Road and trail running from 5 km to ultra-marathon – Trends in Switzerland from 1999 to 2019 (Preprint)

Abstract

In recent decades the number of runners has increased significantly, but until now, we have yet to learn about the profile of participants and different types of running terrains and distances.

The aim of the study was to compare road and trail-based races for different distances for a whole country (Switzerland) over two decades (1999-2019).

This is a secondary data-based study. We considered a total of 1,172,474 race records (801,960 men and 370,514 women) from the finishers of the 5 km, 10 km, half-marathon, marathon, and ultra-marathon races in Switzerland between 1999 and 2019. Data included the athletes’ gender, age, race distance, and type of race (road or trail). The men-to-women ratio was estimated, and box plots were used to present differences according to gender, age groups, and race distances in both terrains. Pearson correlation was estimated. The confidence interval was fixed at 95%.

The men-to-women ratio has generally decreased in all race distances over the years. Runners competing in a road-based race were faster than those in a trail run. Men performed better than women independently of age, except those competing in a 10 km trail run. In road-based races, higher differences in participation between genders were shown for older marathoners. For trail runs, a higher men-to-women ratio was shown for older half-marathoners and participants in 10 km races. For 5 km, 10 km, half-marathon, and ultra-marathon races, a decrease in running speed difference were shown until the age of 50 years, while marathoners presented an increase in speed differences among genders over time.

Our study emphasizes the importance of tracking participation and performance trends over time, considering racecourse characteristics. This information could help inform future research and policy decisions related to sports participation and performance.

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