Differences in Marathon Times and Pacing Between Men and Women Based on Age, Distance, and Place Order

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science
• Running Biomechanics

Background:

• Previous studies show sex-based differences in marathon completion times and pacing strategies.
• These differences vary by age group and race distance.
• Pacing consistency also differs between male and female marathon runners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-evaluate marathon time differences between men and women by adjusting for age distribution variations.
• To analyze disparities in marathon times and pacing based on finishing place (ranking).
• To investigate how age and performance rank influence sex-based marathon performance gaps.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 2022 St. George Marathon data from 2033 male and 1450 female finishers.
• Age-adjusted comparison of average marathon times and mile splits between sexes.
• Assessment of pacing consistency and pace degradation across different race segments and runner quartiles.

Main Results:

• Men's average marathon time was 4:17:03 (9:49/mile), women's was 4:32:45 (10:25/mile).
• Age-adjusted, men's faster time was reduced to 3 min 50 sec (9 sec/mile).
• Pace slowed significantly after the halfway point, particularly for men from 30km onwards, while women maintained more even pacing (24.5% better).

Conclusions:

• The performance gap between male and female marathoners diminishes with increasing age, longer distances (especially post-30km), and lower finishing ranks.
• Physiological and psychological factors likely contribute to these observed differences in marathon performance and pacing.
• Women demonstrate superior pacing consistency compared to men, particularly among faster runners and within the 30-44 age bracket.