Centre of Research, Education, Innovation and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sports, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal.
Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), Sao Cristovao 49100-000, Brazil.
Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Mar 1;58(3):366. doi: 10.3390/medicina58030366.
Background and Objectives: Increases in the number of participants in time-limited ultra-marathons have been reported. However, no information is available regarding the trends in participation, performance and age in 12 h and 24 h time-limited events. The aim of the study was to describe the trends in runners’ participation, performance and age in 12 h and 24 h ultra-marathons for both sexes and to identify the age of peak performance, taking into account the ranking position and age categories. Materials and Methods: The sample comprised 210,455 runners in time-limited ultra-marathons (female 12 h = 23,706; female 24 h = 28,585; male 12 h = 61,594; male 24 h = 96,570) competing between 1876 and 2020 and aged 18 to 86 years. The age of peak performance was tested according to their ranking position (first−third; fourth−tenth and >tenth position) and taking into account their running speed in different age categories (<30 years; 31−40 years; 41−50 years; 51−60 years; >60 years), using the Kruskal−Wallis test, followed by the Bonferroni adjustment. Results: An increase in the number of participants and a decrease in running speed were observed across the years. For both events, the sex differences in performance decreased over time. The sex differences showed that male runners performed better than female runners, but the lowest differences in recent years were observed in the 24 h ultra-marathons. A positive trend in age across the years was found with an increase in mean age (“before 1989” = 40.33 ± 10.07 years; “1990−1999” = 44.16 ± 10.37 years; “2000−2009” = 45.99 ± 10.33 years; “2010−2020” = 45.62 ± 10.80 years). Male runners in 24 h races were the oldest (46.13 ± 10.83 years), while female runners in 12 h races were the youngest (43.46 ± 10.16 years). Athletes ranked first−third position were the youngest (female 12 h = 41.19 ± 8.87 years; female 24 h = 42.19 ± 8.50 years; male 12 h = 42.03 ± 9.40 years; male 24 h = 43.55 ± 9.03 years). When age categories were considered, the best performance was found for athletes aged between 41 and 50 years (female 12 h 6.48 ± 1.74 km/h; female 24 h 5.64 ± 1.68 km/h; male 12 h 7.19 ± 1.90 km/h; male 24 h 6.03 ± 1.78 km/h). Conclusion: A positive trend in participation in 12 h and 24 h ultra-marathons was shown across the years; however, athletes were becoming slower and older. The fastest athletes were the youngest ones, but when age intervals were considered, the age of peak performance was between 41 and 50 years.
参加限时超马拉松的人数有所增加。然而，关于 12 小时和 24 小时限时赛事的参与者、表现和年龄趋势的信息尚不清楚。本研究的目的是描述男女 12 小时和 24 小时超马拉松运动员的参赛、表现和年龄趋势，并考虑排名位置和年龄类别，确定最佳表现的年龄。材料和方法：样本包括 1876 年至 2020 年期间参加限时超马拉松比赛的 210455 名运动员（女性 12 小时=23706 人；女性 24 小时=28585 人；男性 12 小时=61594 人；男性 24 小时=96570 人），年龄在 18 至 86 岁之间。根据排名位置（第一至第三；第四至第十和第十名以上）和不同年龄类别（<30 岁；31-40 岁；41-50 岁；51-60 岁；>60 岁）的跑步速度，使用 Kruskal-Wallis 检验测试最佳表现年龄，然后进行 Bonferroni 调整。结果：多年来，参与者人数增加，跑步速度下降。对于这两个赛事，随着时间的推移，性别表现的差异也在缩小。性别差异表明男性跑步者比女性跑步者表现更好，但在最近几年，24 小时超马拉松比赛中的性别差异最小。随着年龄的增长，每年都呈正趋势，平均年龄增加（“1876-1989 年”=40.33±10.07 岁；“1990-1999 年”=44.16±10.37 岁；“2000-2009 年”=45.99±10.33 岁；“2010-2020 年”=45.62±10.80 岁）。24 小时比赛中男性跑步者年龄最大（46.13±10.83 岁），而 12 小时比赛中女性跑步者年龄最小（43.46±10.16 岁）。排名第一至第三的运动员年龄最小（女性 12 小时=41.19±8.87 岁；女性 24 小时=42.19±8.50 岁；男性 12 小时=42.03±9.40 岁；男性 24 小时=43.55±9.03 岁）。当考虑年龄类别时，发现 41 至 50 岁的运动员表现最佳（女性 12 小时 6.48±1.74km/h；女性 24 小时 5.64±1.68km/h；男性 12 小时 7.19±1.90km/h；男性 24 小时 6.03±1.78km/h）。结论：多年来，12 小时和 24 小时超马拉松的参赛人数呈上升趋势；然而，运动员的速度越来越慢，年龄也越来越大。最快的运动员是最年轻的，但当考虑年龄区间时，最佳表现年龄在 41 至 50 岁之间。
