http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10038-011-0016-8. Postprint available at: http://www.zora.uzh.ch Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich. Main Library http://www.zora.uzh.ch Winterthurerstr. 190 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Originally published at: Knechtle, B; Knechtle, P; Rosemann, T (2011). A paradigm for identifying ability in competition: The association between anthropometry, training and equipment with race times in male long-distance inline skaters - the ‘Inline One Eleven'. Human Movement, 12(2):171-179. Year: 2011 A paradigm for identifying ability in competition: The association between anthropometry, training and equipment with race times in male long-distance inline skaters - the ‘Inline One Eleven' Knechtle, B; Knechtle, P; Rosemann, T http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10038-011-0016-8. Postprint available at: http://www.zora.uzh.ch Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich. http://www.zora.uzh.ch Originally published at: Knechtle, B; Knechtle, P; Rosemann, T (2011). A paradigm for identifying ability in competition: The association between anthropometry, training and equipment with race times in male long-distance inline skaters - the ‘Inline One Eleven'. Human Movement, 12(2):171-179. 2011, vol. 12 (2), 171 – 179 A PARADIGM FOR IDENTIFYING ABILITY IN COMPETITION: THE ASSociation BETWEEN ANTHropometry, TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT WITH RACE TIMES IN MALE LONG-DIStance INLINE SKaters – THE ‘INLINE ONE ELEVEN’ doi: 10.2478/v10038-011-0016-8 Beat KNECHTLE 1, 2 *, PatriZIA KNECHTLE 1, THOMAS ROSEMANN 2 1 Gesundheitszentrum St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland 2 Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland ABSTRACT Purpose. The association between anthropometric and training characteristics on an athlete’s performance has been investigated in swimmers, cyclists and runners, but not in inline skaters. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anthropometry, pre race preparation and equipment in the finishers of the longest inline race in Europe, the ‘Inline One eleven’ over 111 km in Switzerland. Basic procedures. We investigated the association of anthropometry, training, and equipment variables with race times in 84 male ultra- endurance inline skaters using bi- and multivariate analysis. Main findings. In the multivariate analysis, percent body fat, duration per training unit, and personal best time in the ‘Inline One eleven’ was related to the race time for all finishers. Out of the 84 finishers, 58 had already finished an ‘Inline One eleven’ while 26 participated for the first time. Speed in training and the kind of skates worn were related to race times of the 26 inexperienced finishers. The inexperienced finishers skating with custom made skates were significantly faster with 229.1 (12.7) min compared to inexperienced finishers using ordinary skates finishing within 290.8 (35.4) min (p < 0.001). For experienced inliners, body mass, the sum of skin-folds and percent body fat correlated to race time. Conclusions. We assume that inexperienced athletes in ultra-endurance skating need time to gain the experience necessary in choosing the correct equipment and doing the training in order to successfully finish a long-distance inline race. Experienced inliners can only improve race performance in an ultra-endurance inline race such as the ‘Inline One eleven’ through a reduction of their body fat. Key words: skin-fold thickness, body fat, skate shoe, ultra-endurance Introduction short and long-distances in pool swimmers from 50 m to 800 m [9]. Body mass index and endurance perfor- In endurance athletes, the association between an- mance were negatively correlated to running speed in thropometric variables such as body mass, body height, a 161-km trail run [10]. The relationship of the circum- body mass index, the length and girth of extremities, ference of limbs with performance has mainly been in- body fat and skin-fold thicknesses have been investi- vestigated in runners. The circumference of the upper gated mainly in the disciplines of swimming, cycling, arms seemed to be related to performance in ultra-endur- running and the triathlon. Body mass was related to the ance runners [3, 11]. In swimmers, the upper extremity performance of athletes in a 3,000 m steeplechase [1], length was a predictor variable of 100 m freestyle per- marathon [2] and ultra-marathon [3]. Apart from run- formances in both boys and girls [7]. Body fat was re- ners, body mass also showed a relationship with perfor- lated to performance in female marathon runners [12], mance in cyclists, where road cyclists [4] and off-road in male ultra-marathoners [13], in female swimmers cyclists [5, 6] with a lower body mass had an advantage [8, 14], and in male Ironman triathletes [15, 16]. The