Male runners go the extra mile to impress women

MEN who exercise with a female training partner not only speed up their running pace, they also travel a greater distance than normal, according to researchers.

On average, they went a mile-anhour faster and ran for almost a mile longer when accompanied by a woman.

For the study, male volunteers were paired with a female stranger for running training. The researchers noted that men, regardless of their relationship status, indulged in a ‘sexual display strategy’ while exercising with a woman.

Single men, they found, pushed themselves hardest.

‘When people are aware that potential mates are observing their performances, they may alter their behaviour – consciously or unconsciously – in order to make themselves appear more desirable to these individuals,’ said psychologist Dr Michael Baker of the East Carolina University in the US.

The scientists found that men paired with a woman ran at an average of 5.85mph, whereas participants with a same-sex partner went at 4.86mph.

‘Individuals who exercised with an opposite-sex partner travelled greater distances, on average 2.46 miles, than participants with a same-sex partners’ 1.87 miles,’ said Dr Baker.

Even men in a stable relationship put on a show to impress their female partner.

Dr Baker said: ‘Given that exercise results in increases in heart rate, it is reasonable to suppose that exercising in the presence of a potential mate could result in an increased frequency of mating-related thoughts, and self-presentational behaviour.’