Although female athletes are capable of extraordinary achievement, a number of studies have investigated performance differences between male and female endurance athletes. Their findings are quite interesting. One study evaluated the amount of energy used by the respiratory muscles in male and female athletes. Respiratory muscles are muscles found in the rib cage and diaphragm that are critical for breathing. The researchers measured the amount of energy respiratory muscles consumed in male and female athletes during maximal exercise intensities.

Consumption of beer is an essential part of the post exercise regimen of many serious athletes, especially after a hard workout or event. An intellectual argument can be made on either the pros or cons of alcohol consumption on endurance performance i.e. rehydration. Finally, a group of courageous Spanish researchers have tested the hypothesis in a rigorously controlled study.