The goal of our study is to better understand how bone density, genetic markers, and blood biomarkers affect bone stress injury (stress reaction and stress fracture) risk in ultramarathoners. If you agree to participate, you will complete a short, 15-minute questionnaire prior to race day and at one-year post-race. The questionnaire will ask questions on nutrition habits, hormonal factors, injury history, and training patterns.

 

You will have your bone density measured using a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner. DXA testing will take place on site (near race registration) in the two days prior to race start. Genetic testing will involve spitting in a test tube and will take place on site through AxGen's genetic kits. In addition, you will complete a fasting InsideTracker laboratory blood test through an on-site phlebotomist. We will measure Vitamin D, estradiol, testosterone, and ferritin. The quantity of blood drawn is minimal and will not impact race performance.

 

You will receive your DXA bone density results, your laboratory results, and your genetic predictors of sports injury biomarkers. Your DXA results will be communicated to you by our research team. Genetic results will be available on AxGen's secure online portal and a physician on our research team will be available for counseling. You will not receive any genetic information beyond potential risk for sports injury. The InsideTracker laboratory results will be available on InsideTracker's secure online portal.

Risks of the study include a very small amount of radiation exposure from a DXA scan, which is equivalent to less than one day of background environmental radiation. Benefits of participating in the study include receiving information that could be valuable to your health and performance and contributing to research in the ultramarathon population. We hope to use the results of our research to help reduce the risk of bone stress injury in ultramarathoners.

This study is being conducted by  Emily Kraus MD, Michael Fredericson MD, Marko Bodor MD, Megan Roche MD, and Tracy Beth Hoeg MD, PHD.

Carnitine is an important compound in the body that plays an essential role in using fat for energy metabolism. This study will attempt to determine if there is any correlation between pre-race carnitine levels and performance in an 100 mile run. Participants who follow any type of diet are needed for this study, but we are especially interested in recruiting participants who eat little or no meat products. Carnitine levels are lower in individuals who eat little or no meat products, but it is not known if this impacts their health or performance in ultraendurance sports. Participants will be asked to take a short survey that includes questions about their medical history and medications, diet and supplements, and running experience. Participants will then have 3 drops of blood collected on a filter paper card on one of the two days prior to the race to determine their carnitine level. WSER finish times will be collected after the run.

This study is being conducted by Sheri Poskanzer, MD and Dennis Bartholomew, MD.