This case study used exploratory and descriptive research to look into how stakeholders involved in the organization and practice of adventure races in Brazil perceive impacts related to this outdoor ...activity. Additionally, questions were posed about whether such impacts have been taken into consideration when planning these sporting events. Finally, the research aimed to understand why racers and adventure race organizers choose a certain time of year and venue to partake and organize a race: whether for more logistical purposes or also considering conservation. Online surveys were set up to target adventure race organizers, racers, and national park managers. Overall, there seems to be very little knowledge among racers and race organizers about social and environmental impacts associated with adventure races. This has led to the organization of events with very few or no specific concerns to the environment. Moreover, racers and adventure race organizers seem to perceive certain ecological issues—i.e., erosion—as challenges to the sport and not a problem to be addressed or avoided. National park managers were the group surveyed with more knowledge about the negative impacts adventure races might have on the environment.
Adventure Races are competitions of great physical and psychological toughness, therefore, raiders must have a strong motivation to participate in these races. However, today there are no instruments ...to assess these reasons, therefore, the aim of this study was to validate a scale reasons for participation in Adventure Races. The sample consisted of 272 competitors in the Spanish League of Adventure Races, who completed a questionnaire before each competition. Exploration, psychometrics and confirmatory factor analyzes were performed using SPSS and Lisrel program. The results show that can be extracted 4 factors of that scale, although the model presented in the correct settings confirmatoryanalysis, is the model of a factor, based on the reasons for adventure races practices. The data support the validity and reliability of this scale in this population.
Os Raides de Aventura são provas muito exigente do ponto de vista físico e psicológico, pelo que os desportistas devem apresentar níveis motivacionais elevados para participar nestas provas. Apesar do reconhecimento sobre a importância desse fator, não existem instrumentos que avaliem os aspectos motivacionais para a prática dessa atividade nos dias de hoje. Assim, o objectivo do presente trabalho foi validar uma Escala de Motivos de participação em Raides de Aventura. A amostra do estudo foi composta por 272 competidores da Liga Espanhola de Raides de Aventura, que responderam a um questionário antes de participarem numa das provas da liga. Foram realizadas análises fatoriais exploratórias, psicométricase de confirmação, utilizando-se o programa SPSS e Lisrel. Os resultados demonstraram que se podem extrair 4 fatores da referida escala, embora o modelo que apresentou ajustes corretos na análise de confirmação tenha sido o modelo de um fator quanto aos motivos de prática em Raides de Aventura. Os resultados obtidos confirmam a validade e fiabilidade da escala na população estudada.
Los Raids de Aventura son pruebas de gran dureza física y psicológica, por eso, los deportistas deben tener una motivación importante para participar en estas pruebas. A pesar de ello, a día de hoy no hay instrumentos que evalúen estos motivos, por ello, el objetivo de este trabajo ha sido validar una Escala de Motivos de participación en Raids de Aventura. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 272 competidores de la Liga Española de Raids de Aventura, que rellenaron un cuestionario antes de una de las pruebas de la Liga.Se realizaron análisis factoriales exploratorios, psicométricos y confirmatorios usando el programa SPSS y Lisrel. Los resultados muestran que se pueden extraer 4 factores de dicha escala, aunque el modelo que presenta ajustes correctos en el análisis confirmatorio, es el modelo de un factor, referido a los motivos de prácticas en raids de aventura. Los datos avalan la validez y fiabilidad de dicha escala, en esta población.
Abstract Aims: This study aims to analyze the influence of adventure race disciplines on the overall performance during 35 to 50-km competitions. Methods: Twenty-four athletes from twelve teams were ...studied during the second (Jacarei-SP, Brazil, 44.5-km) and fourth (Passa Quatro-MG, Brazil, 37.1-km) races of the 2015 Haka Race Series, which comprised Brazilian Adventure Race Ranking. We analysed the relationship between disciplines velocities and overall race velocity of the teams during each competition. Results: We observed the race velocity of the teams during second race was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with the first (R=0.80) and last (R=0.65) split velocities of trekking, and with the last split velocity of mountain biking (R=0.73). On the other hand, the race velocity of teams during fourth race was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with the split velocity performed during the course of water trekking with trekking (R=0.96). Conclusion: Greater performance of the athletes in the disciplines of mountain biking, trekking and water trekking is related to their overall performance during 35-50 km ARs. In addition, the influence of adventure race disciplines is specific to the overall performance during different competitions.
