A Physiological Profile of Four Wheelchair Marathon Racers.

In brief A profile of four wheelchair marathon racers (WMRs) is presented including an athletic history, dietary habits, maximal oxygen uptake, and average race pace oxygen uptake (Vo2) values. These values were compared with those of able-bodied marathon runners matched for age and race time. The WMRs had lower Vo2 max, maximal heart rates, and higher respiratory exchange ratios, and they used a higher percentage of their Vo2 max and maximal heart rate at race pace. The authors suggest that a high degree of training is required to perform the grueling marathon.