From August 5 to 14, ORTA 10in10 took place once again—that is, 10 marathons in 10 days, with 4x10 km runs along Lake Orta every day.
Read moreWith temperatures reaching 39.5 degrees and 10 days of nonstop sunshine, the challenge was to keep going.
The ULTRA TRIATHLON ESTONIA took place.
With very cool temperatures in the far north, the swim took place in a small indoor pool in Vinni, followed by a bike course with heavy traffic in and around Vinni, and finally a few laps around the high school.
Read moreAthletes with diabetes increasingly participate in endurance running, benefiting from physiological adaptations and technological advances like continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for glycemic control. So far, no comprehensive review summarizing the current knowledge has been performed. To identify the prevalence of long-distance runners with diabetes, their performance, methods used for blood glucose monitoring and glycemic control. PubMed, Medline Ovid, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane databases, CINAHL, and Web of Science were systematically searched until April 2024 using key terms related to long-distance running and diabetes. An updated search applying the identical strategy was conducted on May 3rd, 2026, to capture subsequently published literature. This study included original research articles, case reports, and case studies published in English or German in peer-reviewed journals, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Eligibility criteria encompassed runners with a confirmed diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, irrespective of type, who participated in endurance events of at least half-marathon distance, including half-marathons, marathons, ultra-marathons, and other ultra-endurance competitions. Patients with prediabetic state, gestational diabetes, or after pancreatic islet-cell transplantation were excluded. For quality assessment, we used the Joanna Briggs Institute of Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies or the Joanna Briggs Institute of Analytical Case Report critical appraisal tool. A total of 656 studies were identified, with 22 meeting the inclusion criteria, comprising 99 runners with diabetes (99.0% Type 1, 1.0% Type 2 diabetes mellitus). Among them, 50.0% used CGM, 27.2% had an insulin pump, 63.6% administered insulin via multiple daily injections, and the method of insulin application was not specified in 7.0% of runners. The weighted mean HbA1c was 7.4% (95% CI 6.9–8.1). Time-in-range varied by race distance: 40–100% for half-marathoners, 51.6% for marathoners, and 47–73% for ultra-marathoners. No cases of symptomatic hypoglycemia were observed during the races. However, asymptomatic late-onset hypoglycemia (occurring 6–15 h post-exercise) was reported in 27 runners. The most common insulin adjustment strategy before competitive races was a 50–80% reduction of basal insulin. Despite limited research, evidence suggests that with proper preparation and multidisciplinary support, athletes with diabetes can safely participate in endurance events, including ultra-marathons, while maintaining stable glycemic control.
Read moreWhile the dominance of elite East African marathoners is well-established, little is known about the nationality distribution of the fastest age group marathoners. This study examined how the nationality distribution of the fastest marathon runners varies across age groups and sexes in the ‘Berlin Marathon’. We analysed race data from 825,886 finishers (627,962 men and 197,807 women) of the ‘Berlin Marathon’ from 1999 to 2024. Finishers were grouped by five-year age brackets, sex and nationality. We examined performance across five analytical layers: (1) all runners, (2) top 100, (3) top 30, (4) top 10 and (5) the single fastest runner per country and age group. Linear regression models were applied to both the entire dataset and the subset of the top 100 finishers per age group to assess the predictive value of age and nationality on finish time. Most finishers were from Germany, with the USA becoming the second-most represented country after 2017. In younger age groups (20-39 years), the fastest average times for both sexes were achieved by runners from Kenya and Ethiopia. In middle-aged (40-49 years) and older groups (50 + years), top performances shifted toward runners from Germany, the United States, Japan, and Switzerland. In regression models, age group and nationality explained only 4.1% of the variance in male finish times and 2.9% in females across the full dataset. However, for the top 100 runners, explanatory power rose significantly to 52.8% for men and 48.6% for women. The nationality distribution of the fastest age group marathoners shifts with age in the ‘Berlin Marathon’: East African nations dominate at younger ages, while Western Europe and East Asian countries lead among older runners. These results emphasize the global expansion of competitive master running and the role of cultural and demographic factors in shaping endurance performance across the lifespan.
