Purpose: To describe pacing strategy in a 24-h running race and its interaction with sex, age group, athletes’ performance group, and race edition.Methods: Data from 398 male and 103 female participants of 5 editions were obtained based on a minimum 19.2-h effective-running cutoff. Mean running speed from each hour was normalized to the 24-h mean speed for analyses.Results: Mean overall performance was 135.6 ± 33.0 km with a mean effective-running time of 22.4 ± 1.3 h. Overall data showed a reverse J-shaped pacing strategy, with a significant reduction in speed from the second-to-last to the last hour. Two-way mixed ANOVAs showed significant interactions between racing time and both athlete performance group (F = 7.01, P < .001, η_p² = .04) and race edition (F = 3.01, P < .001, η_p² = .02) but not between racing time and either sex (F = 1.57, P = .058, ηp 2 < .01) or age group (F = 1.25, P = .053, η_p² = .01). Pearson product–moment correlations showed an inverse moderate association between performance and normalized mean running speed in the first 2 h (r = –.58, P < .001) but not in the last 2 h (r = .03, P = .480).Conclusions: While the general behavior represents a rough reverse J-shaped pattern, the fastest runners start at lower relative intensities and display a more even pacing strategy than slower runners. The “herd behavior” seems to interfere with pacing strategy across editions, but not sex or age group of runners.

Introduction: The success of training depends on the balance between training load magnitude and recovery. Objective: Verify the effect of training load distribution on recovery status, vigor and fatigue in volleyball players during a season. Methods: Nine male athletes from a professional volleyball team participated in the study. During 19 weeks of the season, quantification of the training load was performed through the session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) method, evaluation of the athletes' recovery status through the Total Quality Recovery (TQR) scale, and evaluation of the profile of mood state through the POMS questionnaire, with research focus for the subscales vigor and fatigue. Results: The average total weekly training load (TWTL) was 3206 ± 685.5 A. Us and the average recovery of the whole season was 15.3 ± 0.57. The mean values of fatigue and vigor were 11 ± 3.05 and 19.4 ± 2.84, respectively. Significant differences were found for the variables RPE, fatigue and Energy Index (Vigor - Fatigue) in the three different periods of the season (Preparatory Period, Competitive Period I and Competitive Period II). Conclusion: It was concluded that the training load and recovery monitoring methods used throughout the season were effective in controlling the variables, with a positive impact of training loads verified on the recovery values presented by the athletes. Level of Evidence III; Diagnostic study.

Background: Research has shown that ingesting 0.3 g·kg⁻¹ body mass sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) can improve time-to-exhaustion (TTE) cycling performance, but the influence of psychophysiological mechanisms on ergogenic effects is not yet understood. Objective: This study retrospectively examined whether changes in TTE cycling performance are mediated by positive expectations of receiving NaHCO₃ and/or the decline in blood bicarbonate during exercise. Methods: In a randomised, crossover, counterbalanced, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 12 recreationally trained cyclists (maximal oxygen consumption, 54.4 ± 5.7 mL·kg·min⁻¹) performed four TTE cycling tests 90 min after consuming: (1) 0.3 g·kg⁻¹ body mass NaHCO₃ in 5 mL·kg⁻¹ body mass solution, (2) 0.03 g·kg⁻¹ body mass sodium chloride in solution (placebo), (3) 0.3 g·kg⁻¹ body mass NaHCO₃ in capsules and (4) cornflour in capsules (placebo). Prior to exercise, participants rated on 1–5 Likert type scales how much they expected the treatment they believe had been given would improve performance. Capillary blood samples were measured for acid-base balance at baseline, pre-exercise and post-exercise. Results: Administering NaHCO₃ in solution and capsules improved TTE compared with their respective placebos (solution: 27.0 ± 21.9 s, p = 0.001; capsules: 23.0 ± 28.1 s, p = 0.016). Compared to capsules, NaHCO₃ administered via solution resulted in a higher expectancy about the benefits on TTE cycling performance (Median: 3.5 vs. 2.5, Z = 2.135, p = 0.033). Decline in blood bicarbonate during exercise was higher for NaHCO₃ given in solution compared to capsules (2.7 ± 2.1 mmol·L⁻¹, p = 0.001). Mediation analyses showed that improvements in TTE cycling were indirectly related to expectancy and decline in blood bicarbonate when NaHCO₃ was administered in solution but not capsules. Conclusions: Participants’ higher expectations when NaHCO₃ is administered in solution could result in them exerting themselves harder during TTE cycling, which subsequently leads to a greater decline in blood bicarbonate and larger improvements in performance. Key Points: Ingesting 0.3 g·kg⁻¹ body mass sodium bicarbonate in solution and capsules improved time-to-exhaustion cycling performance Positive expectancy about the benefits of sodium bicarbonate and decline in blood bicarbonate were higher when sodium bicarbonate was administered in solution compared with capsules Improvements in time-to-exhaustion cycling performance for sodium bicarbonate administered in solution were related to expectancy and the enhanced extracellular buffering response

