Stanimir Stojiljković

Background and Objectives: Pacing behavior has been consistently associated with performance in long-distance running, yet its patterns across different race distances and population subgroups remain insufficiently understood. Therefore, this narrative review synthesizes and critically discusses available evidence on pacing in half-marathon and marathon running, considering both within- and between-race differences, with a particular focus on performance level, sex, and age. Materials and Methods: A structured, non-systematic search was conducted in PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science, with Google Scholar used as a supplementary source. Peer-reviewed English-language full-text studies reporting pacing-related outcomes were included, and findings from 37 studies published up to March 2026 were synthesized narratively. Results: Available observational evidence suggests differences in pacing profiles between race distances, with generally more even pacing in the half-marathon and more positive pacing in the marathon. Performance level showed the strongest association with pacing behavior: faster runners exhibited more stable pacing patterns, whereas slower runners showed greater variability and a more pronounced pace decline. Sex differences appeared more evident in marathon running, where women generally demonstrated more even pacing than men, whereas age-related differences were small and inconsistent. Comparisons between race distances suggest that pacing variability may increase with longer race duration and lower performance level. Conclusions: Overall, performance level showed the most consistent relationship with pacing behavior in long-distance running. In mass-participation events, observed pacing profiles may reflect fatigue-related changes and inaccurate pace selection rather than a deliberate strategy. More even or slightly negative pacing has generally been associated with more favorable performance outcomes, but this should be interpreted as an observed association rather than a direct prescriptive recommendation. The proposed practical reference points should be viewed as tentative, evidence-informed aids for interpreting pacing behavior according to performance level and race distance, while using sex and age as secondary contextual factors.

(1) Background: The aim of this study is to investigate whether the application of adaptive sports programs, initially designed for children with disabilities, can have a positive effect on physical fitness and body composition in healthy primary school children; (2) Methods: The sample comprised 80 participants, equally divided by gender (50% male, 50% female), with a mean age of 11.5 (SD = 0.03). They were divided into two groups, an experimental and a control group, with an even gender distribution. The research lasted 12 weeks, with additional classes allocated for the initial and the final measurements. The Eurofit test battery assessed physical fitness; (3) Results: ANCOVA revealed significant group differences in body composition variables within the total sample and gender distribution (p < 0.001). Significant differences were observed in handgrip strength (HGR), flamingo balance test (FBL), shuttle run 10 × 5 m (SHR) (p < 0.001), and also hand tapping (HTP) (p = 0.01). Participants in the experimental group outperformed the control group, highlighting the effectiveness of the intervention program. Specifically, boys in the experimental group showed significant improvements in HGR and SHR (p < 0.001), while girls improved significantly in HGR, FBL, and SHR (p < 0.001); (4) Conclusions: The experimental program, which incorporates sports elements for disabled individuals, led to significant improvements in the physical fitness parameters of children.

Employee well-being and affective states are critical factors influencing overall organizational success. This study examined the immediate effects of a sensory-enhanced acute exercise program on employees’ affective characteristics, including emotions, anxiety, and work motivation; A total of 84 participants, split into an experimental and control group, participated in the actual study. The experimental group engaged in a 14-min tailored exercise program in a sensory-rich “smart room” while the control group watched a neutral animated documentary. A pretest–posttest design was used, and data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with post hoc tests for significant interactions; The results revealed significant improvements in positive emotions (F(1, 82) = 20.99, p < 0.01) and work motivation (energy level: F(1, 82) = 48.36, p < 0.01; emotional arousal: F(1, 82) = 12.29, p < 0.01) in the experimental group, along with a significant reduction in anxiety (F(1, 82) = 11.37, p < 0.01) compared to the control group. Although reductions in negative emotions were observed across both groups, the differences were not statistically significant; This study underscores the effectiveness of integrating exercise with tailored sensory environments to enhance emotional states and workplace motivation. Such interventions offer a practical and scalable approach to improving employee well-being, highlighting their potential for adoption in diverse professional settings.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of applying synchronized music and appropriate music selection on motivation for exercise and achieving better results in individuals of different fitness levels. Methods: The study included a total of 20 female participants, who for certain analyses were divided into two groups with slightly different levels of aerobic fitness: students from the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education (n = 10, age 23.0 ± 2.8), and middle-aged adult women exercising recreationally (n = 10, age 38.3 ± 11.6). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was conducted using a treadmill and gas analysis equipment, and motivational music qualities were assessed using the BMRI-2 questionnaire. The procedure included an initial maximal CPET test, echocardiography, and spirometric tests, followed by an interview to select preferred music tracks. A second CPET test was then performed with the chosen motivational music. The Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale was used in both tests. Results: The internal consistency of the questionnaire was confirmed with a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.982. The synchronized motivational music significantly improved cardiopulmonary parameters such as peak oxygen consumption (peak VO₂), oxygen consumption (VO₂) at the second ventilatory threshold (VT2), peak heart rate (peak HR), test duration, and reduced perceived exertion (RPE) at the beginning of the test and at the intensity level corresponding to the VT2. Negligible differences were noted between students and recreational athletes, so it can be assumed that music had an equal impact on these two groups of subjects. Conclusions: The study concluded that synchronous motivational music significantly enhances cardiopulmonary performance and reduces perceived fatigue during physical exertion by serving as a key motivational element and facilitating more economical movement.

