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Elite marathon runners: do East Africans utilize different strategies than the rest of the world?

Author

Listed:
  • Jamie Emerson

    (Salisbury University)

  • Brian Hill

    (Salisbury University)

Abstract

This paper investigates the recent dominance of East African runners at the marathon race distance. Do East Africans utilize different race strategies than runners from other countries? We find that runners who pursue the three strategies of (1) running a negative split, (2) running with the lead pack at the 30 kilometer mark of the marathon, and (3) running faster from 30 kilometers to 35 kilometers than the previous 5 kilometer split (25 kilometers – 30 kilometers) are more likely to win the race and to finish in the top three. We also find that East Africans are more likely to successfully utilize these strategies than runners from other countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Jamie Emerson & Brian Hill, 2017. "Elite marathon runners: do East Africans utilize different strategies than the rest of the world?," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 37(3), pages 1851-1860.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-17-00576
    as

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    File URL: http://www.accessecon.com/Pubs/EB/2017/Volume37/EB-17-V37-I3-P168.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Uri Gneezy & Aldo Rustichini, 2004. "Gender and Competition at a Young Age," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(2), pages 377-381, May.
    2. Brian Hill, 2014. "The Heat Is On," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 15(4), pages 315-337, August.
    3. Bernd Frick, 2011. "Gender Differences in Competitive Orientations: Empirical Evidence from Ultramarathon Running," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 12(3), pages 317-340, June.
    4. Muriel Niederle & Lise Vesterlund, 2007. "Do Women Shy Away From Competition? Do Men Compete Too Much?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(3), pages 1067-1101.
    5. Frick, Bernd, 2011. "Gender differences in competitiveness: Empirical evidence from professional distance running," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 389-398, June.
    6. Rachel Croson & Uri Gneezy, 2009. "Gender Differences in Preferences," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 47(2), pages 448-474, June.
    7. Jamie Emerson & Brian Hill, 2014. "Gender Differences in Competition: Running Performance in 1,500 Meter Tournaments," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 40(4), pages 499-517, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Race Strategies (Tactics); East African; Elite Athletes; Endurance Running;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General
    • L8 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services

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