MAlthough en predominates in most athletic events, ultraendurance sports (exercises of 6 or more hours) represent a unique area in which the differences in performance between men and women are significant. is significantly narrower.
In traditional endurance events such as marathons, men consistently outperform women. Approximately 10%.
However, this difference can be significant in ultra-distance events. only 4%.
In some cases, women outnumbered men.
What explains this change? The answer lies in a combination of physiology, metabolism, and strategy.
Resistant to fatigue: benefits for women
Women's muscle composition is optimized for endurance. They have a high percentage of Type I (slow twitch) fibers. muscle fibercompared to type II (fast-twitch) fibers, are more efficient and resistant to fatigue during prolonged activity.
This gives women an advantage in maintaining muscle function during prolonged activity and reduces the risk of muscle failure as the event progresses.
women can Experience it too Neuromuscular fatigue is reduced during sustained effort and there is less accumulation of anaerobic byproducts (lactate and hydrogen ions). Lactic acid itself does not cause muscle fatigue, but due to the accumulation of hydrogen ions May contribute to feelings of fatigue.
even women's respiratory muscles Like the diaphragm, it is less tiring than men's.
Men still have an advantage in shorter, more intense events due to their greater muscle mass and higher aerobic capacity, and these factors contribute to better performance in marathons and short distances.
Nevertheless, this gap is narrowing as events get longer, due to the metabolic advantage women exhibit in ultra-endurance sports.
Ultra Endurance events are highly dependent on: oxidative metabolismuses both carbohydrates and fats as fuel.
Women are more efficient in this respect; Up to 56% higher fat oxidation rate than men.
estrogenIt is a major hormone in women, increasing fat metabolism and promoting glycogen storage. Glycogen storage refers to the body's ability to conserve or conserve glycogen (a form of sugar stored in the muscles and liver) for use during physical activity.
This is important because glycogen is the body's preferred fuel source for exercise. Storing glycogen allows your body to use fat as an alternative energy source, allowing glycogen to last longer and helping improve your endurance.
These benefits become even more important during ultra-endurance events as the body shifts from carbohydrate-based energy to utilizing fat.
Estrogen too Helps reduce inflammation and muscle damageallowing women to recover faster during long periods of exercise.
Men generally benefit from: higher levels of testosteroneincreases muscle mass and strength, but these properties are less important in ultra-endurance events than in anaerobic or power-based sports.
In long races, women's hormonal profiles may better support sustained energy use and recovery, allowing them to compete more closely with men.
Despite these benefits, the hormonal fluctuations that women experience, especially those related to the menstrual cycle and hormonal changes, menopauseendurance events can present additional challenges.
Effectively managing these factors is critical as women continue to push the limits of ultra-endurance sports.
body composition and performance
Although women's higher body fat mass is often considered a disadvantage in traditional endurance sports, it may confer an advantage in certain ultra-endurance events such as swimming. This is because more body fat stores heat in cold water, enhancing thermoregulation and allowing women to maintain performance during extended exposure to harsh conditions.
Increased buoyancy, decreased drag and Small body size and short legs It is also advantageous for women. This allows for smoother and more energy-efficient movement underwater.
psychological resilience
Ultra-endurance events test not only your physical strength but also your mental toughness. Women often shine in this field.
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Research in sports psychology reveals the superior abilities of women. Adjusts pain sensitivity, maintains concentration, and maintains motivation during a long and grueling competition.
emotional resilienceCharacteristics related to women's coping mechanisms play an important role in overcoming psychological challenges in ultra-endurance sports.
Anecdotal evidence and race results demonstrate women's ability to remain mentally calm under extreme fatigue, which allows them to thrive in the later stages of competition.
Although men still hold records in many ultra-endurance events, women's spiritual strength It may help fill in the gaps.
Smarter pacing and decision making
Pacing is very important in ultra-endurance sports. Women are often better Even in this area.
Research shows women behave more conservatively and consistently pacing strategy Compared to men, men are more likely to start well but burn out as the race progresses.
This difference may be partly physiological, but also psychological.
Testosterone is associated with risk-taking behaviorcan influence men to adopt overly aggressive strategies. In contrast, women minimize energy wastage and optimize long-term performance with a more deliberate and consistent pace.
Despite this, men still tend to achieve faster overall times in shorter endurance events thanks to their higher endurance. peak speed and force.
But in ultra-endurance races, where pacing strategies often influence results, women continue to refine their approach and close the gap as they gain more competitive opportunities.
The road ahead
Although men still dominate ultra-endurance events, the gap between men and women is much smaller than in marathons and shorter distance races.
women's abilities metabolize fat Effectively, hormonal benefits, strong psychological resilience, and effective pacing strategies are all factors facilitating this progress.
However, continued progress is needed to fully level the playing field. These include:
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Improved training plan
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Research targeting female athletes
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Increased opportunities for participation.
Addressing challenges such as hormonal fluctuations and social barriers (such as gender) stereotype and media expression) is also important for enabling women to compete at the highest level.
Ultra-endurance sports are unique in their ability to challenge traditional notions of gendered athletic performance.
Although men still dominate, women's rapid progress suggests a future in which women may outperform men in extreme endurance events.
So far, they've proven that the longer the race, the closer the competition gets.
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Caitlin Fox-Harding is a lecturer and researcher at Edith Cowan University. Chrissy Kendall is a lecturer in Exercise and Sport Science at Edith Cowan University. This article was first published conversation
