Abstract
This study examined men’s participation and performance in the Boston Marathon. Data
from all 368,940 official male finishers in the Boston Marathon from 1897 through
2017 were analyzed using different analyses and regression models for all runners,
annual top hundred finishers, annual top ten finishers and annual winners. Effect
of calendar year on race time was examined alone, in a uni-variable model, and together
with country of origin and weather conditions (average air temperature and precipitation)
in a multi-variable model. The mean race time of all finishers increased across calendar
years, in line with the participation, but it decreased when we considered the annual
winners, 10 and 100 fastest. Kenyans and Ethiopians were the fastest nationalities
(p<0.001) when we considered all finishers and the annual top 100 fastest but not
when the annual 10 fastest were considered. Air temperature≤8 °C improved (p<0.001)
race times compared to air temperature>8°C. Precipitation (>0 mm) improved performance
for the annual 100 fastest and annual 10 fastest (p=0.013–0.031) but not for all finishers.
Our findings improved the knowledge about the evolution of male marathoners across
calendar years, considering as main effects country of origin and particular weather
conditions.
Key words
cardiorespiratory fitness - endurance - men - history - running - performance
