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Women Reduce the Performance Difference to Men with Increasing Age in Ultra-Marathon Running

Author

Listed:
  • Karin J. Waldvogel

    (Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Pantelis T. Nikolaidis

    (Exercise Physiology Laboratory, 18450 Nikaia, Greece
    School of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece)

  • Stefania Di Gangi

    (Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Thomas Rosemann

    (Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Beat Knechtle

    (Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
    Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland)

Abstract

Age and sex are well-known factors influencing ultra-marathon race performance. The fact that women in older age groups are able to achieve a similar performance as men has been documented in swimming. In ultra-marathon running, knowledge is still limited. The aim of this study was to analyze sex-specific performance in ultra-marathon running according to age and distance. All ultra-marathon races documented in the online database of the German Society for Ultra-Marathon from 1964 to 2017 for 50-mile races (i.e., 231,980 records from 91,665 finishers) and from 1953 to 2017 for 100-mile races (i.e., 107,445 records from 39,870 finishers) were analyzed. In 50-mile races, race times were 11.74 ± 1.95 h for men and 12.31 ± 1.69 h for women. In 100-mile races, race times were 26.6 ± 3.49 h for men and 27.47 ± 3.6 h for women. The sex differences decreased with older age and were smaller in 100-mile (4.41%) than in 50-mile races (9.13%). The overall age of peak performance was 33 years for both distances. In summary, women reduced the performance difference to men with advancing age, the relative difference being smaller in 100-mile compared to 50-mile races. These findings might aid coaches and ultra-marathon runners set long-term training goals considering their sex and age.

Suggested Citation

  • Karin J. Waldvogel & Pantelis T. Nikolaidis & Stefania Di Gangi & Thomas Rosemann & Beat Knechtle, 2019. "Women Reduce the Performance Difference to Men with Increasing Age in Ultra-Marathon Running," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:13:p:2377-:d:245558
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gerald S Zavorsky & Kelly A Tomko & James M Smoliga, 2017. "Declines in marathon performance: Sex differences in elite and recreational athletes," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Caio Victor Sousa & Samuel da Silva Aguiar & Thomas Rosemann & Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis & Beat Knechtle, 2019. "American Masters Road Running Records—The Performance Gap Between Female and Male Age Group Runners from 5 Km to 6 Days Running," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-9, June.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Beat Knechtle & Athanasios A. Dalamitros & Tiago M. Barbosa & Caio Victor Sousa & Thomas Rosemann & Pantelis Theo Nikolaidis, 2020. "Sex Differences in Swimming Disciplines—Can Women Outperform Men in Swimming?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Daniel Stark & Stefania Di Gangi & Caio Victor Sousa & Pantelis Nikolaidis & Beat Knechtle, 2020. "Tower Running—Participation, Performance Trends, and Sex Difference," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-9, March.
    3. Pantelis T. Nikolaidis & Beat Knechtle, 2021. "Is It Time for Sports and Health in the Era of Covid-19 Pandemic?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-3, January.
    4. Angelika Stöhr & Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis & Elias Villiger & Caio Victor Sousa & Volker Scheer & Lee Hill & Beat Knechtle, 2021. "An Analysis of Participation and Performance of 2067 100-km Ultra-Marathons Worldwide," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-12, January.
    5. Beat Knechtle & Volker Scheer & Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis & Caio Victor Sousa, 2020. "Participation and Performance Trends in the Oldest 100-km Ultramarathon in the World," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-12, March.
    6. Volker Scheer & Stefania Di Gangi & Elias Villiger & Thomas Rosemann & Pantelis T. Nikolaidis & Beat Knechtle, 2020. "Participation and Performance Analysis in Children and Adolescents Competing in Time-Limited Ultra-Endurance Running Events," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-12, March.

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