 0.4years per annum for both females (P = 0.02) and males (P = 0.003). The running time for the top ten finishers remained stable for females, while it significantly (P = 0.001) increased by 2.4min per annum for males. There was a significant (P < 0.001) age effect on running times for both sexes. The best 100-km running times was observed for the age comprised between 30 and 49years for males, and between 30 and 54years for females, respectively. The age-related decline in running performance was similar until 60-64years between males and females, but was greater for females compared to males after 65years. Future studies should investigate the lifespan from 65 to 75years to better understand the performance difference between male and female master ultra-marathoner

No case of exercise-associated hyponatraemia in top male ultra-endurance cyclists: the ‘Swiss Cycling Marathon'

The prevalence of exercise-associated hyponatraemia (EAH) has been investigated in endurance athletes such as runners and Ironman triathletes, but not in ultra-endurance road cyclists. We assessed fluid intake and changes in body mass, urine specific gravity and plasma sodium concentration ([Na+]) in 65 ultra-endurance road cyclists in a 720-km ultra-cycling marathon, the ‘Swiss Cycling Marathon'. The cyclists lost 1.5 (1.7)% body mass (P<0.01). No athlete developed EAH. Fluid intake was associated with the change in plasma [Na+] (r=−0.32, P<0.05) and the change in body mass (r=−0.30, P<0.05). The change in plasma [Na+] was related to post-race plasma [Na+] (r=0.63, P<0.0001). To conclude, ad libitum fluid intake in ultra-endurance cyclists in a single-stage ultra-endurance road cycling race showed no case of EAH. Future studies regarding drinking behaviour in different ultra-endurance disciplines might give insights into why the prevalence of EAH is different in the different discipline

Participation and performance trends in 161km ultra-marathons in terms of nationality – a retrospective data analysis of worldwide participation from 1998-2011

This study investigated the nationalities of finishers, the annual number of finishers participating in a specific region and the performance of athletes regarding their nationality of all 161km ultra-marathons held worldwide from 1998 to 2011. The associations between nationality and performance and changes in performance across years in 36,425 finishers were analysed using correlation and linear regression analyses. Participation increased significantly for athletes originating from North America, Europe and Australia (P<0.01). Most runners originated from the USA (84%). The share of US-American athletes decreased significantly from 89.6% (1998) to 75.9% (2011) (P<0.01), while the share of European finishers increased significantly from 1.6% (1998) to 14.5% (2011) (P<0.01). The share of finishers competing in races held in the USA decreased significantly from 92.1% (1998) to 80.7% (2011) (P<0.01), while the share of finishers competing in European races increased significantly from 0% (1998) to 12.8% (2011) (P<0.01). The share of US-American athletes in the annual top ten decreased significantly from 76% (1998) to 52% (2011) (P<0.01), while the share of European athletes in the annual top ten increased significantly from 1% (1998) to 18% (2011) (P<0.01). Top ten US-American athletes achieved the fastest race times ever in women and men. Top ten European runners improved their performance to a higher extent than US-American athletes. These findings indicate that (i) ultra-marathoners originating from the USA dominated 161km ultra-marathons in participation and performance, (ii) 161km ultra-marathons were becoming more popular in Europe, and (iii) European athletes increasingly tended to compete in European races rather than to compete in the USA and improved their performance across years

Atrophy of the brachialis muscle after a displaced clavicle fracture in an Ironman triathlete: case report

Clavicle fractures are frequent injuries in athletes and midshaft clavicle fractures in particular are well-known injuries in Ironman triathletes. In 2000, Auzou et al. described the mechanism leading to an isolated truncular paralysis of the musculocutaneous nerve after a shoulder trauma. It is well-known that nerve palsies can lead to an atrophy of the associated muscle if they persist for months or even longer. In this case report we describe a new case of an Ironman triathlete suffering from a persistent isolated atrophy of the brachialis muscle. The atrophy occurred following a displaced midshaft clavicle fracture acquiring while falling off his bike after hitting a duck during a competition

Higher prevalence of exercise-associated hyponatremia in female than in male open-water ultra-endurance swimmers: the ‘Marathon-Swim' in Lake Zurich

We investigated the prevalence of exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) in 25 male and 11 female open-water ultra-endurance swimmers participating in the ‘Marathon-Swim' in Lake Zurich, Switzerland, covering a distance of 26.4km. Changes in body mass, fat mass, skeletal muscle mass, total body water, urine specific gravity, plasma sodium concentration [Na+] and haematocrit were determined. Two males (8%) and four females (36%) developed EAH where one female was symptomatic with plasma sodium [Na+] of 127mmol/L. Body mass and plasma [Na+] decreased (p<0.05). The changes in body mass correlated in both male and female swimmers to post-race plasma [Na+] (r=−0.67, p=0.0002 and r=−0.80, p=0.0034, respectively) and changes in plasma [Na+] (r=−0.68, p=0.0002 and r=−0.79, p=0.0039, respectively). Fluid intake was neither associated with changes in body mass, post-race plasma [Na+] or the change in plasma [Na+]. Sodium intake showed no association with either the changes in plasma [Na+] or post-race plasma [Na+]. We concluded that the prevalence of EAH was greater in female than in male open-water ultra-endurance swimmer

The effects of course length on freestyle swimming speed in elite female and male swimmers - a comparison of swimmers at national and international level