This study assessed changes in creatine kinase (CK) activity and skeletal muscle troponin T (sTnT) concentrations in the blood, to estimate the degree of muscle degradation after exercise. In ...addition, the concentration of vitamin D binding protein (DBP) in the blood was assessed. DBP concentrations were measured in blood as a marker for plasma load by monomeric actin. The study included marathon (MR) participants and 100 km adventure race (AR) participants, who were examined before and after the race. There was a significant (16-fold) increase in CK activity among AR participants, and a significant increase in sTnT concentration-127% in the MR group and 113% in the AR group, while there was a statistically significant decrease in DBP concentration by 14% in the AR group. In addition, it was observed that the initial concentration of DBP in both groups was in a normal range, but was lower than the average population, and the DBP concentration in the AR group was lower than in the MR group. It was concluded that exhausting physical effort such as a marathon or adventure races causes muscle damage with a far stronger influence on sarcoplasm than on filaments. The short-term and slight reduction in the concentration of DBP in blood after such efforts may be due to the appearance of monomeric actin in plasma.
In this study, we aimed to investigate the influence of
gene polymorphism on muscle damage responses in athletes competing in an ultra-endurance race. Twenty moderate to well-trained ultra-runners ...who had entered in an official 37.1 km adventure race (22.1 km mountain biking, 10.9 km trekking, 4.1 km water trekking, 30 m rope course, and orienteering) volunteered for the study. Blood samples were collected for genotyping and analysis of muscle protein levels before and after the race. Percentage changes (pre- to post-race) of serum myoglobin XX = 5,377% vs. RX/RR = 1,666%;
= 0.005, effect size (ES) = 1.73, creatine kinase (XX = 836.5% vs. RX/RR = 455%;
= 0.04, ES = 1.29), lactate dehydrogenase (XX = 82% vs. RX/RR = 65%;
= 0.002, ES = 1.61), and aspartate aminotransferase (XX = 148% vs. RX/RR = 75%;
= 0.02, ES = 1.77) were significantly greater for XX than RX/RR genotypes. ES analysis confirmed a large magnitude of muscle damage in XX genotype ultra-runners. Therefore, athletes with the
genotype experienced more muscle damage after an adventure race. This suggests that ultra-runners with alpha-actinin-3 deficiency may be more susceptible to rhabdomyolysis and associated health complications during ultra-endurance competitions.
Interleukin 6 (IL-6) response was studied during two ultra endurance events—one laboratory 24 h protocol (9 men) with exercise intensity set to 60% of VO
2max
and one Adventure Race over 6 days (12 ...men/6 women) with a self-selected race pace, including rests, of about 38% of VO
2max
. In the 24-h protocol IL-6 level was elevated from 0.76 ± 0.48 pg mL
−1
at rest to 7.16 ± 2.70 pg mL
−1
at 6 h, and increased further to 10.58 ± 1.04 pg mL
−1
at 12 h, but remained thereafter unchanged at 24 h, (10.89 ± 0.36 pg mL
−1
). All participants had nearly identical values at 12 and 24 h, supporting intensity as main determinant in the IL-6 response during prolonged exercise since exercise duration did not increase IL-6 level after 12 h. Possible confounding factors do not seem to influence the IL-6 concentration during the longer races (>12 h), but might very well do so during shorter exercise bouts. In the 6-day race IL-6 increased from rest to 24 h, but thereafter there was no change in plasma IL-6 value until the end of the race (mean 143.5 h). There was no elevation of TNF-α in any of the protocols, suggesting that the competitors were free from systemic inflammation. We conclude that during endurance exercise lasting >12 h intensity, and not duration, is the main determinant of the IL-6 response, while during shorter exercise bouts both intensity and duration contribute to the accumulation of IL-6 in plasma.
In this paper we report a reversed drift in heart rate (HR) but increased oxygen uptake (VO2) during ultra‐endurance exercise. Nine well‐trained male athletes performed 24‐h exercise in a controlled ...laboratory setting, with alternating blocks of kayaking, running and cycling. Each block included 110 min of exercise and 10 min of rest, with an average work intensity of approximately 55% of respective VO2peak. Blood samples were taken and HR and VO2 measured every 6th hour during steady‐state cycling at fixed work rate. As assumed HR was increased at 6 h by 15 ± 6 beats/min compared with initial level (0 h). Thereafter the drift did not progress continuously, but instead unexpectedly returned toward initial values, although the plasma levels of catecholamines increased continuously during exercise. VO2 was increased by 0.22 ± 0.15 L/min (10%) at 6 h and 0.37 ± 0.18 L/min (17%) at 12 h compared with 0 h, and thereafter remained stable. This implies an increased oxygen pulse (VO2/HR) by approximately 10% at the last half of the 24‐h exercise compared with 0 h. Consequently, sole use of HR would give inaccurate estimates of exercise intensity and energy expenditure during endurance exercise lasting more than 6 h, and different patterns of cardiovascular drift need to be taken into account.
The insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)–IGF binding proteins (BP) and the pituitary–gonadal axes were investigated during ultra endurance exercise in 16 endurance‐trained athletes (seven women). Median ...duration of the race was 6.3 days. Although food and drink were ad libitum, energy balance was negative. Blood samples were drawn before (PRE), at the end of (END) and 24 h after (POST24h) the race. Serum concentrations of total IGF‐I (t‐IGF‐I) and free IGF‐I (f‐IGF‐I) decreased by 33 (SD 38)% and 54 (19)%, respectively. The decrease in t‐IGF‐I appeared to be associated to the total energy deficit during the race. At END, the IGFBP‐3 fragmentation and IGFBP‐1 were increased but these changes did not predict changes in f‐IGF‐I. An increase in POST24h IGFBP‐2 levels in women was the only sex difference. Testosterone was decreased by 67 (12)% in the men and estradiol became undetectable in the women without any detectable increase in LH and/or FSH. In conclusion ultra endurance exercise results in similar IGF–IGFBP responses in men and women reflecting a catabolic state. IGFBP‐2 was the only exception, with increased levels in women after exercise. A concomitant decrease in gonadal hormones was not related to endocrine changes in the IGF–IGFBP axis but may be related to local changes in IGF‐I expression.
Abstract Adventure racing is a wilderness multisport endurance event with the potential for significant injury and illness; however specific contributing factors have not been extensively studied. A ...prospective cross-sectional study was conducted that collected data during the 2005 Adventure Racing World Championship on pre-, in- and post-race injury and illness and determined pre-race training volumes and health profiles in 184 athletes (46 teams of 4 athletes). In the 6 months prior to the event, 79.9% of athletes reported an injury or illness. Fifty-nine cases of injury or illness were recorded during the race; representing an overall rate of 2.5 injuries per 1000 race-hours and 1.0 illness per 1000 race-hours. This incidence could be considered low compared to some sports, but the rate is tempered by the time on course exposure of 16,774 race-hours. Respiratory conditions were the single-most common condition resulting in race withdrawal. There was a moderate, but not statistically significantly, association (OR = 4.61, p = 0.083, 95% CI 0.82–26.08) between pre-race illness and in-race illness. Forty-four (95%) teams responded to a post-race questionnaire with 30% of the athletes reporting a new injury and 12% reporting a new illness in the week following the race. Understanding contributing factors to injury and illness during adventure racing will aid implementation of race medical coverage, preventative strategies and increase participation and performance.
Nutritional status of adventure racers Zalcman, Ioná, M.S; Guarita, Heloisa Vidigal, R.D; Juzwiak, Claudia Ridel, Ph.D ...
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.),
05/2007, Volume:
23, Issue:
5
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Abstract Objective We describe the usual food intake, body composition, and biochemical profile of adventure racers during their training season and evaluate their energy and nutrient intake in ...relation to current recommendations for ultraendurance athletes. Methods Twenty-four adventure race athletes (18 men and 6 women), 24 to 42 y of age, participated in the study. Food intake was determined with a 3-d food record and body composition by plethysmography. Blood samples were obtained from all subjects for biochemical analyses. All assessments were made during the usual training phase. Results Female athletes had a higher body fat percentage than did male athletes (20.2 ± 5.7% versus 12.5 ± 3.5%). For men and women, food intake was high in protein (1.9 ± 0.5 g/kg in men, 2.0 ± 0.4 g/kg in women) and fat (1.6 ± 0.3 g/kg in men, 1.5 ± 1.3 g/kg in women). Carbohydrate intake of male athletes was at the lower limit of that recommended (5.9 ± 1.8 g/kg). For most vitamins and minerals, athletes’ intake was adequate, with the exception of magnesium, zinc, and potassium in men and women and vitamin E and calcium in women, which presented a high probability of being inadequate compared with reference values. High blood levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were found in female athletes (201.0 ± 44.7 and 104.1 ± 43.1 mg/dL, respectively) and all other biochemical analyses were within normal reference values. Conclusion The adventure racers presented an inadequate nutritional profile when compared with recommendations for endurance exercise. These athletes need to be educated about consuming an adequate diet to meet the nutritional needs of their activity.
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