| Paul is a 41 year old male competitive 10km runner; | | | | which Paul will be running in, and unfortunately he will |
| weighing at 80kg and 1.8m in height. In his late 20's to | | | | not have enough time to acclimatise to the |
| early 30's he was a county level runner and was | | | | environment. Therefore Paul needs to train as close |
| within the top 50 10km runners in the UK. Nowadays | | | | to the environmental conditions as possible while in |
| he is more of a social runner; taking part in local | | | | the UK; a number of recommendations that Paul can |
| events and attends football matches. | | | | use is to train in an environmentally controlled room, |
| Paul has wanted to compete within the Marathon | | | | whereby he can train in the temperatures and |
| Des Stables for a number of years now, and has | | | | humidity of the environment he will be participating in. |
| been on the waiting list for 2 years. Within the 2 year | | | | This will give him the advantage of allowing himself to |
| waiting period Paul has been training 5/6 days per | | | | acclimatise to the environment and improve his VOa'' |
| week and has participated in challenging half marathon | | | | max. |
| and full marathon events, such as 'Hellrunner'. | | | | His temperature can be measured in either two |
| The Marathon Des Stables is an ultra-endurance | | | | ways. For a more accurate reading Paul can use a |
| event which lasts for 6 days and approximately | | | | Digestible Core Temperature Sensor Pill; this pill is a |
| 151miles of competitive running. The location is in the | | | | very accurate measurement of any core |
| extreme conditions of the Sahara Desert, where the | | | | temperature as it gets closer readings from the heart |
| average daily temperature is around 37 degrees & | | | | as it passes through the digestive system. Therefore |
| with a maximum of 50 degrees. What makes this | | | | it will provide Paul with accurate readings and targets |
| event so unique is that the competitors have to | | | | which he needs to achieve to be able to sustain the |
| carry their own equipment such as food and clothing | | | | conditions in Morocco. An alternative way of |
| (tents are provided at the end of each stage). Strict | | | | measuring Paul's body temperature is through using |
| rules and regulations are enforced throughout the | | | | sensors which attach to him during exercise. These |
| event, such as minimum amounts of water and | | | | sensors take the readings of the limbs, chest and |
| calorie consumption. There are stages for water | | | | core; once the readings have been recorded, by |
| where the runners must consume a minimum amount | | | | using the simple calculation for the Mean Skin |
| of water; this is around 9 litres per day and 22.5 litres | | | | Temperature (by Ramanathan 1964) = (0.3 thigh) + |
| on the 'non-stop' stage where the runners continue | | | | (0.2 shin) + (0.3 chest) + (0.2 arm) |
| through the night, completing 45-50miles. The | | | | From this calculation Paul can find his mean skin |
| minimum amount of calories a runner has to carry per | | | | temperature and control it through the digestion of |
| day is 1500; however the average calorie | | | | fluids i.e. water during exercise. If he over heats then |
| consumption is a much higher 3000-4000kcal. If the | | | | he could suffer from heatstroke and be in a serious |
| participant doesn't carry the minimum amount then | | | | condition. |
| they will pay with a time penalty. | | | | Through endurance running, the muscle fibres adapt |
| In 2009 there were 228 British competitors, of which | | | | to help with the running economy of the athlete. |
| 12 did not finish. Paul has been waiting to compete in | | | | Therefore an important recommendation for Paul |
| this even for 2 years and has been training hard | | | | would be to train while wearing his itinerary. This will |
| however he needs additional support to help him | | | | prevent overstressing the muscles when participating |
| acclimatise to the extreme conditions he will face, as | | | | in the event and therefore decrease the chances of |
| he only has two days in Morocco before the race. | | | | injuring himself because he hasn't adapted to the |
| Previous injuries must be taken into account, and it is | | | | conditions he will be competing in. This will also help to |
| noted that Paul has an injury history with his Achilles | | | | strengthen his Achilles and improve his VOa'' max for |
| tendon. He has been doing strength exercises to help | | | | the event. It is found that in previous experiments, |
| stabilise and build the tendon, but more precautions | | | | athletes who overloaded on their fluid consumption |
| need to be taken as neither he nor his body has | | | | to maintain adequate body weight will perform better |
| ever attempted such a challenging event. | | | | when under such conditions faced in the Marathon |
| The conditions will be extreme with the | | | | Des Stables and provided Paul maintains the correct |
| temperatures at 37 to 50 degrees; direct sunlight | | | | calorie consumption of 3000 to 4000kcals per day |
| (from both above and reflected heat radiation | | | | then he should have sufficient energy and hydration |
| reflected off the sand) will also cause Paul problems. | | | | levels to finish. Paul needs to make sure he consumes |
| One of the biggest issues he will face however is the | | | | 9 litres of water minimum per day, but must ensure |
| sand and terrain he will be running on. Sand is a | | | | he tries to overload on fluid consumption as although |
| concern for the strain on Pauls Achilles, not only will | | | | the exercise energy expenditure will be greater than |
| he have blisters but because sand is not a stable | | | | calorie consumption if Paul maintains his bodyweight |
| surface his ankle will be under pressure to stabilise | | | | through this technique then he should complete the |
| and keep him balanced when running. In order to | | | | marathon. If possible he should try to keep his core |
| avoid the positional risk of injury it is advisable that | | | | temperature down by pouring water on his face, as |
| Paul wears an ankle brace/ strap to help support his | | | | the evaporation will help cool his skin and core |
| running on the uneven ground. | | | | temperature, helping him to improve his performance. |
| The biggest factor however will be the climate at | | | | |