Extreme Contests Damage Muscles, Temporarily

Is anyone surprised to learn that an extreme athletic contest, say the three-day Ultraman contest, which includes a 6.2-mile open swim and a 90-mile bike ride on day one, a 172-mile bike ride on day two, and a double marathon run, –yes 52.4 miles– on day three, can do some damage to your muscles? Researchers at Florida State can assure you that it can. HealthDay reports that during the Ultraman competition last year in Florida, researchers monitored the health of 18 athletes, including four women, weighing the athletes each morning and taking urine and blood samples. Ready? The envelope please…The researchers found that overall, the athletes lost body fat but they didn’t lose weight because they retained fluid. They also found signs of muscle damage, which suggests the competitors experienced reduced insulin sensitivity-a symptom associated with type 2 diabetes. The good news? The researchers say the athletes’ insulin levels “likely returned to normal” as their bodies recovered. Hope so.