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Impact of environmental parameters on marathon running performance
Nour El Helou1, Muriel Tafflet, Geoffroy Berthelot
1IRMES (bioMedical Research Institute of Sports Epidemiology), INSEP, Paris, France. nour.elhelou@insep.fr
Plos One
|June 1, 2012
Summary
Air temperature significantly impacts marathon runner performance, with optimal conditions varying by runner speed. Higher temperatures decrease running speed and increase dropout rates, influencing race outcomes globally.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Environmental Science
- Sports Analytics
Background:
- Marathon running is a globally popular endurance event.
- Understanding environmental impacts on performance is crucial for athletes and race organizers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze marathon runner performance distribution across major global marathons.
- To identify key environmental factors affecting marathon running performance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1,791,972 marathon finisher results from 2001-2010.
- Collected data on temperature, humidity, dew point, atmospheric pressure, and air pollutants (NO2, SO2, O3, PM10).
Main Results:
- Runner performances are normally distributed, with parameters varying by environmental factors.
- Air temperature showed a significant quadratic correlation with performance; optimal temperatures varied by runner ability.
- Elevated temperatures led to decreased speed and increased withdrawal rates; ozone also impacted performance, potentially linked to temperature.
Conclusions:
- Air temperature is the most influential climatic parameter on human running capacity in marathons.
- Runner adaptation to race conditions is significantly moderated by ambient temperature.
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