Biomechanics of 100 marathon in 100 days

NewsBot · Mar 30, 2021

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One hundred marathons in 100 days: Unique biomechanical signature and the evolution of force characteristics and bone density
PeterVan den BergheBastiaanBreineEllaHaeckDirkDe Clercq
Journal of Sport and Health Science; 26 March 2021

Highlights
•An extraordinary distance runner completed 100 marathons in equal days.
•The marathoner had remarkably low loading-related magnitudes, e.g., peak ground reaction forces and loading rates, that were associated with a remarkably high duty factor. The low vertical loading rate can be partially explained by a pronounced rearfoot strike.
•Monitoring of the case revealed an increase in bone mineral density while the loading-related magnitudes showed no clear change.
•The pattern of the successful high-mileage runner may be useful when developing or evaluating load-shifting strategies in distance running.
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Background: An extraordinary long-term running performance may benefit from low dynamic loads and a high load-bearing tolerance. An extraordinary runner (age = 55 years, height = 1.81 m, mass = 92 kg) scheduled a marathon a day for 100 consecutive days. His running biomechanics and bone density were investigated to better understand successful long-term running in the master athlete.

Methods: Overground running gait analysis and bone densitometry were conducted before the marathon-a-day challenge and near its completion. The case's running biomechanics were compared pre-challenge to 31 runners who were matched by a similar foot strike pattern.

Results: The case's peak vertical loading rate (Δx̄ = –61.9 BW/s or –57%), peak vertical ground reaction force (Δx̄ = –0.38 BW or –15%), and peak braking force (Δx̄ = –0.118 BW or –31%) were remarkably lower (p < 0.05) than the control group at ∼3.3 m/s. The relatively low loading-related magnitudes were attributed to a remarkably high duty factor (0.41) at the evaluated speed. The foot strike angle of the marathoner (29.5°) was greater than that of the control group, affecting the peak vertical loading rate. Muscle powers in the lower extremity were also remarkably low in the case vs. controls: peak power of knee absorption (Δx̄ = –9.16 W/kg or –48%) and ankle generation (Δx̄ = –3.17 W/kg or –30%). The bone mineral density increased to 1.245 g/cm² (+2.98%) near completion of the challenge, whereas the force characteristics showed no statistically significant change.

Conclusion: The remarkable pattern of the high-mileage runner may be useful in developing or evaluating load-shifting strategies in distance running.
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