Surge of competitive endurance activities spearheaded by women: An exploration
Record Number of Women Register for Toughest Race on Earth
A significant shift is happening in the world of endurance sports, with a record number of women participating in ultra-marathons, including the famously gruelling Marathon des Sables and the equally challenging Barkley Marathon.
In 2024, an estimated 35% of participants in the Marathon des Sables, a seven-day 250-kilometre ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert, were women. This demographic change, particularly among older women, is a trend that organizers say will be hard to ignore.
The London Marathon also observed a female increase in the same year, with a 65% growth in the number of female runners aged 50 and older since 2018. In 2022, around 44% of the nearly 49,000 runners for the New York marathon were women, and there was a 91% increase in the number of female runners aged 60 to 69 registering for the London Marathon.
The trend towards increased female participation in marathons has been on the rise for some time. According to a worldwide study by footwear review company RunRepeat, more women ran marathons than men in 2018, with the percentage of marathon runners made up of women having risen dramatically, going from 20% in 1986 to a little over 50% in 2018.
This shift in demographics is not limited to marathons. There is an influx of women participating in extreme endurance events, a trend that has gained traction with the rise of adult amateur athletes, largely driven by women. The term 'amlete', a combination of 'amateur' and 'athlete', coined by Elle in a recent op-ed, may be a reflection of this growing trend.
However, in endurance sports, there are still gender gaps, with 24% fewer women taking part in ultramarathons compared to participation in shorter 5K events. Despite years of sexist conditioning, there is reason to remain confident that this gender gap will change soon.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) estimates that just 0.9% of collegiate athletes in the US go on to compete professionally, highlighting the challenges faced by aspiring athletes, regardless of gender. But with the rise of women in endurance sports, it's clear that the future is looking more balanced, one step at a time.
[1] Mascot: A symbolic figure adopted by a team or group to bring good luck. [2] Na'vi: A constructed language from the film Avatar. [3] Talisman: An object held as a charm to bring good fortune, sometimes used figuratively in sports to describe a key player who brings success. [4] Klingon: A constructed language from the Star Trek franchise. [5] Breaking: A sport that originated from breakdancing.
- The rise of women in endurance sports is encouraging, as it challenges traditional gender roles and inspires more girls and women to pursue health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and sports like football, basketball, basketball, racing, tennis, mixed-martial-arts, and even extremely challenging events such as ultra-marathons.
- In the world of sports, a key player or individual can serve as a talisman, bringing success and good fortune to a team, much like how the participation of women in sports has transformed and revitalized various sports industries.
- As more women take part in sports and achieve success, it becomes increasingly essential for organizations to provide equal opportunities and resources for women's health, such as women's health, and fitness-and-exercise programs to support this growing demographic.
- In the realm of sports-betting, Analysts have noticed an uptick in interest and participation by women, who are increasingly engaging in sports-analysis to make informed bets on their favorite teams or athletes.
- Meanwhile, the use of mascots, such as the Na'vi from Avatar or Klingon symbols from Star Trek, to rally support and bring good luck to sports teams is not only limited to sports but also extends to other areas, such as health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise initiatives.
- With the growing presence of women in sports, it's no surprise that women are also breaking barriers and creating new sports, such as breaking, which originated from breakdancing and showcases agility, strength, and creativity, attracting fans from around the world.
- Lastly, while the path to professional sports may still be challenging, as shown by the NCAA statistics, the increasing number of women participating in sports gives hope and inspiration to future generations, fostering a more balanced and inclusive sports environment for all.