in endurance cycling during climbs. Body height seems association between skin-fold thicknesses and endurance to be associated with swimming performance, especially performance was mainly investigated in runners. The in female swimmers, where body height was signifi- total sum of five skin-fold thicknesses was related to cantly related to the 100 m freestyle time in girls [7]. In performance in male 10 km runners [17] and the sum of another study, of a 100 yard swim, body height was seven skin-folds was correlated to marathon perfor- significantly related to each female swimmer’s major mance times [2]. competitive stroke [8]. Regarding the length of the Apart from anthropometry, the volume and intensity swimming distance, body height was related to both in training seem to influence performance in runners. In marathoners, the longest mileage covered per training session was the best predictor for the successful comple- tion of a marathon [18]. Scrimgeour et al. described that * Corresponding author. runners training more than 100 km per week had sig- 171 B. Knechtle et al., Performance in inline skaters nificantly faster race times over 10 km to 90 km than Material and methods athletes covering less than 100 km [19]. Bale et al. de- monstrated, in 60 male runners, that elite runners with The organiser of the ‘Inline One eleven’ in St. Gallen, a higher training frequency, higher weekly training vol- Switzerland contacted all the participants of the race ume and longer running experience had better 10 km via a separate newsletter upon joining the 2009 race, performance [17]. Hewson and Hopkins showed a cor- the 12th year of this event. The ‘Inline One eleven’ was the relation between seasonal weekly duration of moderate longest inline skating race in Europe, covering a total continuous running for runners specialising in longer distance of 111 km with a total altitude of 1,400 m to distances [20]. Apart from volume, the running intensity climb. The start of the race was in the heart of the City in running was also of some importance. According to of St. Gallen, and then went on a large loop of 111 km Billat et al., top class marathon runners trained for more in the East of Switzerland returning to St. Gallen. Inliners total kilometres per week, and at a higher velocity, than from all over Europe came to St. Gallen for the longest runners at a lower level [21]. Peak running velocity in inline race in Europe, held on completely closed routes. training was highly related to 5 km run times for both male and female athletes [22]. In ultra-endurance swim- Subjects mers, speed in training was related to race performance in a 26.4 km open-water ultra-swim [23]. In addition to A total of 92 male athletes volunteered for this study. training, pre race experience was also associated with They all gave their written informed consent. The study endurance performance, as described for Ironman tri- was approved by the local Institutional Ethics Commit- athletes. Gulbin and Gaffney described that the previous tee of the Canton St. Gallen, Switzerland. The athletes best performances in an Olympic distance triathlon, came on Saturday 15th August 2009 to get their race coupled with weekly cycling distances and longer numbers and instructions for the race. On 16th August training rides, could partially predict overall Ironman 2009 at 07:00 a.m., the race started. During the 111 km, race performances [24]. Also, in recent studies investi- the organizer offered 11 refreshment points including gating ultra-runners, a personal best marathon time was an opportunity to repair their skates in case of a mal- related to performance in a 24 hour run [25] and with function. Split times and total race time were measured race times in both a 100 km ultra-marathon [26] and using an electronic chip system. multi-stage mountain ultra-marathon [27]. The sports discipline of inline speed skating is a spe- Procedures cial endurance discipline with a technical aspect. Inline skaters use special skates where the number, size and The day before the start of the race the subjects’ hardness of the wheels can be changed and may affect body mass, body height and thickness of skin-folds performance. Before each race the athletes assemble their (pectoralis, axillar, triceps, subscapular, abdomen, su- skates as dictated by the race course. Also, these athletes prailiac, thigh and calf) were measured. With this data, can use ordinary skates or custom made skates, and these body mass index, the sum of eight skin-folds and per- skates can be differentiated by the wheel bearing used. cent body fat were calculated. Body mass was meas- Apart from anthropometry, training and pre race expe- ured using a commercial scale (Beurer BF 15, Beurer, rience, the kind of skates might be differently related to Ulm Germany) to the nearest 0.1 kg. Body height was performance in long-distance inline skaters.