With nearly 18,000 competitors in the aQuelle Midmar Mile, it is interesting to do some gender and age-group comparisons based on the actual results for the following reasons:

1. Everyone swims the same course.
2. The course is in a smooth-water reservoir.
3. The course is rather narrow.
4. Heats of the same age-group start within 3 minutes of each other.

Therefore the conditions are almost the same for each age group and gender.

The average times of the 2011 Midmar Mile by the different age groups are as follows:

13 years & younger: Male (35:49) vs. Female (36:27)
Ages 14-30: Male (35:40) vs. Female (37:35)
Ages 31-40: Male (36:48) vs. Female (39:02)
Ages 41-50: Male (37:41) vs. Female (40:29)
Ages 51-60: Male (39:12) vs. Female (41:40)
Ages 61 & older: Male (41:31) vs. Female (42:39)

Average time comparisons by gender:

13 years & younger: Males are 1.7% faster than Females
Ages 14-30: Males are 5.3% faster than Females
Ages 31-40: Males are 6.0% faster than Females
Ages 41-50: Males are 7.1% faster than Females
Ages 51-60: Males are 6.2% faster than Females
Ages 61 & older: Males are 2.7% faster than Females

Average time comparison by age (Males):

Ages 14-30: 35:40
Ages 13 & younger: 35:49 or 0.4% slower than the 14-30 year olds
Ages 31-40: 36:48 or 3.1% slower than the 14-30 year olds
Age 41-50: 37:41 or 5.6% slower than the 14-30 year olds
Ages 51-60: 39:12 or 9.9% slower than the 14-30 year olds
Ages 61 & older: 41:31 or 16.8% slower than the 14-30 year olds

Average time comparison by age (Females):

13 years & younger: 36:27
Ages 14-30: 37:35 or 3.1% slower than the 13 years & younger
Ages 31-40: 39:02 or 7.0% slower than the 13 years & younger
Ages 41-50: 40:29 or 11.0% slower than the 13 years & younger
Ages 51-60: 41:40 or 14.3% slower than the 13 years & younger
Ages 61 & older: 42:39 or 17.0% slower than the 13 years & younger

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