Jul 8, 2026 – 5.00amStarting too quickly then hitting a wall is a common mistake made by marathon runners – and men are nearly twice as likely to do it as women.A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports has found that men have an almost twofold higher risk of experiencing a “catastrophic deceleration” in a marathon – defined as slowing down by 20 per cent or more in the second half of the race.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Euan BlackHealth and wellness reporterEuan Black is the health and wellness reporter at The Australian Financial Review. He was the work and careers reporter.Fetching latest articles
Men are twice as likely as women to make this big marathon mistake
An analysis of 870,000 marathon times has revealed men are nearly twice as likely to “hit the wall” as women. Here’s how to avoid the same fate.
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