EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL AND TRAINING CHARACTERISTICS ON MARATHON PERFORMANCE

Mark A. Sarzynski, Jocelyn C. Frey, Christopher J. Womack, FACSM, and James M. Pivarnik, FACSM

Previous research on predictors of marathon performance has utilized laboratory testing with small sample sizes of elite runners. Few studies have involved a large number of participants with variable running abilities.

PURPOSE: To evaluate physical and training characteristics of all registered runners immediately after they completed a marathon and determine which variables predict finish time.

METHODS: An online survey was offered to all runners who registered for the 2005 Detroit Marathon. Nearly 40% of race participants (N=1371) responded to the survey. To determine which variables were associated with race time, the following variables were evaluated: gender, age, body mass index (BMI), weekly training mileage (during the 3 months prior to the race), number of years running, past-year running injuries, and race related physical symptoms. After performing bivariate analyses with each potential predictor variable, stepwise-regression was used to predict race time using variables that showed a significant relationship with marathon performance.

RESULTS: Race time averaged 4.2±0.7 hours (range=2.4-6.8 hours). Sixty-four percent of respondents were male and average age was 38.5±10.4 years. BMI averaged 24.3±2.7 for males 22.0±2.7 for females. In the past year, ~37% experienced a running injury. During the race, 32% of respondents experienced at least one physical symptom such as dizziness or nausea. Mean weekly training distance was 34.5±12.7 miles, and years running averaged 11.3±9.9 years. All predictor variables except for injury in the past year and years of running were significantly related to race time. Stepwise regression showed that weekly training mileage, age, BMI, gender, and physical symptoms during the race accounted for 41% of the variance in race times. The strongest predictors were weekly training miles (r2=0.18), BMI (r2=0.07), and gender (r2=0.14) accounting for ~39% of the variance.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed training mileage, gender, and body size to be major predictors of marathon race performance in a large sample of runners with varying abilities. Training injuries, years of running experience, and physical symptoms during the race had no apparent effect on performance. Thus runners have control over most of the variables contributing to improved marathon performance. Also, average runners are affected by the same factors as elite runners; qualitatively similar, quantitatively different.