Abstract
GNYACSM Original Research Abstract
Age and Gender Differences in Half Marathon and Marathon Performance: Predicted vs. Official Finish Times
LENO BENNY, GREGORY KLIMAYTIS, BRIDGET A. MCFADDEN
Human Performance Laboratory; Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Science; Queens College, City University of New York; Flushing, NEW YORK
Category: Graduate
Advisor / Mentor: McFadden, Bridget (bridget.mcfadden@qc.cuny.edu)
ABSTRACT
Participation in marathons (26.2 mi) and half marathons (13.1 mi) has grown for men (M) and women (W) in all age categories. Recently, some races have included a non-binary (NB) gender category. Therefore, research assessing gender and age differences in race performance is warranted. Predicted finish time (PT) reflects a runner’s expected completion time. PTs are self-reported and are considered a runners’ estimation of their own ability. Overestimating PT has been linked to greater slowdown in the later stages of a marathon. PURPOSE: To compare PT versus official finish times (FT) across gender and age categories. METHODS: Age, gender, PT, and FT were provided by race organizers after removing identifiable information. Runners were categorized by age: 16–24, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, and 75–79 years. Absolute differences (Ab) were determined as FT – PT; relative differences (Rel) were determined by the formula ((FT–PT)/PT) × 100. ANOVAs with Tukey adjusted post-hoc tests assessed Ab and Rel gender and age differences (α=0.05). Research was approved by Queens College IRB. RESULTS: After excluding non-finishers, data from 1,497 marathoners (M: n=887, 43.2 ± 12.8y; W: n=601, 41.5 ± 11.9y; NB: n=9, 30.2 ± 7.8y) and 960 half marathoners (M: n=372, 36.0 ± 13.5y; W: n=576, 31.7 ± 12.6y; NB: n=12, 38.4 ± 10.2y) were analyzed. Gender differences were observed for Ab (p=0.03) and Rel (p=0.01) marathon prediction accuracy. Women more accurately predicted finish times compared to men (WAb=6.25 ± 26.2min, MAb=9.72 ± 29.1min, p=0.049; & WRel=2.59 ± 9.81%, MRel=4.15 ± 10.9%, p=0.01). No gender differences were seen with NB (Ab= -2.37±10.8min; Rel= -0.82 ± 4.2%) and other genders (p>0.05). Age significantly affected Ab (p<0.001) and Rel (p=0.009) marathon prediction accuracy. No gender differences were observed in half marathon prediction accuracy (p>0.05), but age differences were noted (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Gender differences were observed for prediction accuracy of marathon, but not half marathon runners. Age differences were observed for prediction accuracy of both race distances. Practitioners can use this information to target realistic goal setting and encourage the incorporation of pacing strategies within conditioning programs to improve race-day performance.
Support for this project was provided by a PSC-CUNY Award, jointly funded by The Professional Staff Congress and The City University of New York.
Recommended Citation
BENNY, LENO; McFadden, Bridget; and Klimaytis, Gregory
(2025)
"Age and Gender Differences in Half Marathon and Marathon Performance: Predicted vs. Official Finish Times,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 15:
Iss.
7, Article 12.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol15/iss7/12