What Drives Men and Women to Participate in Marathons?

A study shows that there are different reasons why men and women participate in marathons.

While it's the thrill of competition that attracts many men to taking up marathon running, in case of women, it is for shedding pounds or improving mood.

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A study that found that athletes who drank the cherry juice recovered faster after Marathon running than a placebo controlled group.

To reach the conclusion, Elizabeth Loughren, of the University of Birmingham, recruited more than 900 first-time marathon runners, aged between 18 and 72.

After analyses it was found that men were more likely to say they were running "to see how high I can place" or to achieve a certain time, reports The Daily Express.

Meanwhile, women cited reasons such as "to improve my mood", to lose weight, or "to feel at peace with the world".

Poor Air Quality Affects Female Marathon Performance
The running times of women in marathons is compromised if the quality of air is poor, but the same doesn't hold true for men, says a new study.

The study also found that 79 per cent of the men planned to do a another marathon within a year, compared with 70 per cent of the women.

The findings were presented at the British Psychological Society's annual conference.

Thinking Like a Marathoner Reduces Work Stress
Researchers have pointed out, having a marathon mindset, i.e. starting slow but picking up pace, can help people reduce their stress load and perform better at work.

Source-ANI
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Gene Variation Makes Marathon Runners
According to a new study, variations in one gene are associated with athletic endurance and may make a difference in a runner's performance.