Avoiding the Pheidippides effect : how theories contribute to endurance trail practice

Abstract

Ultra endurance sport has shown a significant increase during the last couple of decades. This paper focuses on theories which explain the phenomenal efforts ultra endurance athletes face when running extreme distances. These ultra athletes have to endure physical pain and mental distress for long hours or even days before crossing the finishing line. This extreme running on technical terrain requires considerable physiological effort (Millet, Hoffman, & Morin, 2012). Freund et al. (2012), states that as a consequence of running such distances, runners will experience muscle soreness, cramps, ruptured muscle fibres that lead to myalgia and myofascial pain, compartment syndrome, inflammation of tendons and joint capsules, and fatigue fractures. And yet, none of them succumb to their injuries or exhaustion under normal conditions, as in the case of Pheidippides. Various theories argue that the body is a high functioning machine which depends on physical measures to determine its efficiency while others put the brain as central to endurance practice and argue that the brain is the ultimate regulator which is there to protect the body. The athlete can never be harmed as the brain is taking measures so that body systems are never in distress. The beating heart is protected and catastrophe cannot occur. This paper illustrates various diverse theories which posit different arguments regarding extreme running and how it is actually achievable, without the athlete perishing due to the effort.