Do Ultramarathons Affect Males and Females Differently? | Koopcast Episode 135
Episode overview:
Do ultramarathons affects males and females differently? How does this impact performance and training. This episode of the KoopCast explores that question with Nick Tiller PhD and coach Corrine Malcolm. We use Nick’s recent paper ‘Sex specific physiologic responses to ultramarathon.’
Episode highlights:
(22:16) Sex-specific deterioration post-race: lung diffusion capacity and pulmonary edema, clinical significance and performative significance
(31:03) The physiology behind sex-specific differences: women are more fatigue resistant to muscle damage, research required to understand cardiopulmonary differences
(43:09) Implications for athletes and coaches: respiratory issues in athletes during long duration race events and caution against racing frequently
Our conversation:
(0:00) Introduction: overview of Nick’s new research study at Mont Blanc
(2:20) Research goals: bridging scientific and ley literature
(4:14) The differences between males and females in footraces: a brief history of our understanding, sex-specific physiological advantages, and sex-specific impact from races
(5:34) Background on the research study: time-matching men and women, ultramarathons and hypoxia, previous work and collaboration with Mayo Clinic
(9:24) Introduction of methods: number of test subjects, when testing was performed, thorough cardiovascular and respiratory biomarker testing
(14:20) Relevance of cardiopulmonary biomarkers: cardiac troponin and BNP, CK-MB, testing new cardiopulmonary biomarkers including lung diffusing capacity and pulmonary edema, ultra endurance and hypoxia
(18:13) Lung diffusion capacity: the single breath technique, physiology overview, using carbon monoxide to interpret oxygen diffusion capacity
(22:16) Sex-specific deterioration post-race: lung diffusion capacity and pulmonary edema, clinical significance and performative significance
(26:29) Curious outcomes: females are more susceptible to airflow restrictions, yet males exhibit more of a decrease in diffusion capacity
(31:03) The physiology behind sex-specific differences: women are more fatigue resistant to muscle damage, research required to understand cardiopulmonary differences
(33:22) Cardiopulmonary deterioration and performance: VO2max and quantifying fitness, using models to translate biomarkers to performance
(37:22) Shorter versus longer distances: the dangers of extrapolating marathon research to ultramarathons, the value of an integrated model
(40:14) Media portrayal of sex differences in ultramarathons: biases of the media, statistics and research, males have more frequent and greater decreases in physiological function
(43:09) Implications for athletes and coaches: respiratory issues in athletes during long duration race events and caution against racing frequently
(46:34) How to interpret the research study: caveats, ultra endurance training is not harmful, frequent race participation may be harmful long term
(49:01) Extrapolating data: female athletes self-selecting in a male dominated sport, reasons for DNFing
(53:42) Testing at UTMB: benefits of a large and diverse sample size
(54:42) Future research: investigating athlete responses at altitude, the challenges of testing sex differences in ultramarathons
(57:00) Takeaways from research: avoiding over sensationalizing results
(59:01) Banter: will Corrine beat Jason, Californians can’t run in mud
(101:07) Wrap-up: where to find Nick
(1:02:18) Outro: giving thanks to Nick, Corrine, and users for one million downloads!
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