Running trends in Switzerland from 1999 to 2019: An exploratory observational study

Abstract

Background: Several single race events (5 km, 10 km, half-marathon, marathon, ultra-marathon) in different countries and different years have been analyzed in multiple studies, representing the rising interest in endurance-based activity and thus physical health. With focus on participation numbers, performance or sex difference, many single study results were obtained. The running trends in a whole country covering a longer period of time and several race distances are missing so far.

Objectives: The aim of this study is therefore to examine 5 km, 10 km, half-marathon, marathon and ultra-marathon races by age, sex, participation numbers and performance during two decades (1999-2019) for one country (Switzerland).

Methods: In this exploratory observational study, we analyzed 1,172,836 finishers (370,517 women and 802,319 men) competing between 1999 and 2019 in 5 different race distances in Switzerland. We used publicly available data about the athletes and examined total finishing numbers, sex, age and performances (measured in m/s) via descriptive analyses and linear mixed models. Do-not-finishers were excluded.

Results: The most frequented race was the half-marathon (33.1% of finishers), the less frequented was the ultra-marathon distance (8.5% of finishers). In most recent years, only the number of finishers in ultra-marathon, especially in trail runs increased. In total, there were more male finishers (68.4%) than female finishers (31.6%) and only in 5 km races, more women finished than men (55.3%). Men were faster than women and both sexes were running slower in all race distances across years. Athletes in 10 km races had the best performance within the five analyzed race distances. Median age increased with longer race distance and decreased in ultra-marathon in recent years.

Conclusion: In summary, finishing numbers especially in ultra-marathons increased with a focus on trail runs, female and male athletes had a declining performance across years in all race distances and men ran faster than women. Median age increased with longer race distance leading to more aged endurance-trained athletes. A downtrend in median age is found only in ultra-marathon in recent years. The results are important for athletes, race directors and coaches with regard to training schedules and the trend towards long distance races as well as for the medical attendance especially of older athletes, being more and more interested in endurance running.

Fig 1. Absolute numbers of female and male finishers in 5 km races and number of 5 km races.

Female and male finishers in 5 km races over calendar years (panel left); number of 5 km races over calendar years (panel right).

Fig 2. Absolute numbers of female and male finishers in 10 km races and number of 10 km races.

Female and male finishers in 10 km races over calendar years (panel left); number of 10 km races over calendar years (panel right).

Fig 3. Absolute numbers of female and male finishers in half-marathon races and number of half-marathon races.

Female and male finishers in half-marathon races over calendar years (panel left); number of half-marathon races over calendar years (panel right).

Fig 4. Absolute numbers of female and male finishers in marathon races and number of marathon races.

Female and male finishers in marathon races over calendar years (panel left); number of marathon races over calendar years (panel right).

Fig 5. Absolute numbers of female and male finishers in ultra-marathon races and number of ultra-marathon races.

Female and male finishers in ultra-marathon races over calendar years (panel left) and number of ultra-marathon races over calendar years (panel right).

Fig 6. Ultra-marathon: Finisher rate in street races and trails runs over calendar years.

Fig 7. Median (Quartiles) age of finishers by year and race distance.

Error bars indicate the upper and lower quartiles of age corresponding to one year per race distance with the median age of finishers as solid line over the years.

Fig 8. Overview: Number of finishers by race distance and calendar year.

Fig 9. Predicted running speed.

A. Predicted running speed (in m/s) by race distance, calendar year, sex and rank (Top 3, Top 10, Top 100, All) derived from the linear mixed models adjusted for age and competition. B. Linear change in running speed. Estimates for linear change in running speed (in m/s) per year by race distance, calendar year, sex and rank (Top 3, Top 10, Top 100, All) derived from the linear mixed models adjusted for age and competition.

Fig 10. Running speed (in m/s) by age, sex and race distance.