Ultra Trail Performance is Differently Predicted by Endurance Variables in Men and Women

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the relationship between peak oxygen uptake, ventilatory thresholds and maximal fat oxidation with ultra trail male and female performance. 47 athletes (29 men and 18 women) completed a cardiopulmonary exercise test between 2 to 4 weeks before a 107-km ultra trail. Body composition was also analyzed using a bioelectrical impedance weight scale. Exploratory correlation analyses showed that peak oxygen uptake (men: r=–0.63, p=0.004; women: r=–0.85, p < 0.001), peak speed (men: r=–0.74, p < 0.001; women: r=–0.69, p=0.009), speed at first (men: r=–0.49, p=0.035; women: r=–0.76, p=0.003) and second (men: r=–0.73, p < 0.001; women: r=–0.76, p=0.003) ventilatory threshold, and maximal fat oxidation (men: r=–0.53, p=0.019; women: r=–0.59, p=0.033) were linked to race time in male and female athletes. Percentage of fat mass (men: r=0.58, p=0.010; women: r=0.62, p= 0.024) and lean body mass (men: r=–0.61, p=0.006; women: r=–0.61, p=0.026) were also associated with performance in both sexes. Subsequent multiple regression analyses revealed that peak speed and maximal fat oxidation together were able to predict 66% of male performance; while peak oxygen uptake was the only statistically significant variable explaining 69% of the variation in women’s race time. These results, although exploratory in nature, suggest that ultra trail performance is differently predicted by endurance variables in men and women.