Read moreIRONMAN® 70.3 events represent a rapidly expanding endurance discipline characterized by distinct physiological demands, performance determinants, and race-specific risk profiles. Despite their global popularity, no systematic review has synthesized evidence exclusively focused on this distance. To consolidate current knowledge on performance predictors, physiological responses, training characteristics, nutritional strategies, environmental influences, and medical considerations in IRONMAN® 70.3 triathletes, and to identify gaps requiring further investigation. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, EBSCO and Google Scholar was conducted up to 25th November 2025. Search terms were developed according to PRISMA guidelines and included variations of ‘Ironman 70.3’, ‘half triathlon’ and ‘middle-distance triathlon’. Eligible studies reporting physiological, anthropometric, nutritional, environmental, medical, or performance-related outcomes specific to IRONMAN® 70.3. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, the Cochrane RoB tool, and the NIH Quality Assessment Tool, according to study design. A total of 86 studies were included, predominantly observational in design, with sample sizes ranging from 1 to 852,721 participants, mostly trained male triathletes aged 25–39 years. Participation has increased across age groups, with pronounced growth among female and masters triathletes. Peak performance in professional male triathletes is reached at approximately age 28, and in female triathletes at age 32. Across large datasets, cycling appeared to be the strongest predictor of overall race time, accounting for the largest proportion of performance variance. Physiologically, competition was associated with transient reductions in immune function, reversible muscle damage, and shifts in hydration and electrolyte balance, while higher intracellular water and efficient fat oxidation were associated with better outcomes. Evidence specific to IRONMAN® 70.3 is limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous designs, male-dominated cohorts, and insufficient sex-specific analyses. Future research should distinguish recreational from elite triathletes, incorporate balanced sex representation, and apply standardized physiological and environmental monitoring to refine targeted recommendations for performance, health, and safety.
Read moreTo determine whether sex differences in marathon pacing strategies and susceptibility to catastrophic deceleration (“hitting the wall”) persist in a massive, high-performance dataset, and to quantify this risk across different performance levels. We analyzed 873,334 finishers from the Berlin Marathon (1999–2025). Pacing stability was quantified using the percentage slowdown in the second half relative to the first. “Hitting the wall” was operationally defined as a deceleration of ≥ 20%. A stratified analysis was performed to compare risks between sexes across five performance categories (Competitive to Casual). Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age and performance category, sensitivity analyses (deduplicated subset; alternative thresholds), and fine-grained pacing metrics from 5 km splits were also conducted. Male runners exhibited significantly greater mean deceleration (10.73% ± 11.41%) compared with female runners (8.34% ± 8.91%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of “hitting the wall” was nearly double in men (17.63%) compared with women (9.66%), corresponding to a crude Odds Ratio of 2.00 (95% CI 1.97 to 2.03); after adjustment for age and performance category, the disparity strengthened (adjusted OR = 3.88, 95% CI 3.81 to 3.94). The risk disparity widened among the fastest runners: in the Competitive (< 3 h) category, male runners were approximately six times more likely to experience catastrophic deceleration than their female counterparts (1.42% vs 0.23%). The gap was stable across the 27-year archive (Mann–Kendall τ = 0.14, p = 0.33). Despite faster finish times, men demonstrate significantly less stable pacing strategies and a twofold higher crude risk of catastrophic deceleration compared with women, with the disparity most pronounced among the fastest runners. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that behavioral and strategic factors contribute alongside physiological determinants to sex differences in marathon outcomes, and provide a quantitative basis for further investigation of the underlying mechanisms. Sex differences in marathon pacing: analysis of 873,000 Berlin marathon runners reveals men are twice as likely to “hit the wall” | Scientific Reports
