It’s a load of bollocks, isn’t it? Current difference in world record is approx +13% for women, so the GFA times should correspond to that. In this case the equivalent women’s time would be 3:40, which is a completely different class to 4 hrs.
It is. It's about a minute a mile out. Guess it must be due in part to relative numbers of runners applying too (although looking at events these days, female participation is definitely increasing)