Training, anthropometric and physiological characteristics in men recreational marathon runners: The role of sport experience

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine physiological and training characteristics in marathon runners with different sport experience (defined as the number of finishes in marathon races).The anthropometry and physiological characteristics of men recreational endurance runners with three or less finishes in marathon races (novice group, NOV; n=69, age 43.5±8.0 years) and four or more finishes (experienced group, EXP; n=66, 45.2±9.4 years) were compared. EXP had faster personal best marathon time (3:44±0:36 vs. 4:20±0:44 h:min, p<0.001, respectively), lower flexibility (15.9±9.3 vs. 19.3±15.9 cm, p=0.022), abdominal (20.6±7.9 vs. 23.8±9.0 mm, p=0.030) and iliac crest skinfold thickness(16.7±6.7 vs. 19.9±7.9 mm, p=0.013), body fat assessed by bioimpedance analysis (13.0±4.4 vs. 14.6±4.7%, p=0.047), more weekly training days (4.6±1.4 vs. 4.1±1.0 days, p=0.038) and longer weekly running distance (58.8±24.0 vs.47.2±16.1 km, p=0.001) than NOV. The findings indicated that long-term marathon training might induce adaptations in endurance performance, body composition and flexibility.The aim of the present study was to examine physiological and training characteristics in marathon runners with different sport experience (defined as the number of finishes in marathon races).The anthropometry and physiological characteristics of men recreational endurance runners with three or less finishes in marathon races (novice group, NOV; n=69, age 43.5±8.0 years) and four or more finishes (experienced group, EXP; n=66, 45.2±9.4 years) were compared. EXP had faster personal best marathon time (3:44±0:36 vs. 4:20±0:44 h:min, p<0.001, respectively), lower flexibility (15.9±9.3 vs. 19.3±15.9 cm, p=0.022), abdominal (20.6±7.9 vs. 23.8±9.0 mm, p=0.030) and iliac crest skinfold thickness(16.7±6.7 vs. 19.9±7.9 mm, p=0.013), body fat assessed by bioimpedance analysis (13.0±4.4 vs. 14.6±4.7%, p=0.047), more weekly training days (4.6±1.4 vs. 4.1±1.0 days, p=0.038) and longer weekly running distance (58.8±24.0 vs.47.2±16.1 km, p=0.001) than NOV. The findings indicated that long-term marathon training might induce adaptations in endurance performance, body composition and flexibility.