Research into cadence and stride length suggests that if one of these areas is improved whilst the other remains constant, then the average human running speed in mph will increase.įor example, if you start to take more steps whilst running but your overall stride length remains the same, then your speed should see an improvement. The product of these factors gives a mathematically accurate description of running speed. Running cadence refers to how many steps a runner takes whilst they’re exercising, whilst the stride length refers to the distance their leg stretches. Now that we have analysed the effects on a human’s average running speed by age and gender, we can discuss how a runner’s cadence and stride length can influence their performance. However, it is important to note that these factors are minor and won’t hinder you in the immediate future. When analysing a human's average running speed by age and gender, both factors show minor alterations in a runner’s overall performance. This is something that Shalene Flanagan showed us all in 2017 by winning the New York City Marathon at the age of 36. Whilst this research only included data collected by male athletes, we can also apply this theory of aging to the average speed of running for female runners. The researcher who conducted this study even stated as such, claiming that 40 is the state in which fitness begins to decline.
#Average speed of marathon runner free
Rather, the study showed that if you keep in shape and stay injury free then you shouldn’t begin to slow down until your mid 30s. The results showed that the average long-distance running speed for these men gradually decreased with age, and the findings suggested that performance isn’t hindered immediately as you get older.
#Average speed of marathon runner full
This study investigated the average long-distance running speed of men aged 40-95, who competed in a range of distances from 5k to full marathons. However, recent research has shown that isn’t necessarily the case. When we discuss average running pace by age, a natural response to this thought is to automatically presume that as we get older, our average running speed will significantly decrease. This is why the average running pace for men will always be slightly greater than the average running pace for women. This allows men to generate more energy than women, in turn allowing them to run at maximum capacity for a greater length of time. Levels in which V02 max are generated are significantly higher in men than women, even when different BMIs are taken into account. To carry out this process at the maximum rate, the body uses oxygen to produce energy (VO2 Max).
Burning food is a part of oxidation, which plays an important parameter in affecting the body’s capacity to carry out endurance running, at the maximum rate of your capacity. Running is powered by expending the energy that we generate by burning food in our bodies.
The reason behind this is down to body composition, and the different ways in which men and women process energy. Whilst the gap between men and women is not as wide as it once was, the average running pace for men is still somewhat faster than the average running pace for women. This is compared to the world record held by a woman for the same distance, whose total time came in at 14 minutes and 28 seconds. This is not a new discovery, as many of the current world records held within the running world reflect gender’s influence over the average pace for running.įor example, as we look at the world record for men running a 5k, the results come in at 12 minutes and 39 seconds. When faced with a question such as ‘what is the average running speed of a human?’, it is hard to give a definitive answer as our gender can greatly influence our overall performance as runners.