Sha Jungong, Yi Qing, Jiang Xin, Wang Zhengwei, Cao Houwen, Jiang Shan
School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
College of Physical Education, Dalian University, Dalian, China.
Heliyon. 2024 Aug 23;10(17):e36760. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36760. eCollection 2024 Sep 15.
The pacing strategy embodies the tactical behavior of athletes in distributing their energy across different segments of a race; therefore, a quantitative analysis of pacing strategies in marathon races could deepen the understanding of both pacing behavior and physical capacity in marathon athletics.
The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize and characterize pacing strategies in marathon road races by exploring the categories of pacing strategies and the factors that influence these strategies during marathon events.
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews guidelines were followed for systematic searches, appraisals, and syntheses of literature on this topic. Electronic databases such as Science Direct, SPORTDiscuss, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched up to July 2024. Records were eligible if they included pace performance measurements during competition, without experimental intervention that may influence their pace, in healthy, adult athletes at any level.
A total of 39 studies were included in the review. Twenty-nine were observational studies, and 10 were experimental (randomized controlled trials). The assessment of article quality revealed an overall median NOS score of 8 (range 5-9). The included studies examined the pacing profiles of master athletes and finishers in half-marathon (n = 7, plus numbers compared to full marathon), full-marathon (n = 21), and ultramarathon (n = 11) road races. Considering that some studies refer to multiple pacing strategies, in general, 5 studies (∼13 %) reported even pacing, 3 (∼8 %) reported parabolic pacing, 7 (∼18 %) reported negative pacing, and 30 (∼77 %) reported positive pacing during marathon competitions. Gender, age, performance, pack, and physiological and psychological factors influence pacing strategies.
This study synthesized pacing performance in marathons and highlighted the significance of examining pacing strategies in these events, offering valuable insights for coaches and athletes. Several key findings were highlighted: (1) pacing profiles and pacing ranges were identified as the primary indicators of pacing strategies; (2) the pacing strategy was found to be dynamic, with the most substantial effects attributed to gender and distance; and (3) three distinct types of pacing strategies for marathons were classified: positive, negative, and even pacing. These findings advance the understanding of marathon pacing strategies by shedding light on the factors that influence athletes' pacing decisions and behaviors. Additionally, these findings offer practical benefits, aiding athletes in making well-informed tactical choices and developing effective pace plans to enhance marathon performance. However, due to the complex nature of marathon racing, further research is required to explore additional factors that might impact pacing strategies. A better grasp of optimal pacing strategies will foster progress in this area and serve as a basis for future research and advancements.
配速策略体现了运动员在比赛不同阶段分配能量的战术行为；因此，对马拉松比赛中的配速策略进行定量分析可以加深对马拉松运动中配速行为和体能的理解。
本系统评价的目的是通过探索配速策略的类别以及马拉松赛事中影响这些策略的因素，综合并描述马拉松公路赛中的配速策略。
遵循系统评价的首选报告项目指南，对该主题的文献进行系统检索、评估和综合。截至2024年7月，检索了诸如Science Direct、SPORTDiscuss、PubMed和Web of Science等电子数据库。如果记录包括健康成年运动员在比赛期间的配速表现测量，且没有可能影响其配速的实验干预，则符合纳入标准，运动员水平不限。
本评价共纳入39项研究。其中29项为观察性研究，10项为实验性研究（随机对照试验）。文章质量评估显示，总体中位数NOS评分为8（范围5 - 9）。纳入的研究考察了半程马拉松（n = 7，加上与全程马拉松比较的数量）、全程马拉松（n = 21）和超级马拉松（n = 11）公路赛中大师级运动员和完赛者的配速情况。考虑到一些研究涉及多种配速策略，总体而言，5项研究（约13%）报告了匀速配速，3项（约8%）报告了抛物线形配速，7项（约18%）报告了负配速，30项（约77%）报告了正配速。性别、年龄、成绩、分组以及生理和心理因素会影响配速策略。
本研究综合了马拉松比赛中的配速表现，强调了研究这些赛事中配速策略的重要性，为教练和运动员提供了有价值的见解。突出了几个关键发现：（1）配速情况和配速范围被确定为配速策略的主要指标；（2）发现配速策略是动态的，其中性别和距离产生的影响最大；（3）将马拉松比赛的配速策略分为三种不同类型：正配速、负配速和匀速配速。这些发现通过揭示影响运动员配速决策和行为的因素，推进了对马拉松配速策略的理解。此外，这些发现具有实际益处，有助于运动员做出明智的战术选择并制定有效的配速计划以提高马拉松成绩。然而，由于马拉松比赛的复杂性，需要进一步研究以探索可能影响配速策略的其他因素。更好地掌握最佳配速策略将推动该领域的进展，并为未来的研究和进步奠定基础。
