Sex differences in pacing during half-marathon and marathon race

Abstract

The main aim of the present study was to examine differences in pacing between half-marathon and marathon in men and women. A total of 17,525 finishers in the marathon (n = 4807 men; n = 1278 women) and half-marathon race (n = 7624 men; n = 3816 women) in Vienna 2017 were considered. Their pacing was assessed through five race segments (0-23.7%, 23.7-47.4%, 47.4-71.1%, 71.1-94.8% and 94.8-100%) of the race. Compared to marathon (where absolute average change of speed [ACS] was 5.46% and 4.12% in men and women, respectively), a more even pacing was observed in half-marathon in both sexes (ACS = 3.60% and 3.36% in men and women, respectively). The more even pacing in women previously observed in marathon races was verified in half-marathon, too. However, the sex difference in pacing was smaller in half-marathon than in marathon. Since men and women endurance runners participate in both races, sport practitioners would have great benefit from these results since they could establish sex-based personalized race strategies and training programmes.

Keywords: Aerobic capacity; endurance; gender; performance; running.