{"id":{"repo_id":"cape-town","oai_identifier":"oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41678"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/cape-town/oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41678","repository":{"repo_id":"cape-town","name":"University of Cape Town","base_url":"https://open.uct.ac.za/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Racing patterns of elite and non-elite male Two Oceans marathon runners","abstract":"Introduction: Limited information exists about the pacing patterns of elite and non-elite runners competing in the 56km Two Oceans Marathon. Objective: The main aim of the study was to establish and compare similarities and differences in pacing patterns between elite and non-elite male runners in the Two Oceans Marathon. Methods: Data was analysed from the Two Oceans Marathon database of finishers. Male participants across 10 races from 2007 – 2019 formed the sample group (N=25 315). The sample group was ordered fastest to slowest and subsequently divided into 8 groups (A-H) by merit of finishing times. Four timing segments (1-4) were recorded and used to calculate pace (in km/h) in each segment and mean race pace of each finisher. A Generalised Linear Mixed Effects Model (GLMM) analysis was used to examine the patterns of average pace change between groups. Results: A reduction in average pace was observed across all groups for the first three segments, with an increase in average pace for the final segment (p<0.0001). Pairwise comparison of change in pace between mean race pace across all four segments demonstrated that elite runners start the race more conservatively when compared to non- elite runners (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The findings demonstrated a parabolic type pacing pattern where elite runners demonstrated less pace variation, while non-elite runners displayed more pace variation. Non- elite runners completed the first half of the race substantially faster relative to their overall race pace. Results suggest that to achieve an optimal pacing pattern, non-elite runners should consider adopting a more realistic starting pace.","abstract_html":"Introduction: Limited information exists about the pacing patterns of elite and non-elite runners competing in the 56km Two Oceans Marathon. Objective: The main aim of the study was to establish and compare similarities and differences in pacing patterns between elite and non-elite male runners in the Two Oceans Marathon. Methods: Data was analysed from the Two Oceans Marathon database of finishers. Male participants across 10 races from 2007 – 2019 formed the sample group (N=25 315). The sample group was ordered fastest to slowest and subsequently divided into 8 groups (A-H) by merit of finishing times. Four timing segments (1-4) were recorded and used to calculate pace (in km/h) in each segment and mean race pace of each finisher. A Generalised Linear Mixed Effects Model (GLMM) analysis was used to examine the patterns of average pace change between groups. Results: A reduction in average pace was observed across all groups for the first three segments, with an increase in average pace for the final segment (p&lt;0.0001). Pairwise comparison of change in pace between mean race pace across all four segments demonstrated that elite runners start the race more conservatively when compared to non- elite runners (p&lt;0.0001). Conclusion: The findings demonstrated a parabolic type pacing pattern where elite runners demonstrated less pace variation, while non-elite runners displayed more pace variation. Non- elite runners completed the first half of the race substantially faster relative to their overall race pace. Results suggest that to achieve an optimal pacing pattern, non-elite runners should consider adopting a more realistic starting pace.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kruger, Viljee"],"institution":"Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Bosch, Andrew"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025","date_published":"2025","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:23:44Z","subjects":["Pacing pattern","pacing strategy","pacing profile","ultra-marathon, variability"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41678","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Bosch, Andrew"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Kruger, Viljee"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-09-02T10:20:42Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-09-02T10:20:42Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Cape Town"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis / Dissertation"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Masters"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Pacing pattern","pacing strategy","pacing profile","ultra-marathon, variability"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41678"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Introduction: Limited information exists about the pacing patterns of elite and non-elite runners competing in the 56km Two Oceans Marathon. Objective: The main aim of the study was to establish and compare similarities and differences in pacing patterns between elite and non-elite male runners in the Two Oceans Marathon. Methods: Data was analysed from the Two Oceans Marathon database of finishers. Male participants across 10 races from 2007 – 2019 formed the sample group (N=25 315). The sample group was ordered fastest to slowest and subsequently divided into 8 groups (A-H) by merit of finishing times. Four timing segments (1-4) were recorded and used to calculate pace (in km/h) in each segment and mean race pace of each finisher. A Generalised Linear Mixed Effects Model (GLMM) analysis was used to examine the patterns of average pace change between groups. Results: A reduction in average pace was observed across all groups for the first three segments, with an increase in average pace for the final segment (p<0.0001). Pairwise comparison of change in pace between mean race pace across all four segments demonstrated that elite runners start the race more conservatively when compared to non- elite runners (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The findings demonstrated a parabolic type pacing pattern where elite runners demonstrated less pace variation, while non-elite runners displayed more pace variation. Non- elite runners completed the first half of the race substantially faster relative to their overall race pace. Results suggest that to achieve an optimal pacing pattern, non-elite runners should consider adopting a more realistic starting pace."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Racing patterns of elite and non-elite male Two Oceans marathon runners"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Bosch, Andrew"],"dc:creator":["Kruger, Viljee"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-09-02T10:20:42Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-09-02T10:20:42Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025"],"dc:description.abstract":["Introduction: Limited information exists about the pacing patterns of elite and non-elite runners competing in the 56km Two Oceans Marathon. Objective: The main aim of the study was to establish and compare similarities and differences in pacing patterns between elite and non-elite male runners in the Two Oceans Marathon. Methods: Data was analysed from the Two Oceans Marathon database of finishers. Male participants across 10 races from 2007 – 2019 formed the sample group (N=25 315). The sample group was ordered fastest to slowest and subsequently divided into 8 groups (A-H) by merit of finishing times. Four timing segments (1-4) were recorded and used to calculate pace (in km/h) in each segment and mean race pace of each finisher. A Generalised Linear Mixed Effects Model (GLMM) analysis was used to examine the patterns of average pace change between groups. Results: A reduction in average pace was observed across all groups for the first three segments, with an increase in average pace for the final segment (p<0.0001). Pairwise comparison of change in pace between mean race pace across all four segments demonstrated that elite runners start the race more conservatively when compared to non- elite runners (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The findings demonstrated a parabolic type pacing pattern where elite runners demonstrated less pace variation, while non-elite runners displayed more pace variation. Non- elite runners completed the first half of the race substantially faster relative to their overall race pace. Results suggest that to achieve an optimal pacing pattern, non-elite runners should consider adopting a more realistic starting pace."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41678"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher.department":["Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences"],"dc:publisher.institution":["University of Cape Town"],"dc:subject":["Pacing pattern","pacing strategy","pacing profile","ultra-marathon, variability"],"dc:title":["Racing patterns of elite and non-elite male Two Oceans marathon runners"],"dc:type":["Thesis / Dissertation"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Masters"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:23:44Z"}