Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2025
06:53
Influence of Step-Width Manipulation on Running Biomechanics
Published on: February 28, 2025
384
Backyard running: Pushing the boundaries of human performance
Kevin De Pauw1,2, T Ampe1, Y L Arenales Arauz1,2
1Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group (MFYS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussel, Belgium.
European Journal of Sport Science
|September 14, 2024
Summary
Backyard ultrarunning impacts cognitive function, slowing reaction times post-event. Physiological resilience varies among runners, suggesting targeted strategies could improve ultraendurance performance.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Ultrarunning, particularly backyard formats, is increasingly popular.
- Limited research exists on the physiological and psychological demands of backyard ultrarunning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cognitive function, physiological resilience, and running performance during a backyard ultrarunning event.
- To identify factors influencing performance in this unique ultraendurance discipline.
Main Methods:
- Twelve male ultrarunners underwent cognitive testing before, during, and after the event.
- Physiological markers (heart rate, blood lactate, rating of perceived exertion) and running performance (laps, speed) were monitored.
- Physiological resilience was estimated using heart rate and speed ratios.
Main Results:
- Athletes completed an average of 227.8 km, with running speed decreasing from 9.0 to 7.5 km/h.
- Heart rate and lactate remained stable, but perceived exertion increased significantly.
- Cognitive performance, specifically reaction time, significantly worsened post-event.
- Physiological resilience varied, being lower in more proficient runners at the event's conclusion.
Conclusions:
- Backyard ultrarunning negatively affects psychomotor speed.
- Physiological resilience is performance-dependent in ultraendurance athletes.
- Strategies to enhance physiological resilience and psychomotor speed may benefit ultraendurance performance.
Keywords:
backyard runningcognitive performanceendurance performancephysiological resilienceultra‐runningMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:16Eccentric Loading
327
Eccentric loading is a crucial concept in the study of structural engineering and mechanics, particularly when analyzing the stability and stress distribution in columns. Unlike centric loading, where the force is applied along the centroidal axis, causing uniform compression, eccentric loading occurs when a force is applied off-center. This off-center application introduces not only direct compressive stress but also bending stress, significantly influencing the column's behavior under...
327
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
1.4K
Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
1.4K
01:29Hydraulic Jump
69
A hydraulic jump is a sudden rise in fluid depth in open channels, occurring when high-velocity (supercritical) flow transitions to low-velocity (subcritical) flow. This phenomenon requires an upstream Froude number greater than 1, as flows with Fr1<1 remain subcritical, making a hydraulic jump impossible due to the need for negative head loss, which violates thermodynamic principles.The characteristics of a hydraulic jump depend on the upstream Froude number and are classified as...
69
01:13Pumped Concrete
62
Concrete in large quantities can be pumped across long distances for placing in inaccessible sites. This system comprises a hopper that receives concrete from a mixer, a pump to propel the concrete, and pipelines that facilitate its delivery.
For direct-acting pumps, the concrete enters the pump via the inlet valve under the action of gravity and suction created by the movement of the piston. This concrete is then forced into the pipeline and out through the outlet valve by the forward movement...
For direct-acting pumps, the concrete enters the pump via the inlet valve under the action of gravity and suction created by the movement of the piston. This concrete is then forced into the pipeline and out through the outlet valve by the forward movement...
62
01:17Rolling Resistance: Problem Solving
305
Rolling resistance, also known as rolling friction, is the force that resists the motion of a rolling object, such as a wheel, tire, or ball, when it moves over a surface. It is caused by the deformation of the object and the surface in contact with each other, as well as other factors like internal friction, hysteresis, and energy losses within the materials. Rolling resistance opposes the object's motion, requiring additional energy to overcome it and maintain movement. In practical...
305
01:21Rolling Resistance
282
When a solid cylinder rolls steadily on a rigid surface, the normal force applied by the surface on the cylinder is perpendicular to the tangent at the contact point. However, since no materials are entirely rigid, the surface's reaction to the cylinder involves a range of normal pressures.
For instance, imagine a hard cylinder rolling on a comparatively soft surface. The cylinder's weight compresses the surface beneath it. As the cylinder moves, the material in front of it slows down...
For instance, imagine a hard cylinder rolling on a comparatively soft surface. The cylinder's weight compresses the surface beneath it. As the cylinder moves, the material in front of it slows down...
282