To all the guys competing in an upcoming ultramarathon, consider this your warning – the girls are coming in hot. If you’ve been following the sport in recent years, you’ll be familiar with some recent high-profile wins by female athletes. Perhaps most notably is Rachel Entrekin’s record-breaking win at Cocodona 250 this year, beating every other competitor in history, male or female. That prompted Outside to investigate: “Women Resist Fatigue Better than Men. Does It Matter?”

Researchers tested experienced trail runners with three hours of moderate running followed by an all-out uphill time trial. The results were that men slowed down by an average of 10% in their final climb, while women slowed by only 1%. The study indicates that female runners generally maintain consistent energy-burning levels and perceive the effort as less strenuous over time compared to their male counterparts.

This biological durability and efficient fat oxidation helps explain the growing trend of outright female victories in massive trail events, a phenomenon explored in “How women are breaking records in ultramarathons.” The broadcast features interviews with high-profile ultrarunners like Rachel Entrekin, who breaks down some of the mental and physical challenges she faced when performing at such a high level of competition.

What’s the takeaway from all this? Experts note that women may tend to pace more evenly, avoiding the early burnout that frequently derails male competitors. Female athletes can lean confidently into this innate stamina and pacing consistency during long-distance efforts. For the men looking to avoid hitting the wall, you might consider going out a little slower than you expect to on significantly longer runs – conserving your energy early on could help you maintain your pace when the miles start adding up.

#ALeagueOfHerOwn