We investigated the patterns of variants of creatine kinase isoenzyme MM (CK-MM) in gastrocnemius muscle and plasma sampled from male and female long-distance runners before and after a marathon race. The proportions of CK-MM variants MM1 (pI 6.90) and MM2 (pI 6.62), identified in the skeletal muscle from both sexes, did not differ significantly from those in skeletal muscle from nonrunning controls or from heart muscle. CK-MM1 was the major (84-85% of total CK-MM) variant form. Patterns of CK-MM in plasma collected from male runners 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after the race were similar to those for female runners, but we detected two new additional variants, which we designate MM1B (pI 6.76) and MM2B (pI 6.49). For both sexes the total CK-MM activities in plasma were significantly (p less than 0.05) greater after the race, but the women's total CK-MM activities were significantly (p less than 0.05) less than the men's. The rates of disappearance of MM1, MM2, and MM3 from plasma after the race differed significantly (p less than 0.05) between men and women, MM1 clearing the fastest. Determination of the CK-MM variants in plasma after strenuous exercise may be of help in assessing CK release from injured skeletal muscle.