Beat Knechtle

What 50,000 Runners And 76 Studies Teach Us About Racing The NYC Marathon Smarter

A new systematic review of the New York City Marathon reveals what the data says about pacing, injuries, aging, and performance — and what every runner can take from it. The New York City Marathon is a giant endurance laboratory. More than 50,000 runners. Five boroughs. Bridges, wind, crowding, long pre-race logistics, uneven pacing demands, variable weather, and every kind of runner from world-class professionals to first-time marathoners. A new systematic review ‌compiled the scientific literature on the NYC Marathon, including 76 publications reporting findings on participation, performance, aging, nationality, injuries, environment, pacing, medical outcomes, shoes, and other race-specific features.

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Kenya’s marathon magic fades after age 40, study finds

Sabastian Sawe’s recent sub-two-hour marathon run was another reminder that Kenya still rules long-distance running. But a major new global study suggests that this picture is incomplete. Kenya’s grip on the marathon appears strongest just in youth, then fades sharply as runners grow older. The Star spoke to researchers who analysed records of more than one million marathon runners over five years. They found that Kenyans and Ethiopians lead the world only between ages 20 and 39. Then the tables turn. After age 40, marathon runners from the United States, Japan, Germany and Switzerland dominate the road.

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But it's not worth it at this age?

We report on a runner who, at the age of 87, while being the reigning European champion in the 10 km and half-marathon M85, was denied a revision surgery for foot drop after a failed L5/S1 left isthmectomy due to age and poor prognosis. A revision surgery by another surgeon was successful, and at the age of 91, the runner set a European record in the M90 category for both the half-marathon and marathon distances. At 92, he improved the European record in the half-marathon and became the first European in M90 to run under 3 hours. At 94, he set an IAU world record in the 12-hour run in M90. He passed away at the age of 102. The refusal of revision surgery in older age should be critically reconsidered.

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