%0 Journal Article
%T Reduced performance difference between sexes in master mountain and city marathon running
%A Zingg MA
%A Knechtle B
%A R邦st CA
%A Rosemann T
%J International Journal of General Medicine
%D 2013
%I Dove Medical Press
%X Matthias A Zingg,1 Beat Knechtle,1,2 Christoph Alexander R邦st,1 Thomas Rosemann,1 Romuald Lepers3 1Institute of General Practice and Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 2Gesundheitszentrum St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland; 3INSERM U1093, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France Background: The performance in master marathoners has been investigated in flat city marathons but not in mountain marathons. This study examined changes in the sex differences in performance across time in female and male master runners competing in a mountain marathon compared to a flat city marathon. Methods: The association between age and performance of finishers in the Jungfrau Marathon, Switzerland, with 1830 meter changes in altitude and a flat city marathon (Lausanne Marathon), Switzerland, were analyzed from 2000 to 2011. Results: In both events, athletes in the 35每44 years age group showed the highest number of finishers. In the mountain marathon, the number of female master runners aged > 35 years increased in contrast to female finishers aged < 35 years, while the number of male finishers was unchanged in all age groups. In the city marathon, the number of female finishers was unchanged while the number of male finishers in the age groups for 25每34-year-olds and 35每44-year-olds decreased. In female marathoners, performance improved in athletes aged 35每44 and 55每64 years in the city marathon. Male marathoners improved race time in age group 45每54 years in both the city marathon and the mountain marathon. Female master runners reduced the sex difference in performance in the 45每54-year age group in both competitions and in the 35每44-year age group in the mountain marathon. The sex difference in performance decreased in the 35每44-year age group from 19.1% ㊣ 4.7% to 16.6% ㊣ 1.9% in the mountain marathon (r2 = 0.39, P = 0.03). In age groups 45每54 years, the sex difference decreased from 23.4% ㊣ 1.9% to 15.9% ㊣ 6.1% in the mountain marathon (r2 = 0.39, P < 0.01) and from 34.7% ㊣ 4.6% to 11.8% ㊣ 6.2% in the city marathon (r2 = 0.39, P < 0.01). Conclusion: These findings suggest that female master runners aged 35每54 years reduced sex differences in their performance in both mountain and city marathon running. Keywords: endurance, age, female, male
%U http://www.dovepress.com/reduced-performance-difference-between-sexes-in-master-mountain-and-ci-a12813