An analysis of over 107.9 million race results reveals that women now make up 50.24% of runners, surpassing men in participation. This marks a remarkable shift from the 1980s when female participation was a mere 20%.
Several factors have contributed to this increase, with organisations like "SheRACES" encouraging events to improve female participation through measures such as inclusive imagery, non-intimidating marketing, generous cut-off times, fair deferral policies for pregnancy, and equal selection policies.
Despite this progress, our physiology testing at Â鶹ֱ²¥ still shows a gender disparity. Between 2021 and 2023, only 34% of athletes undergoing our standard run testing were female, with an even lower percentage (32%) for more extended tests more relevant to marathon and ultra-marathon running.
Amy, a 43-year-old marathon runner, has visited our labs at Â鶹ֱ²¥ twice this year. When she first came in April, she had just resumed run training after an injury and had joined a local club, participating in one track session per week. Her initial goal was to complete the London Marathon, with a primary focus on achieving an England Masters qualification time (3hr 30min) at the York Marathon.
Following her first round of testing, Amy returned in June, having exceeded her expectations at the London Marathon with a time of 3hr 26min. Now, she trains consistently and injury-free, setting her sights on a London Marathon qualifying time of 3hr 14min at the York Marathon in October.
Additionally, she competes regularly for her athletics club in a weekly race. We had the pleasure of speaking with Amy after her June testing to discuss her experiences and gain insights into why many women might feel that physiology testing is not suitable for them.
Q: How was your experience of the physiology testing on the day? (i.e. were we informative with the information, were you comfortable throughout, was it a "pleasant" experience)
Amy: "I was a little nervous about it before I arrived. I wasn't sure what to expect, but Alex and Lois were lovely and did a great job explaining everything thoroughly and making me feel comfortable. The actual test was nothing to worry about. Yes, it's hard work, especially the VO2 max part but at least that part is short and sweet, it's over before you know it.
Wearing the face mask is a little uncomfortable and does make you feel hot, but you soon get used to it, and it is not as bad as you thought it would be. Listening to music (your own playlist if you want) is excellent. It makes the whole experience feel very relaxed.
Alex and Lois were encouraging throughout the test, telling me to keep going, which helped me push harder at the very end stages to get the best possible results. Being in that environment where you know so much unbelievable talent has passed the doors and completed the same tests as you is exciting. I thought it might be intimidating, but it wasn't."
Q: What do you plan to do with the information from this testing, and how will it change your training as you prepare for your next goal, the Marathon in October?
Amy: "I've been working with a coach since October last year but unfortunately spent around five months struggling with injury. I did my previous running test here two months ago, at which point I'd managed to do a few races but hadn't done any structured running sessions in months!
The results indicated my fitness after a winter of hardly any running (but with plenty of cross-training). Since then, I've run the London marathon and have been running regularly in the LRRL. I've also been upping my miles and including VO2 max sessions in my week, so it will be interesting to see if there's any improvement.
The next set of results will be passed on to my coach, Mark Perry (Coach P, Optimal Running), who is ready to start my marathon training block in preparation for York in October.
I spoke to Mark about how the results would affect my training, and he said, "From our perspective, we initially use the test results to reset current training zones. Then, drilling down on those results, we design the sessions that need our attention for the next training block. The accurate information provided gives us confidence that we are training efficiently.
I just do as I'm told!"
Q: Do you believe there are any barriers to why more women aren't involved in physiology testing?
Amy: "I imagine you'd expect a decrease in women testing over a certain age simply because they decide to start a family. Being pregnant and bringing up young children means that for some women, running, especially at a certain level, will go on the back burner for a while and may never get back to where it was pre-children.
It would be interesting to know whether the number of younger, competitive women getting tested is much lower than the men or whether it's something that tapers off with age.
As far as the percentage of women doing the testing being a lot lower compared to the rate of women who ran the London marathon, I wonder if women run the marathon for all sorts of reasons and don't necessarily think they need to be an 'athlete' to participate. But I think a running physiology test might be thought of as something that is only for people who take their running more seriously…which, again, may rule out a lot of women who have missed years of running or have less time to commit to it because of becoming a mum.
One thing I would say about the test is that it could benefit runners of all abilities, not just professional athletes.
Even recreational runners who want to improve their running slightly will find the helpful information."
Q: Would you recommend the service to others, and what would you tell other female runners who are currently undecided about whether to try such testing?
Amy: "I would definitely recommend it. I found the data really interesting and am looking forward to seeing if anything has changed since my last test.
My coach thinks these tests are great to ensure my training plan is as accurate and efficient as possible. It's nothing to be scared of; the results will give you a better understanding of what's happening inside your body when you run.
Then you can use the results to adjust your training and improve your fitness."
As Amy mentioned, physiology testing benefits athletes of all genders, ages, and abilities. It provides greater insight into the science behind your running performance and offers guidance on how to improve and achieve your potential goals.
Our comprehensive testing provides a physiological profile, helping identify how your body responds to various paces. This allows us to create a personalised training zone table with personalised paces at different intensities and the benefits of training at these paces.
Additionally, we offer insights into your key strengths and weaknesses and recommendations on the types of training that can target these areas to maximize your chances of achieving your goalmaximiseant to reiterate that if you are reading this and, as Amy said, don't believe that you are a "serious runner" or don't class yourself as an "athlete" due to having a family or other commitments, physiology testing can be for you.
It may even light that spark to give you the motivation and confidence to pursue your long-wanted goals or kickstart a running journey you had not previously thought possible. Through this, we hope to see more female athletes participating in our testing in the future, reflecting the overall female running population and benefiting from the tailored insights that can enhance their running experience and performance.
Please visit our Physiology Assessments webpage for more information on our different testing packages.
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