Author(s): BENCHETRIT, S., CORBETT, J.1, SHEPHERD, A.I.1, NEUPERT, E.C.1, HUDSON, L.1, BADARIOTTI, J.I.1, PERISSIOU, M.1, TAYLOR, C.1, MAYES, H.1, MCEWAN, K.1, MASSEY, H.1, EGLIN, C.1, SCOTT, A.1, CASTERMAN, N.1, WILLIAMS, C.1, WELLOCK, J.1, JACKSON, E.1, MCNARRY, M.A.2, COSTELLO, J.T.1, Institution: UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH, Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Abstract-ID: 1629

INTRODUCTION:
Ultramarathons place substantial demands on athletes, with cognitive performance shown to deteriorate during and after prolonged efforts, especially in events involving sleep deprivation [1,2]. Sleep banking (increasing sleep prior to sleep deprivation), the most used pre-race strategy, has been associated with faster race times, but has yet to be assessed as a strategy to improve performance in ultra-runners [3]. We hypothesised that a sleep banking strategy would mitigate post ultramarathon cognitive and physical performance impairments.
METHODS:
Seventeen experienced ultra running athletes (12 males; age 43±8 y; height 1.73±0.10 m; mass 73.8±12.1 kg) completed a laboratory based 12 hour overnight treadmill run in a randomised trial. Sleep outcomes were measured at baseline and pre-run (5 days prior) using wrist worn accelerometers (GENEActiv). The intervention group (INT; n=8) was instructed to extend sleep by >2h per night (minimum 9h) for 7 days prior to the run, while the control group (CON; n=9) maintained habitual sleep. Cognitive (Stroop, Psychomotor Vigilance Test [PVT], logical relations, mathematical processing) and physical (squat [SJ] and countermovement jump [CMJ] height) testing were completed before and after the run. Between group differences were assessed using independent t tests or Mann–Whitney U tests on delta scores (post-pre); within participant change was tested using paired tests. Pearson correlations explored associations between sleep variables and cognitive outcomes (significance accepted at p<0.05).
RESULTS:
All 17 athletes (mean distance 89±18 km) completed cognitive and jump assessments. No significant differences were observed between INT and CON for any cognitive or physical measure (p>0.05). Across all athletes, post run impairments were evident: PVT reaction time increased (337±29 vs 409±76 ms, p<0.001), logical relations throughput declined (30.23±7.28 vs 27.23±9.18, p=0.022), and PVT lapses and commission errors increased. CMJ and SJ height decreased significantly (both p<0.05). Sleep data from 15 athletes showed no significant differences between the CON and INT groups. Correlation analysis indicated that greater time in bed was associated with reduced cognitive decline (logical relations delta RT [r=-0.659, p=0.008], mathematical processing delta TP [r=0.584, p=0.022]) and sleep onset with mathematical processing delta TP (r=-0.533, p=0.041).
CONCLUSION:
The intervention had no impact on sleep, cognitive or physical performance outcomes following a 12 hour overnight run. Nonetheless, athletes who naturally achieved better sleep, exhibited smaller declines in cognitive function. While sleep banking may be difficult to implement in ultra runners, optimising sleep prior to ultramarathons may help preserve cognitive performance.

References
1. Benchetrit et al. PLoS One 2024.
2. Hurdiel et al. Res. Sports Med 2018.
3. Poussel et al. Res. Sports Med 2015.