Are women better than men at endurance running?

Women have placed first in several major endurance running competitions in 2025 and 2026, including the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run and Badwater 135. Research on sex differences in endurance performance shows mixed results: some studies indicate women's higher percentage of slow-twitch muscle fibers and lower injury rates in ultramarathons, while other research finds men retain advantages in maximal aerobic capacity at equivalent training levels. Performance gaps vary significantly by event distance, terrain, and individual training history rather than demonstrating categorical superiority of either sex in endurance running.

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