Sex Differences in Racing History of Recreational 10 km to Ultra Runners (Part B)—Results from the NURMI Study (Step 2)

Mohamad Motevalli, Derrick Tanous, Gerold Wirnitzer, Claus Leitzmann, Thomas Rosemann, Beat Knechtle () and Katharina Wirnitzer
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Mohamad Motevalli: Department of Sport Science, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Derrick Tanous: Department of Sport Science, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Gerold Wirnitzer: adventureV & change2V, 6135 Stans, Austria
Claus Leitzmann: Institute of Nutrition, University of Gießen, 35390 Gießen, Germany
Thomas Rosemann: Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8000 Zurich, Switzerland
Beat Knechtle: Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, 8000 Zurich, Switzerland
Katharina Wirnitzer: Department of Sport Science, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 20, 1-10

Abstract: Sex differences in anatomy and physiology are the primary underlying factor for distinctions in running performance. Overall participation in recreational running events has been dominated by males, although increasing female participation has been reported in recent years. The NURMI study participants filled in a survey following the cross-sectional study design with questions on sociodemographic data, running and racing motivations, training behaviors, and racing history and experience. Data analysis included 141 female and 104 male participants aged 39 (IQR 17) with a healthy median BMI (21.7 kg/m²; IQR 3.5). Statistical analyses revealed sex differences with the males performing faster at half-marathon ( p < 0.001) and marathon ( p < 0.001) events but no difference at ultra-marathons ( p = 0.760). Mediation analyses revealed no significant sex differences in the performance of half-marathon and marathon when considering training behaviors ( p > 0.05), racing history ( p > 0.05), or racing experience ( p > 0.05). Differences in recreational performance may be more closely related to social constraints and expectations of females rather than the physiological advantages of the male athlete. Health professionals who guide and support recreational runners as well as the runners themselves and their coaches may benefit from this study’s results in order to improve the best time performance through a deeper understanding of the areas that mediate sex differences.

Keywords: running; marathon; gender; female; competition; performance; behavior; habit; endurance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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