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Thanks, Pete, very interesting.
To what extent would you say phenomena such as higher likelihood of stress fractures may be a reflection of currently relatively low participation by women in (elite) sports, i.e. a reflection of the current, uncorrected situation? Might this change significantly if women's participation in sports approached that of men more (and sex stereotypes, e.g. about 'feminine' appearance, became less powerful as deterrents)?
I realise you deal with existing data rather than pie-in-the-sky thinking, but I always wonder to what extent the data may not reflect, and perhaps be skewed by, how things currently stand.
Oliver Schick-
Lack of female participation is more likely explained by social, or most importantly historical elements rather than physiological factors.
Odd example, but for long women didn't have a soccer league not because they're 3 to 6 times more prone to ACL injuries (especially during luteal phase of their cycle), but because it was a men's thing simply put.
Now there are great tendencies to even out participation and level, just take a look at some compilations of milestones or histories regarding women participation for example from the IOC. Important to note: not just as athletes but in leadership positions as well!
Movements like this, promoting equality and equilibrium are the cogs for this "revolution" and I very much support the cause. Bear in mind though that at the same time we cannot expect exactly the same rules or conditions for each and every sport. Male weight categories in female weightlifting would be bizarre, or female hammer throwers having to spin the 16pound hammer.
As this topic is about endurance events, I actually envisage it being quite probable that male and female events will share the same length regardless of discipline.
5115_Pete
For my work, I read tremendous amounts of research on factors affecting performance (endurance focus) in female athletes in particular.
Solid evidence shows female musculature are more fatigue-resistant than men at submaximal contractions with the apparent magnitude declining as the intensity of the contractions increases. Various physiological features contributing from estrogen, activation efficiency, smaller oxygen requirement etc.
However there are female-specific circumstances that need to be considered. I suggest reading about the "female athlete triad" or now "relative energy deficiency in sports" if we consider both sexes. Stress fractures are significantly more common in females too. We can talk about exercise-induced reproductive-system abnormalities, how females have quite significant changes RHR, acidity, knee-joint laxity depending on their cycle. And don't get me started on the pressure from societal expectations of femininity that often don’t conform with the necessities for sport success.
TLDR: women might have an edge in endurance-races from neuromuscular physiology, but their case is immensely more complex than men's.
Not here to solve anyone's problems, just throwing in my 2 cents.