Performance Analysis on Trained and Recreational Runners in the Venice Marathon Events from 2007 to 2019

The Venice Marathon (VM) has gained fame and prestige over time. It is part of a group of marathons that are recognized worldwide. The aims of this study were to describe the attractiveness of the event over the years according to the gender and age of participants, and to investigate their performa...

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Main Authors: Giovanna Albertin, Davide Zuccon, Diego Guidolin, Raffaele De Caro, Marco Falda, Ugo Carraro, Laura Astolfi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1982
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author Giovanna Albertin
Davide Zuccon
Diego Guidolin
Raffaele De Caro
Marco Falda
Ugo Carraro
Laura Astolfi
author_facet Giovanna Albertin
Davide Zuccon
Diego Guidolin
Raffaele De Caro
Marco Falda
Ugo Carraro
Laura Astolfi
author_sort Giovanna Albertin
collection DOAJ
description The Venice Marathon (VM) has gained fame and prestige over time. It is part of a group of marathons that are recognized worldwide. The aims of this study were to describe the attractiveness of the event over the years according to the gender and age of participants, and to investigate their performances according to gender and age differences in the group of all finishers over 23 years old (AD), along with the best 10% performance (TOP) over a 13-year period. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of VM race data from 2007 to 2019; the data were collected from the free Timing Data Service website and statistically analyzed. Results: In total, 82.3% of participants were male and 17.7% were female. A significant total increase in female participation was observed over the 13 editions of the VM. Linear regression analysis of AD speeds for each category showed a significant decrease in the youngest categories. Among the TOP athletes, the 40-year age category showed increased performance of both males and females. Analyzing the mean speed by age (AD13 and TOP13), there was a breakpoint in the speed decrease in AD13 in the age categories of 50 years in males and 55 years in females, while in TOP13 the breakpoints were in the 55- and 45-year age categories in males and females, respectively. Conclusion: The results obtained confirmed the reduction in running speed with age, as well as the definition of the VM as an example of a recreational marathon in which the participation of runners over 40 years will increase in the future, and for which specific adaptations will be required.
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spelling doaj.art-b0b1d91748ef4b44987cc4067acfe8142023-11-16T16:13:05ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-02-01133198210.3390/app13031982Performance Analysis on Trained and Recreational Runners in the Venice Marathon Events from 2007 to 2019Giovanna Albertin0Davide Zuccon1Diego Guidolin2Raffaele De Caro3Marco Falda4Ugo Carraro5Laura Astolfi6Section of Human Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalySection of Human Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalySection of Human Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyBioacoustics Research Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, ItalyThe Venice Marathon (VM) has gained fame and prestige over time. It is part of a group of marathons that are recognized worldwide. The aims of this study were to describe the attractiveness of the event over the years according to the gender and age of participants, and to investigate their performances according to gender and age differences in the group of all finishers over 23 years old (AD), along with the best 10% performance (TOP) over a 13-year period. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of VM race data from 2007 to 2019; the data were collected from the free Timing Data Service website and statistically analyzed. Results: In total, 82.3% of participants were male and 17.7% were female. A significant total increase in female participation was observed over the 13 editions of the VM. Linear regression analysis of AD speeds for each category showed a significant decrease in the youngest categories. Among the TOP athletes, the 40-year age category showed increased performance of both males and females. Analyzing the mean speed by age (AD13 and TOP13), there was a breakpoint in the speed decrease in AD13 in the age categories of 50 years in males and 55 years in females, while in TOP13 the breakpoints were in the 55- and 45-year age categories in males and females, respectively. Conclusion: The results obtained confirmed the reduction in running speed with age, as well as the definition of the VM as an example of a recreational marathon in which the participation of runners over 40 years will increase in the future, and for which specific adaptations will be required.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1982speedgenderagingage categorymale and female recreational athletescomputational biology
spellingShingle Giovanna Albertin
Davide Zuccon
Diego Guidolin
Raffaele De Caro
Marco Falda
Ugo Carraro
Laura Astolfi
Performance Analysis on Trained and Recreational Runners in the Venice Marathon Events from 2007 to 2019
Applied Sciences
speed
gender
aging
age category
male and female recreational athletes
computational biology
title Performance Analysis on Trained and Recreational Runners in the Venice Marathon Events from 2007 to 2019
title_full Performance Analysis on Trained and Recreational Runners in the Venice Marathon Events from 2007 to 2019
title_fullStr Performance Analysis on Trained and Recreational Runners in the Venice Marathon Events from 2007 to 2019
title_full_unstemmed Performance Analysis on Trained and Recreational Runners in the Venice Marathon Events from 2007 to 2019
title_short Performance Analysis on Trained and Recreational Runners in the Venice Marathon Events from 2007 to 2019
title_sort performance analysis on trained and recreational runners in the venice marathon events from 2007 to 2019
topic speed
gender
aging
age category
male and female recreational athletes
computational biology
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1982
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