Ultra Marathons New York Marathon, Geoffrey Mutai and Martin Hoffman ,M.D.

"There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do."
– Freya Stark

 

A few more findings(based on 161-kilometers- ultra marathon) of research conducted by Martin Hoffman, M.D.  , who was last week’s guest on “It Has Nothing to Do with Age or Gender.” Some of his conclusions:  1. Factors associated with improved odds of finishing included being a first-time starter and advancing calendar year. Factors associated with a reduced odds of finishing included advancing age above 38 years and warmer weather. Beyond 38 years of age, women had worse odds of finishing than men. Warmer weather had a similar effect on finish rates for men and women.  2. Among non-finishers, the primary reason for dropping out was nausea and/or vomiting. Finishers compared with non-finishers were more likely to report blisters, muscle pain, and exhaustion as adversely affecting race performance. Nausea and/or vomiting was no more common among those using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NASID’S). Overall use of NASID’S was high and greater among finishers than on non -finishers. 3. A race diet with a higher percentage of fat and higher intake rates of fat and fluid may protect ultra marathon runners from G.I. distress.

Dr. Hoffman is an ultra marathon  competitor himself. In other words, this competitor. “ walks the walk.” For those of you interested in more detail, I suggest that you consider contacting him directly. His contact information is listed on the credits http://youtu.be/8jtitz7XcL4  .

We know that Geoffrey Mutai ran a faster marathon than anyone else during Sunday’s New York marathon.  To make matters worse , an article in the Wall Street Journal, October 31, 2013 pointed out that Europeans also run faster than us. For example, no US runner has placed as high as third since 2006 in the 40-44 age group. And in the 2011 New York marathon, all age groups 25 and older were  won by non American men. Also, foreigners won half of all women’s age groups that year as well.

A few people wonder why Americans don’t do as well in the New York marathon as non-Americans? Some suggest that running the marathon means different things to different people. Perhaps, some people run to improve their health; some run/or don’t run because of the New York marathon  competition;  and because there’s fewer amateur marathons in Europe, the better Europeans come to New York.

In any event, no American woman has won the New York marathon since 1977. And,  African men have won 12 of the past 15 New York marathons with the last American winner  coming in 2009. With all the prize money at stake, it’s difficult to  bet against the Africans. However, find your reason to begin running. If you stay with it, it’s good for you and you will  feel better. I guarantee it.

I know that moving, laughing, smiling, deep breathing, bonding, and loving is the  way to go. Go ahead and ask  Tony, he will tell you the same.