The sex difference was lowest (7.5%, 10.5 min) at the age of 49 years. polynomial regression 7 th degree) from 5 to ~20 years, remained unchanged at ~20 min from ~20 to ~50 years and increased thereafter. The sex difference increased non-linearly ( i.e. Between ~20 and ~35 years, performance was quite linear, but started to decrease at the age of ~35 years in a curvilinear manner with increasing age in both women and men. From 5 years to ~15 years, boys and girls performed very similar. The curve was U-shaped where performance improved from 5 to ~20 years. polynomial regression 4 th degree) for women and men.

The relationship between elite marathon race time and age was non-linear ( i.e. World single age records in marathon running in 1-year intervals for women and men were analysed regarding changes across age for both men and women using linear and non-linear regression analyses for each age for women and men. The aims of the study were ( i) to investigate the relationship between elite marathon race times and age in 1-year intervals by using the world single age records in marathon running from 5 to 93 years and ( ii) to evaluate the sex difference in elite marathon running performance with advancing age.

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