ORIGINAL ARTICLE  EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2019 July;59(7):1133-7

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.18.08861-8

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Monitoring heart rates to evaluate pacing on a 75-km MUM

Pascal BALDUCCI ¹ ✉, Damien SABOUL ^{1, 2}, Robin TRAMA ¹

¹ Inter-University Laboratory of Human Movement Science, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Villeurbanne, France; ² Be-Studys, Châtelaine, Genève, Switzerland

BACKGROUND: To examine pacing among twelve males on a 75-km mountain ultra marathon (MUM) and to determine whether pacing relates to final performance.
METHODS: Speed and heart rates (HR) were measured continuously using a HR monitor and a global position system device. An Index of Pacing (IP) was calculated by dividing the average race speed by the speed on the first race segment. In addition, percentage (%) of heart rate reserve (HRres), coefficient of variation (CV) in speed and in percentage of HRres were analyzed throughout the race.
RESULTS: Performance time was correlated with IP (r=-0.88, P<0.01), % of HRres (r=- 0.72, P<0.05), and CV in % of HRres (r=0.80, P<0.05), but not with CV in speed (r=-0.12, P=0.9). On the entire race, evolution of HR was not dependent on the elevation gain.
CONCLUSIONS: Tracking HR is a safer way to rate pacing than speed tracking on a hilly course.

KEY WORDS: Athletic performance; Endurance training; Sports