Illness is common in trail runners during training: a prospective cohort study
During a 30-week training period, 52 % of runners reported illness, with a higher incidence in females. The respiratory tract accounted for >60 % of illnesses. One in three trail runners experienced >one week time-loss. A higher BMI >25 kg/m<sup>2</sup> was associated with illness. Further research is needed to identify risk factors and develop prevention strategies.
Authors
- Tanita Botha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8861-4466)
- Marlene Schoeman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1583-1881)
- Carel Viljoen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3548-5509)
- Dina C. Janse van Rensburg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1058-6992)
- Pieter‐Henk Boer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3622-2599)
- Audrey Jansen van Rensburg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1749-5073)
- Precious Serero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6412-6054)
Institutions
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology (ZA)
- University of Pretoria (ZA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of science and medicine in sport
- Published
- 2025-12-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2025.12.008
- Primary Topic
- Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00