Effect of Half-Marathon Running on Arterial Stiffness and Blood Biomarkers in High-Level and Recreational Male Athletes

Table 1. Mean anthropometric, training, and aerobic capacity characteristics of the subjects. Data presented as means ± SD and percentage (%).

Parameter	Total n = 18	High-level n = 11	Recreational n = 7
Age (years)	29.9 ± 6.3	27.1 ± 4.8	34.3 ± 6.1*
Height (m)	1.80 ± 0.06	1.81 ± 0.04	1.80 ± 0.09
Weight (kg)	74.2 ± 11.1	69.9 ± 5.2	80.0 ± 14.6 *
BMI (kg·m^-2)	22.9 ± 2.7	21.4 ± 1.2	25.2 ± 2.9 **
Fat percentage (%)	11.7 ± 4.5	10.0 ± 3.2	14.5 ± 5.2 *
Training experience (years)	12.4 ± 8.6	10.0 ± 6.2	16.2 ± 10.8
Training volume (km·month^-1)	252 ± 114	296 ± 117	172 ± 48 *
VO₂peak (l·min^-1)	4.67 ± 0.48	4.91 ± 0.31	4.28 ± 0.44 **
VO₂peak/kg (ml·kg^-1·min^-1)	63.8 ± 10.5	70.0 ± 5.3	54.0 ± 9.3 ***
Mean competition time (minutes)	84.9 ± 12.7	76.4 ± 5.6	95.9 ± 11.6 ***
Maximal HR (beats·min^-1)	188 ± 7	189 ± 8	187 ± 5
Mean HR during the half-marathon (beats·min^-1)	175 ± 7	177 ± 9	172 ± 4
% of the maximal HR during the half-marathon	93.1 ± 2.9	93.9 ± 2.5	92.1 ± 3.2

VO₂peak – the highest level of oxygen uptake; HR – heart rate.*** p < 0.001 in comparison with high-level group. BMI – body mass index;* p < 0.05;** p < 0.01;