(1) Background: Physical activity may cause an imbalance in the major functions of the human body. This study aimed to investigate the effects of endurance running training on the parameters of the antioxidant defense system (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GSH), LPO (malondialdehyde, MDA), and stress hormones (A, NA) in young healthy, previously untrained men. (2) Methods: The training program was as follows: 8 weeks of running, three times per week; the duration of a single session was 30–70 min, the intensity was twice a week in the so-called extensive endurance zone, and once a week in the anaerobic threshold zone. Blood samples were collected from the subjects, before and after the running program. (3) Results: The training program resulted in a significant increase in maximal oxygen consumption (p < 0.001). The activities of SOD, GPx, and GR also increased significantly (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.05, respectively), while CAT activity and GSH and MDA concentrations remained unchanged. The concentration of A decreased (p < 0.05), while the NA concentration increased significantly (p < 0.05). SOD, GPx, GR, and NA positively correlated with VO₂max (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively), while a negative correlation was detected between A and VO₂max (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: These results indicate that there is no persistent oxidative stress in response to the applied 8-week running program, probably due to exercise-induced protective alterations in the antioxidant defense system. Furthermore, adaptations occurred at the hormonal level, making the organism more ready for a new challenge.

Introduction: Many studies indicate a considerable impact of optimal pacing on long-distance running performance. Given that the amount of carbohydrates in metabolic processes increases supralinearly with the running intensity, we may observe differences between the pacing strategies of two long-distance races and different performance levels of runners. Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine the differences in pacing strategies between marathon and half-marathon races regarding the performance levels of runners.Methods: The official results and split times from a total of 208,760 (marathon, N = 75,492; half-marathon, N = 133,268) finishers in the “Vienna City Marathon” between 2006 and 2018 were analyzed. The percentage of the average change of speed for each of the five segments (CS 1–5), as well as the absolute change of speed (ACS) were calculated. The CS 1–5 for the marathon are as follows: up to the 10th km, 10th – 20th km, 20th – 30th km, 30th – 40th km, and from the 40th km to the 42.195 km. For the half-marathon, the CS 1–5 are half of the marathon values. Four performance groups were created as quartiles of placement separately for sexes and races: high-level (HL), moderate to high-level (MHL), moderate to low-level (MLL), and low-level (LL).Results: Positive pacing strategies (i.e., decrease of speed) were observed in all performance groups of both sex and race. Across CS 1–5, significant main effects (p < 0.001) were observed for the segment, performance level, and their interaction in both sex and race groups. All LL groups demonstrated higher ACS (men 7.9 and 6.05%, as well as women 5.83 and 5.49%, in marathon and half-marathon, respectively), while the HL performance group showed significantly lower ACS (men 4.14 and 2.97%, as well as women 3.16 and 2.77%, in marathon and half-marathon, respectively). Significant main effects (p < 0.001) for the race were observed but with a low effect size in women (ŋ² = 0.001).Discussion: Better runners showed more even pacing than slower runners. The half-marathoners showed more even pacing than the marathoners across all performance groups but with a trivial practical significance in women.

Heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a clinical syndrome in which the structure and the function of the heart are damaged, with stiffness of the heart muscle, increased pressures in diastole and in the pulmonary circulation. The latest understanding of HFpEF is that it is a systemic disease of the microcirculation with chronic inflammation and impaired cellular metabolism. The aim of this review was to determine the association between physical activity and HFpEF based on the available research. By summarizing the literature data, it was shown that a sedentary lifestyle represents a risk factor for HFpEF and that continuous physical activity prevents the occurrence of HFpEF, while in patients already suffering from HFpEF it increases functional capacity, as well as the quality of life, mainly due to the improvement of peripheral muscles oxidative metabolism. The impact of physical activity on improving the diastolic function of the heart in people with heart failure is still under research. Patients with HFpEF usually have poor exercise tolerance, thus an individualized prescription of physical activity is indicated in accordance with their capabilities, preferably a combination of aerobic training, strength exercises, balance and an adequate diet. The gold standard for the assessment of aerobic capacity is the cardiopulmonary exercise test, which allows the measurement of oxygen consumption, maximum heart rate, the first and the second anaerobic thresholds, parameters needed for dosing the intensity of physical exercise.

