Background and Objective: The increased popularity of marathons and half-marathons has led to a significant increase in the number of master runners worldwide. Since the age-related decrease in performance is dependent on race duration, pacing in long distance running might also vary by race distance in both men and women. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess pacing differences between marathon and half-marathon runners with regard to the runners’ age group, and independently for men and women. Materials and Methods: In total, 17,465 participants in the Vienna City marathon in 2017 were considered for this study (marathon, N = 6081; half-marathon, N = 11,384). Pacing was expressed as two variables (i.e., pace range and end spurt). Results: All runners showed positive pacing strategies (i.e., a fast start with gradual decrease of speed). However, marathon runners showed greater variability in pacing than half-marathon runners. Furthermore, women showed no differences in pace variability in regard to the age group, whereas men younger than 30 years of age, as well as older men (over the age of 60), showed a greater variability in pace than other age groups. Finally, younger half-marathon men and women showed the fastest end spurt compared to older age groups and marathon runners. Conclusions: The presented findings could help sports and medicine practitioners to create age specific training plans and pacing strategies. This approach could help long distance runners to improve their physical fitness, achieve better race times, reduce the potential risk of musculoskeletal injuries and increase the overall pleasure of long distance running.

Background and Objectives: Pacing analyses for increasingly popular long-distance running disciplines have been in researchers’ spotlight for several years. In particular, assessing pacing variability in long-distance running was hardly achievable since runners must repeat long-running trials for several days. Potential solutions for these problems could be multi-stage long-distance running disciplines. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the long-distance running variability as well as the reliability, validity, and sensitivity of the variables often used for pacing analyses. Materials and Methods: This study collected the split times and finish times for 20 participants (17 men and three women; mean age 55.5 years ± 9.5 years) who completed the multiday marathon running race (five marathons in 5 days), held as part of the Bretzel Ultra Tri in Colmar, France, in 2021. Seven commonly used pacing variables were subsequently calculated: Coefficient of variation (CV), Change in mean speed (CS), Change in first lap speed (CSF), Absolute change in mean speed (ACS), Pace range (PR), Mid-race split (MRS), and First 32 km–10 km split (32-10). Results: Multi-stage marathon running showed low variability between days (Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) > 0.920), while only the CV, ACS, and PR variables proved to have moderate to good reliability (0.732 < ICC < 0.785). The same variables were also valid (r > 0.908), and sensitive enough to discern between runners of different performance levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Researchers and practitioners who aim to explore pacing in long-distance running should routinely utilize ACS, CV, and PR variables in their analyses. Other examined variables, CS, CSF, MRS, and 32-10, should be used cautiously. Future studies might try to confirm these results using different multi-stage event’s data as well as by expanding sensitivity analysis to age and gender differences.

This study aims to explore the reliability and validity of essential performance metrics derived from a modified 505 Change of Direction (CoD) test. Twenty-seven physically active male participants (age: 18.77 ± 1.73 years) who engaged in three to five training sessions per week were assessed using both standard and modified sprint and CoD protocols. The evaluation focused on sprint time, CoD time, total time, and the Limb Symmetry Index (LSI). The modified protocols demonstrated good reliability for sprint and CoD times (ICC > 0.8, CV < 3%) and high validity, with strong correlations between standard and modified tests for sprint (r = 0.59–0.80) and CoD times (r = 0.58–0.80). The total time metric showed excellent reliability (ICC > 0.9), supporting its utility as a comprehensive measure. Reaction-time inclusion increased variability (CV > 7%) but enhanced ecological validity by reflecting real-world conditions. However, the LSI exhibited lower reliability (ICC < 0.6), indicating the need for further refinement. Combining multiple performance measures, the modified protocols streamlined assessments, reducing fatigue and redundancy without compromising precision. These findings highlight the potential of integrating multidimensional agility metrics in athletic evaluations, bridging the gap between controlled testing and competitive demands. Future research should explore broader populations and sport-specific stimuli to enhance applicability.

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the health status of professional athletes after recovering from COVID-19 and the impact that SARS-CoV-2 had on their overall cardiorespiratory fitness, which was done by conducting cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Materials and Methods: A total of twenty-seven professional basketball players (Euroleague Basketball and the ABA League) participated in the study. CPET was performed before (as part of their regular preparticipation exam, during the pre-season period), as well as after SARS-CoV-2 infection (after two weeks of home isolation, during the competitive part of the season). CPET was performed on a treadmill, while cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic functions were evaluated by using a breath-by-breath analysis technique (Quark CPET system manufactured by Cosmed, Rome, Italy). Results: Maximal oxygen consumption and aerobic efficiency were significantly reduced after SARS-CoV-2 infection (p = 0.000). An obvious decrease in oxygen pulse was observed during CPET after recovering from COVID-19 (p = 0.001), as was deterioration of ventilatory efficiency. Internal respiration was the most negatively affected. An early transition from aerobic to anaerobic mechanisms of creating energy for work and intensive metabolic fatigue were obvious after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: Although it was believed that SARS-CoV-2 only affects the cardiopulmonary status of the elderly population and people with associated comorbidities, it is clear from this research that professional athletes can also be at certain risk. Even though no pathological cardiovascular and respiratory changes were found in athletes after COVID-19, results showed significantly decreased cardiorespiratory fitness, with an emphasis on internal respiration.

Although it has attracted the attention of experts only in the last decade, sports analytics has its roots since the existence of organized sports

School sports are part of both the educational and sports systems, and they are regulated differently in some countries. Accordingly, the aim of this paper is to make a comparative analysis of the management models of school sports in 5 Balkan countries: Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The systems were observed based on four criteria: documents forming the basis of the school sport model, financing, the system of school sport competitions, and the branching of the system. It was established that in all models from the observed countries there are general and specific documents that are important for the functioning of school sports. Although the management structure is similar in all observed models, the control by individual sectors is carried out seriously only in Slovenia. In all models, only physical education teachers are responsible for the implementation of all programs and projects. Also, insufficient and unsystematic financing of school sports can be observed in all countries (except Slovenia), which results in problems in the implementation of school sports competitions. Based on the characteristics of the examined models of school sports, it was determined that the organization and management of school sports in Slovenia contributed to better results in terms of criteria that can be used to assess the quality of school sports.