Pacing in age group marathoners in the "New York City Marathon"

The aim of the study was to investigate how women and men age group runners pace during a large city marathon. We analysed changes in running speed by splits of 5 km in 20,283 women and 28,282 men age group runners competing in the 2015 edition of the "New York City Marathon". A moderate split×sex interaction on running speed (p < 0.001, η² = 0.108) was observed with men showing a larger decrease in speed from the fastest split (5-10 km) to the slowest one (35-40 km) than women (21.1 vs. 16.7%), and a different pattern was observed in the 25-30 km split (increase in women, decrease in men). A trivial split×age group interaction on speed was observed in women (p < 0.001, η² = 0.003) and men (p < 0.001, η² = 0.004). In summary, men and women of all age groups reduced running speed during the marathon with a final spurt in the last segment (i.e. 40-42.2 km).