The aim of this study was to describe the pacing during a 6‐h ultramarathon (race 1) and to investigate whether a slow‐start affects performance, running kinematic changes, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and fatigue (ROF) (race 2). After a critical speed test, participants completed two 6‐h ultramarathons. Race 1 (n = 16) was self‐paced, whereas in race 2 (n = 10), athletes performed the initial 36 min at speeds 18% below the mean speed of the initial 36 min of race 1. In race 1, participants adopted an inverse sigmoid pacing. Contact times increased after 1 h, and flight times decreased after 30 min (all P ≤ .009); stride length reduced after 1 h 30 min (all P = .022), and stride frequency did not change. Despite the lower speeds during the first 10% of race 2, and higher speeds at 50% and 90%, performance remained unchanged (57.5 ± 10.2 vs. 56.3 ± 8.5 km; P = .298). However, RPE and ROF were lowered for most of race 2 duration (all P < .001). For the comparison of kinematic variables between races, data were normalised by absolute running speed at each time point from 1 h onwards. No differences were found for any of the kinematic variables. In conclusion, decreasing initial speed minimises RPE and ROF, but does not necessarily affect performance. In addition, running kinematic changes do not seem to be affected by pacing manipulation.

Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) has a significant economic and social impact and is a major factor compromising athletes’ training and competition. The effects of ColdZyme® Mouth Spray on URTI were investigated using an in vivo study in athletes, combined with a novel in vitro air–liquid interface human airway model. Endurance athletes were randomised to ColdZyme ( n = 78) or placebo ( n = 76) and monitored over 3 months. They completed daily symptom and training logs and collected throat swabs over 7 days during perceived URTI. In vitro studies examined rhinovirus infectivity and epithelial barrier integrity of airway epithelial cells. Eighty‐two in vivo episodes were analysed with significantly lower ( P = 0.012) episode duration in the ColdZyme vs . Placebo group (mean ± SD, 6.2 ± 2.6, (median [interquartile range]) 5.5 [4–9] days vs . 10.7 ± 10.2, 7.0 [5–11]). There was no difference in incidence ( P = 0.149). Training absence and symptom ratings were lower ( P < 0.05) in the ColdZyme group. Swabs were returned for 50 episodes, with at least one pathogen detected in all (rhinovirus was most abundant). Absolute quantification (qPCR) for rhinovirus revealed a significantly lower 7‐day area under the curve in ColdZyme vs . placebo (median reduction, 94%, P = 0.029). In vitro , viral load was significantly lower (median reductions 80–100%), and epithelial barrier integrity better maintained, and no virus was detected by immunofluorescence analyses of pseudostratified epithelia, with ColdZyme treatment (all P < 0.05). ColdZyme is beneficial for reducing URTI duration, symptom ratings and missed training days. These novel data suggest that the mechanisms involve the protection of epithelial cells against rhinovirus infection and damage. image Key points: Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) are a common complaint in the general population and athletes alike, with social, well‐being and economic consequences, including performance detriments in athletes and reduced work productivity in the general population. Strategies to minimise the risk of contracting a URTI and/or reduce the time taken to clear an infection are desirable to athletes and the general population alike. The present study employed an in vivo study with athletes in combination with a novel in vitro human airway cell model to examine the effects of ColdZyme Mouth Spray on URTI and viral infectivity. The duration for which URTI symptoms persisted was lower with ColdZyme treatment, which also resulted in fewer training absence days. Swabs from participants in the in vivo study and supernatants from the in vitro studies showed lower rhinovirus viral load with ColdZyme treatment compared with placebo or control.