Gastrointestinal distress is common during a 161-km ultramarathon

This study examined the incidence, severity, and timing of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in finishers and non-finishers of the 161-km Western States Endurance Run. A total of 272 runners (71.0% of starters) completed a post-race questionnaire that assessed the incidence and severity (none = 0, mild...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of sports sciences 2015-10, Vol.33 (17), p.1814-1821
Main Authors: Stuempfle, Kristin Jean, Hoffman, Martin Dean
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Athletes
Eructation - etiology
Female
Flatulence - etiology
Gastrointestinal diseases
Gastrointestinal Diseases - etiology
Gastrointestinal Diseases - physiopathology
gastrointestinal symptoms
Human performance
Humans
Male
Marathons
Middle Aged
nausea
Nausea - etiology
Physical Endurance - physiology
Questionnaires
Running - physiology
ultramarathon running
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Summary:This study examined the incidence, severity, and timing of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in finishers and non-finishers of the 161-km Western States Endurance Run. A total of 272 runners (71.0% of starters) completed a post-race questionnaire that assessed the incidence and severity (none = 0, mild = 1, moderate = 2, severe = 3, very severe = 4) of 12 upper (reflux/heartburn, belching, stomach bloating, stomach cramps/pain, nausea, vomiting) and lower (intestinal cramps/pain, flatulence, side ache/stitch, urge to defecate, loose stool/diarrhoea, intestinal bleeding/bloody faeces) GI symptoms experienced during each of four race segments. GI symptoms were experienced by most runners (96.0%). Flatulence (65.9% frequency, mean value 1.0, s = 0.6 severity), belching (61.3% frequency, mean value 1.0, s = 0.6 severity), and nausea (60.3% frequency, mean value 1.0, s = 0.7 severity) were the most common symptoms. Among race finishers, 43.9% reported that GI symptoms affected their race performance, with nausea being the most common symptom (86.0%). Among race non-finishers, 35.6% reported that GI symptoms were a reason for dropping out of the race, with nausea being the most common symptom (90.5%). For both finishers and non-finishers, nausea was greatest during the most challenging and hottest part of the race. GI symptoms are very common during ultramarathon running, and in particular, nausea is the most common complaint for finishers and non-finishers.
ISSN:0264-0414
1466-447X
DOI:10.1080/02640414.2015.1012104