Vol 11, Issue 6

Sex and Age Differences in Trail Half Marathon Running

October 15, 2018 - By 

Authors

James W. Navalta, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Jeffrey Montes, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Elizabeth A. Tanner, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Nathaniel Bodell, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
John C. Young, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
International Journal of Exercise Science 11(6): 281-289, 2018.
DOI: 10.70252/OLTQ1732

Abstract

Female participation is growing in trail running races. The purpose was to evaluate sex and age differences in top finishers of a trail running half marathon. Velocity differences between males (M) and females (F) were determined for the top 10 finishers of the Moab Trail Half Marathon from 2012 – 2015 across age, and by finishing place. Differences between age category and between sexes were determined through ANOVA with significance accepted at P < 0.05. A significant difference for running velocity was present between sexes at each age category (20-29 yr F = 2.9±0.3, M = 3.4±0.4 m·sec-1; 30-39 yr F = 2.8±0.3, M = 3.3±0.3; 40-49 yr F = 2.7±0.3, M = 3.0±0.5; 50-59 yr F = 2.3±0.2, M = 2.8±0.3; 60-69 yr F = 1.6±0.3, M = 2.2±0.4; P < 0.0001). Sex difference in trail running velocity was consistent (~13%) among all age categories with exception of the oldest group (33%, P = 0.0001). There were significantly greater female finishers in every age category (20 – 29 yr F = 107±18, M = 56±1;, 30 – 39 yr F = 150±34, M = 84±21; 40 – 49 yr F = 112±17, M = 64±16; P < 0.01) until 50 – 59 yr (F = 48±13, M = 41±14; P = 0.50). These data indicate that the widening gap in sex differences observed in road races are ameliorated in a trail running environment that has a larger number of female participants.

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