Analyzing Competitive Demands in Mountain Running Races: A Running Power-Based Approach

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Mountain Running Biomechanics

Background:

• Mountain running encompasses diverse race formats, from short vertical climbs to ultra-marathons.
• Understanding the physiological and metabolic demands across these varying race lengths is crucial for athlete training and performance optimization.
• Previous research has not comprehensively analyzed the specific intensity and load profiles of different mountain running race categories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and compare the competitive demands of mountain running races of varying lengths.
• To investigate how race duration influences exercise intensity and overall competition load.
• To evaluate the utility of running power as a metric for quantifying exercise intensity in mountain running.

Main Methods:

• Sixty-six male athletes participated in three distinct mountain race formats: Vertical (∼3 km, ∼1000 m elevation), Sky (∼25 km, ∼3000 m elevation), and SkyUltra (∼80 km, ∼9000 m elevation).
• Exercise intensity and total load (TL) were measured using running power (W·kg-1), heart rate (HRmax), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE).
• Data were analyzed to compare intensity, maximal power outputs, time spent above thresholds, and normalized competition load across race types.

Main Results:

• Vertical races exhibited the highest exercise intensity (3.9 W·kg-1, 93.6% HRmax, 9.5 RPE), with the greatest proportion of time spent above the respiratory compensation threshold.
• SkyUltra races involved the majority of time at low intensity, but demonstrated the highest overall training loads (TL).
• When normalized for competition time, SkyUltra races showed lower intensity metrics (kJ·min-1, AU·m-1) compared to Vertical and Sky races.

Conclusions:

• Mountain race demands are significantly influenced by race duration, with shorter races imposing higher peak intensities.
• Running power is a viable tool for quantifying exercise intensity and demands in mountain running.
• This study provides valuable insights into the physiological profiles of different mountain running race categories, aiding in training prescription and performance analysis.