Improved Performance in Master Runners Competing in the European Championships between 1978 and 2014 The performance trends in elite runners were well examined, but we know nothing about performance trends and the difference between the sexes in older runners running at a high level on different routes. We now have data from Seventeen European Championships between 1978 and 2014 were analyzed for various distances (100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1500 m, 5000 m, 10 000 m and marathon). The running speed for the best 8 female and male finalists for each age group (35-99 years, divided into 5-year intervals) and any renowning dance was taken into account. It showed that the men were faster on all routes than women and the difference between the sexes on the shorter routes. The running speed was higher for shorter distances than for longer distances. Younger runners were faster than older runners, and the influence of the age group was greatest for the 200 m. It showed a small influence of the calendar year on the running speed for 100 m, 200 m, 1500 m, 10 000 m and marathon.
The bottom line shows that both male and female athletes have improved their mileage over time and that the gap between the sexes has probably reached their limit. The whole evaluation can be found under https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29489725/