Surprising facts about distance running

As scientists we’re always focused on facts and figures - and running research provides a rich source of data. As part of our mission to explore the real physical impacts of running, we’ve gathered a few facts that captured our imaginations.

We thought you might enjoy our round-up of compelling (and sometimes surprising) running facts, trends and insights:

1. There are now more women runners than men
A major study of race data from around the world, The State of Running 2019, found that the number of female entrants exceeded males for the first time last year. While we can’t be sure of the cause, there are suggestions that social media encourages women to enter races. Women are also more likely to run with friends than their male counterparts, helping to boost the numbers further.

2. Half marathons are the most popular race distance

In most nations, the half marathon is the race of choice. There is some logic to this - it’s a challenging distance with good room for improvement, yet the training schedule and hours spent running are a lot more manageable for a 13 mile race than marathon training. Any marathon runner will tell you that most of the weekend is lost in training and recovery time!

3. Running up to 20 miles a week offers the best health benefits

While there’s no doubt that any physical activity is better than none when it comes to long term health, there is an apparent ‘sweet spot’ when it comes to running. Researchers at the University of South Carolina and the Ochsner Health System in New Orleans found that a maximum of 20 miles per week helps you live longer. Their study of 53,000 people found that runners had around a 20 per cent lower mortality rate than non-runners, and that around 20 miles per week provides maximum life-lengthening benefits.

4. The number of people running has risen 57% in the last decade

Running is a major growth area. There are many contributing factors of course, but a general trend towards exercise in the open air - and the resulting wellbeing benefits - is certainly a factor. Running has become more accessible, too, helped by social media, websites and training apps such as Couch to 5k. As society becomes more aware of the health benefits of exercise, running is increasingly an appealing option.

5. Runners are getting slower, and older!

Partly as a result of the rise in running, and probably due to today’s older generations being more health-aware than ever, the average race time and average age of participants are on the increase. The State of Running report found that in 1986 the average marathon finish time was 3:52:35, while today it's 4:32:49 - a slowdown of 40 minutes and 14 seconds. One factor in this could be the ageing average runner - in 1986 the average marathon participant was 35.2, while in 2018 they were 39.3.

6. 20% of the population are missing the 'Marathon Gene'

Many of us are under the impression that anyone can run a marathon as long as they train properly. Yet while most people could manage to complete the distance, research suggests that around 20% of us are incapable of achieving a good time, even with the right training. Researchers at the University of Loughborough found that the ability to run a marathon in a good time requires a specific combination of genes. Around a fifth of the population’s muscles don't extract the same levels of oxygen as runners with the right mix of genes. The perfect excuse for those to whom a marathon just doesn’t appeal!