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METHODS

Recreational runners (n= 208) were recruited randomly during the 4-d registration exhibition before competing in the 2010 London Marathon (April 25, 2010). Participants were age 40.3 T 10.9 and 37.4 T 9.6 yr for males (n= 120) and females (n= 81), respectively, and had completed, on average, 7.6 h (range= 2–30 h) of training per week. Ethical approval for the study was gained through the local research ethics committee. Informed consent was obtained from all participating runners. The exclusion criterion for the study was an infection within the 2 wk preceding the registration. The AQUA was used to assess allergic symptoms. The AQUA has been validated as a reliable tool for assessing the prevalence of allergy in a group of athletes (3). The AQUA was derived from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey Questionnaire and adapted to the target population using open interviews with athletes, team physicians, and coaches. The AQUA was administered for validation to professional football players (n= 128) alongside allergy diagnosis using skin prick testing/sIgE determination and comprehensive allergy history. A total AQUA score of five or greater had the best predictive value for allergy (0.94) with a specificity of 97.1% and a sensitivity of 58.3%. In the current study, questions were weighted in accord with Bonini et al.(3); total AQUA scores of five or greater were used as the threshold for a positive questionnaire. Participants were also asked to report their average training volume (hIwk j1) in preparation for the marathon. Objective evidence of sensitization to common aeroallergens was obtained from sIgE determination …