Freestyle swimming performance over 50 m, 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m and 1,500 m was compared on short (25 m) and long (50 m) course for 92,196 national swimmers (i.e. annual high score list Switzerland) and 1,104 international swimmers (i.e. finalists FINA World Championships) from 2000 to 2012. National and international swimmers of both sexes were on average 2.0 ± 0.6% faster on short than on long course. Sex-related differences in swimming speed were greater on short than on long course for international and national swimmers from 50 m to 800 m. Freestyle swimming performance improved across years for international swimmers in both short- and long-course whereas only male national swimmers were able to improve on short and long course events except for short course events on 800 m and 1,500 m. Performance in national women competing in short and long course events showed only improvements on 50 m, 100 m and 1,500 m across years. The sex-related differences in freestyle swimming performance showed no change for international swimmers. For national swimmers, the sex-related differences in freestyle swimming performance increased over time in long course from 50 m to 800 m, but decreased for 1,500 m. In conclusion, elite female and male freestyle swimmers at national and international level were about 2% faster on 25 m compared to 50 m course. During the 2000-2012 period, international as well as national swimmers (i.e. for national level predominantly men) improved freestyle swimming performance in both long and short course. More vigorous and optimized training programs focused on muscular force production in combination with efficient swimming skills might close the performance gap between elite swimmers at national level and FINA finalists. Further research especially including effects of anthropometric, biomechanical, and physiological factors is required to fully understand the effects of course length on freestyle swimming performance, and to determine whether course length has similar effects on other swim styles

Beam Test with a GridGEM TPC Prototype Module

The International Large Detector (ILD) --a detector concept for the International Linear Collider (ILC)-- foresees a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) as its main tracking detector. Currently, the R&D efforts for such a TPC focus on studies using a large prototype that can accommodate up to seven read-out modules which are comparable to the ones that would be used in the final ILD TPC. The DESY TPC group has developed such a module using GEMs for the gas amplification, which are mounted on thin ceramic frames. The module design and first results of a test beam campaign are presented.Comment: 6 pages, 11 figures, prepared for LCWS 2011 proceeding

An increased fluid intake leads to feet swelling in 100-km ultra-marathoners - an observational field study

BACKGROUND: An association between fluid intake and changes in volumes of the upper and lower limb has been described in 100-km ultra-marathoners. The purpose of the present study was (i) to investigate the association between fluid intake and a potential development of peripheral oedemas leading to an increase of the feet volume in 100-km ultra-marathoners and (ii) to evaluate a possible association between the changes in plasma sodium concentration ([Na+]) and changes in feet volume. METHODS: In seventy-six 100-km ultra-marathoners, body mass, plasma [Na+], haematocrit and urine specific gravity were determined pre- and post-race. Fluid intake and the changes of volume of the feet were measured where the changes of volume of the feet were estimated using plethysmography. RESULTS: Body mass decreased by 1.8 kg (2.4%) (p 0.05). Plasma volume and urine specific gravity increased (p < 0.0001). Fluid intake was positively related to the change in the volume of the feet (r = 0.54, p < 0.0001) and negatively to post-race plasma [Na+] (r = -0.28, p = 0.0142). Running speed was negatively related to both fluid intake (r = -0.33, p = 0.0036) and the change in feet volume (r = -0.23, p = 0.0236). The change in the volume of the feet was negatively related to the change in plasma [Na+] (r = -0.26, p = 0.0227). The change in body mass was negatively related to both post-race plasma [Na+] (r = -0.28, p = 0.0129) and running speed (r = -0.34, p = 0.0028). CONCLUSIONS: An increase in feet volume after a 100-km ultra-marathon was due to an increased fluid intake

Four Patterns of Digital Innovation in Times of Crisis

Exogenous shocks, such as COVID-19, significantly change fundamental premises on which economies and individual organizations operate. The light-asset nature of digital technologies provides the potential to not only facilitate an immediate crisis response, but also to catalyze novel innovation types to address the societal and economic changes caused by exogenous shocks. As digital innovation became a relevant part of organizations’ COVID-19 responses, and given that a corresponding structured knowledge base did not exist, we found the need to better understand crisis-driven digital innovation. Drawing on prior knowledge from crisis management and organizational ambidexterity as a theoretical lens, we present four patterns of crisis-driven digital innovation, classified along two dimensions: (1) driven by a sense of urgency or ambition and (2) focusing on exploitative or explorative innovation. Based on a thorough analysis of digital innovation cases during the COVID-19 crisis, we illustrate and discuss these four patterns and their emerging properties to explain how and why they led to digital innovation in the context of the crisis. Our work contributes to the explanatory knowledge on digital innovation in times of crisis, helping researchers and practitioners to understand and develop digital innovation in response to exogenous shocks

Fluid intake and changes in limb volumes in male ultra-marathoners: does fluid overload lead to peripheral oedema?

An increase in body mass due to oedema has been previously described. The aim of this study was to investigate a potential association between both fluid and electrolyte intake and the formation of peripheral oedemas. Fluid and electrolyte intakes and the changes in limb volumes in 50 male 100-km ultra-marathoners were measured. Pre- and post-race serum sodium concentration ([Na+]), serum aldosterone concentration, serum copeptin concentration, serum and urine osmolality and body mass were determined. Fluid intake, renal function parameters and urinary output, as well as the changes of volume in the extremities, were measured. The changes of volume in the limbs were measured using plethysmography. Serum [Na+] increased by 1.6%; body mass decreased by 1.9kg. Serum copeptin and aldosterone concentrations were increased. The change in serum copeptin concentration and the change in serum [Na+] correlated positively; the change in serum [Na+] and body mass correlated negatively. A mean fluid intake of 0.58L/h was positively related to running speed and negatively to post-race serum [Na+]. Total fluid intake was positively related to the changes in both arm and lower leg volumes. Running speed was positively associated with the changes in arm and lower leg volumes; race time was related to the changes in serum copeptin or aldosterone concentrations. To conclude, fluid intake was related to the changes in limb volumes, where athletes with an increased fluid intake developed an increase in limb volume