The Belgrade Marathon has been held since 1988 and has the longest tradition in the Western Balkans region. The trend in the number of participants in the Belgrade Marathon showed a significant increase in the 2007-2019 period. In addition to the global increase in the number of participants, a decreasing performance trends in marathon races has been noticed. The aim of this paper was to determine the trends in the performances of participants from Serbia in the Belgrade Marathon in the 2007-2019 period. The general cognitive assumption was that with an increase in the number of participants led to a decline in the average performance in the race. The results on the official website of the Belgrade Marathon were used as a source of data for this non-experimental study. All performances of the marathoners from Serbia (n = 3554) in the period 2007-2019 were analyzed. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the trend of the performances of all marathoners from Serbia, their distribution according to age groups by every 10 years, as well as the performances of the 10 first-ranked athletes in total and in each of the groups. The linear trend model on the sample of all marathoners from Serbia has shown that the performance became significantly worse over the years i.e., by 2:14 minutes per year. The trend of a significant decline in performance, ranging from 1:52 to 3:02 minutes per year, has been observed in all age groups of up to 50 years. The linear trend models obtained on the subsamples of the 10 first-ranked men in each of the analyzed age groups did not exceed the level of statistical significance, except in the group of males aged 50-60, where a significant performance trends improvement by 2:10 minutes a year was determined. The performances of competitors from Serbia at the Belgrade Marathon were declining in the examined period, along with a simultaneous increase in the number of participants in this event. It can be assumed that the average performance is declining due to an increasing number of recreational runners participating in the marathon, while the number of categorized runners is not increasing significantly, which in a way reflects conservatism and unchangeability within athletic long-distance races and marathon running events.

The aim of the research is to analyze the trend in the number of participants in the Belgrade Marathon in the period 2007-2019: total, by gender and age categories, with a special reference to participants from Serbia. Using linear regressions, it was found that the total number of participants, both from Serbia and abroad, significantly increased; total number of male and female participants, both from Serbia and abroad, significantly increased ; the number of women is growing more than men every year, especially inthe sample of participants from Serbia; the number of participants by age categories of 5 years, for women and men from Serbia increased to the age group of 30-35 years, and then slowly decreased; the percentage of men and women in the 30-39 age category is increasing; the proportion of female seniors and female veterans is increasing. Statistically significant decreases: percentage of men in the 50-59 age category; percentage of male veterans. The percentage of male seniors didnot change. It can be concluded that the number of participants in the Belgrade Marathon, especially participants from Serbia, is increasing significantly, with a trend that exceeds many marathons in the world. The number of women is lower than in most marathons in the world, but the number of women from Serbia is increasing significantly compared to the number of men, which is in line with world trends. The number of male veterans is decreasing, which is different from most marathons in the world.

The aim of this study was to develop international standards for evaluating strength endurance with the use of the 3‐Minute Burpee Test. The results of 3862 women (Poland – 2502, Great Britain – 500, Hungary – 412, Serbia – 448) and 5971 men (Poland – 4517, Great Britain – 500, Hungary – 451, Serbia – 503) aged 18‐25 (mean age of 20.36 ± 0.94 and 20.05 ± 1.25 y, respectively) were collated between 2004 and 2018. The students’ strength endurance was evaluated in the 3‐Minute Burpee Test. The results were expressed on a uniform scale with the 3‐sigma rule which was used to develop the T‐score scale for the 3‐Minute Burpee Test. Men completed 56.69 cycles/3 min and women – 48.84/3 min on average. The best male participant completed 82 burpees, and the best female participant – 73 burpees. The majority of male and female participants (66.71% and 68.18%, respectively) were characterized by average strength endurance in the 3‐Minute Burpee Test (range of scores: 47‐66 and 37‐60 cycles/3 min, respectively). Very good strength endurance (76‐85 and 72‐83 cycles/3 min, respectively) was noted in the smallest percentage of male and female participants (0.52% and 0.26%, respectively). Similar studies should be carried out in other countries and in different age groups to develop objective international classification standards for variously‐aged individuals.