1. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Antimicrobial protein response to an extreme task: running 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents.
Dunbar J1, Stadelmann J2 & Jehanli A1
1 IPRO Interactive Ltd., Wallingford, U.K.
2 Pure Sports Medicine, London, U.K.
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

2. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Introduction
Marathon 1: 19th of January Antarctica King George Island
Marathon 2: 20th of January South America Punta Arenas
Marathon 3: 21st of January North America Houston
Marathon 4: 22nd of January Europe London
Marathon 5: 23rd of January Africa Cairo
Marathon 6: 24th of January Asia Singapore
Marathon 7: 25th of January Australia Sydney
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

3. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Introduction
Outline of the challenge:
Total Time allowed: 168 hours
Flying Time: hours
Distance Covered: 43,500 km
Run Distance: km
Time zones crossed: 32 (18)
Flights / luggage: economy/ hand luggage
Treatment and data collection: during runs, airports, planes
Refuelling: during runs, airports, planes
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

4. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Introduction
Logistical Stressors at marathon destinations:
Nutrients / hydration supply
Transfers to marathon routes
Ice supply (including ice slurry / slush puppy!)
Access to runners for intervention data collection
Pressure through limited ground time
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

5. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Introduction
Airport challenges /stressors:
Security and logistical issues (hand lugagge only: fluid electrical equipt)
Limited access to electricity
Contact with people! (immune challenge)
Limited choice of nutrients
Time Pressure!
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

6. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Introduction
Physical / Psychological stressors:
Sun , cold, dust, cars, donkeys, political instability....
Fatigue, fear, frustration, cabin fever…
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

7. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Purpose
Describe the responses of mucosal immunity:
secretory IgA (sIgA)
and salivary alpha-amylase (sAA),
to an extreme endurance task within one week.
Namely: 7 marathons, in 7 continents, in 7 days.
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

8. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Methodology
Subjects:
6 well-trained runners
Age: ± 7.25 years
Mass: ± 6.88 kg
BMI: 24.2 ± 1.34
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

9. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Methodology
Samples collected about 1 hour before and 15 minutes after each run using IPRO OFC (Jehanli et al. 2011).
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

10. Salivary IgA and sAA measured by ELISA
Methodology
Salivary IgA and sAA measured by ELISA
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

11. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Results: Marathon times
Name
Minimum
Location
Maximum
Mean
Std. Deviation
Ben
219
Houston
261
Singapore
232
16.24
Dan
196
218
Sydney
205
9.55
Gareth
204
Antarctica
270
241
23.11
Pete
260
Punta A.
375
Cairo
338
40.80
Rob
198
London
210
7.57
Steve
305
271
15.35
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

12. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Results: Sleep
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

13. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Results: sIgA
Within Subjects CV 57.1% Between Subjects CV: 62.5%
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

14. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Results: sAA
Within Subjects CV 81.1% Between Subjects CV: 89.6%
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

15. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Results: Key findings
No differences between pre and post run for sIgA or sAA
But differences in IgA / sAA ratio at:
London (Z = ; p = 0.046)
Singapore (Z = ; p = 0.028)
Sydney (Z = ; p = 0.043)
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

16. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Conclusion:
The AMP sIgA and sAA responses to this extreme task were high variable and individualised.
A trend for a rise on sAA between pre & post individual runs
sIgA / sAA ratio dropped between pre and post some runs and group mean was lowest at the end of the event.
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015

17. J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015
Acknowledgments and Thanks
IPRO Interactive: Dr Ahmed Jehanli (Director of R&D) Georgie Hazell Miriam Jones-Walters Jörg Stadelmann The Runners…
J Dunbar- ISEI-12th Symposium-2015