Read moreEndurance and ultra-endurance running impose substantial physical and psychological demands, leading athletes to experience intense emotional states before, during, and after competitions. Accordingly, there is a paucity of evidence comparing mood profiles between endurance and ultra-endurance runners competing in trail and mountain events. The aim of this study was to characterize the mood profile of endurance and ultra-endurance runners participating in La Misión Brasil 2024 and to analyze its relationship with sleep quality. This prospective cross-sectional study included 193 runners, divided into an endurance group (n = 118; men = 75; women = 43) and an ultra-endurance group (n = 75; men = 60; women = 15), who participated in the same competition according to the proposed distances. La Misión Brasil is a trail running event with race distances ranging from 25 to 80 km and substantial elevation gain. One week prior to the competition, participants completed questionnaires assessing mood state, anxiety, psychological health, and sleep quality. Comparisons between groups (endurance group vs. ultra-endurance group) and sexes were performed using independent t-tests, Mann–Whitney tests, and generalized linear models, whereas associations were examined using Spearman’s correlation. The results indicated higher vigor levels in the ultra-endurance group (p = 0.020) and greater overall fatigue in the endurance group (p = 0.027). Regarding sex differences, men exhibited higher vigor (p = 0.004), whereas women presented higher total mood disturbance and anxiety scores (trait anxiety and state anxiety; p < 0.05). Correlational analyses revealed that poorer sleep quality scores were moderately associated with higher total mood disturbance (r2 = 0.45) and anxiety levels (trait anxiety: r2 = 0.47; state anxiety: r2 = 0.48). Additionally, strong correlations were observed between negative mood states, total mood disturbance, and anxiety (r2 > 0.50). Overall, endurance and ultra-endurance runners demonstrated a favorable mood profile; however, the psychological demands of these modalities are associated with relevant interactions between sleep, mood, and anxiety.
Read moreMen more often experience a drop in performance over long distances than women. This is often due to how they start. One of Switzerland’s biggest endurance events is currently taking place in Thun: the Ironman Switzerland. Around 2,300 athletes are fighting for every minute over 3.8 kilometres of swimming, 180 kilometres of cycling and a full marathon. Fittingly, there are new findings from the University of Zurich on long-distance running, which they have now published in the journal “Scientific Reports.”
Read moreMasters Swimming is a rapidly expanding sector of competitive aquatic sport and provides structured opportunities for adults to maintain long-term engagement in high-level swimming. Despite extensive global participation, limited evidence exists regarding the national origins of the most frequent Masters swimmers among the top-ten performers across all strokes, distances, and age groups. Previous research has focused primarily on isolated disciplines or open-water events. This study aimed to investigate participation and performance patterns of Masters swimmers competing at the World Masters and World Aquatics Championships from 1986 to 2024, with a specific focus on national patterns among top performers. A total of 204,005 long-course (50 m) swimming performance entries (94,312 women and 109,693 men) from 1986 to 2024 were extracted from the official World Aquatics archive and analyzed. The unit of analysis was the annual top-ten entries for each stroke, distance, sex, and age group, with each result treated as an independent performance record. Statistical differences between nationalities were assessed using Kruskal-Wallis tests with Bonferroni post-hoc adjustments. Descriptive data were presented using mean, standard deviation, and confidence intervals. Success was operationally defined as the frequency of a nation’s appearances in the annual top-ten fastest times for each stroke, distance, and sex. For descriptive purposes, nationalities were grouped into six categories: the top-five nationalities with the most appearances in the top-ten fastest times regarding the different swimming strokes and sex separately by distances and for each competition year, as well as one group of all other nationalities. Among women, German swimmers were the most numerous in the top-ten for breaststroke, butterfly, and 50 m backstroke. Among men, however, U.S. swimmers were the most frequently represented across almost all distances and strokes, except for the successes of Brazilian athletes in the 50 m backstroke and Russian swimmers in the 50 m breaststroke. Across all years and disciplines, the most recurrent top-ten Masters swimmers came from the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and Brazil (“Big Six”). Performance differences between nationalities were significant across multiple events, with notable strengths among Russian swimmers in breaststroke and freestyle sprint events. The United States demonstrated the broadest and most consistent numerical superiority in Masters swimming performance over the 38-year period, by fielding the most frequent athletes among the top-ten performers, particularly among men. German women displayed exceptional success in breaststroke and butterfly, accounting for the majority of the athletes in the top-ten. These findings highlight persistent geographic patterns in Masters swimming excellence and may guide future research on environmental, sociocultural, training, and demographic factors contributing to national performance patterns.
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