Table 2 Comparison of characteristics among runners with cramping, near cramping, and no cramping, as well either cramping or near cramping
Variable | Combined cramping or near cramping | Cramping | Near cramping | No cramping | p valuea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age (years) | 42 ± 9 | 43 ± 10 | 42 ± 9 | 42 ± 9 | 0.84 |
Sex (n, % men) | 97, 84.3 | 32, 80.0 | 65, 86.7 | 126, 76.4 | 0.18 |
Ultramarathon running experience (years) | 5 (3–8) | 4 (3–8) | 5 (3–8) | 5 (3–9) | 0.45 |
Prior 161-km ultramarathon finishes (n) | 2 (1–4) | 1 (1–3) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (0–5) | 0.46 |
Prior 161-km ultramarathon drops (n) | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–2) | 0.94 |
Average running distance (km/week)b | 97 (80–113) | 89 (80–120) | 97 (75–113) | 97 (80–121) | 0.70 |
Highest running distance in 1 week (km)b | 145 (125–169) | 142 (124–167) | 145 (126–169) | 140 (118–166) | 0.61 |
Longest single run (km)b | 80 (68–100) | 80 (56–100) | 80 (72–100) | 80 (65–100) | 0.46 |
Prior history of cramping (n, %) | 94, 81.7† | 32, 80.0* | 62, 82.7* | 86, 52.1 | <0.0001 |
Finish status (n, % finished) | 97, 84.3 | 31, 77.5 | 66, 88.0 | 136, 82.4 | 0.33 |
Finish time (h) | 26.52 (23.37–28.61)† | 26.60 (22.02–28.83) | 26.41 (23.56–28.48) | 25.06 (22.16–27.98) | 0.14 |
Sodium supplementation (n, % using) | 109, 94.8 | 38, 95.0 | 71, 94.7 | 154, 93.3 | 0.88 |
Sodium supplement intake (mg/h) | 145 (59–295) | 128 (35–261) | 147 (66–328) | 132 (62–235) | 0.46 |
Minimum weight (% of start weight) | −3.0 (−4.3 to −2.0) | −3.3 (−4.4 to −2.5) | −2.9 (−4.0 to −1.9) | −3.1 (−4.1 to −2.1) | 0.23 |
Post-race serum sodium (mmol/L) | 139 ± 4 | 138 ± 5 | 140 ± 4 | 140 ± 3 | 0.055 |
Post-race blood CK (IU/L) | 19,458 (10,098–46,887)† | 35,265 (14,755–53,567)* | 15,149 (9120–38,920) | 11,862 (5951–24,615) | 0.0010 |
Post-race BUN (mg/dL) | 29 (22–36)† | 35 (26–39)* | 29 (20–34) | 25 (20–33) | 0.023 |
Post-race blood creatinine (mg/dL) | 1.30 (1.12–1.53) | 1.32 (1.15–1.60) | 1.26 (1.04–1.48) | 1.18 (1.03–1.41) | 0.19 |