The relationships between age and running performance variables in master runners

Abstract

Purpose

Peak aerobic capacity ($\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}}$) declines with age, but running economy (RE) may not. We evaluated VO_2peak and RE in master runners and determined whether age is associated with these measures.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, runners completed two running tests within 4 weeks of a goal race of 10–26.2 miles. Subjects ran for 5 min at 88% of predicted maximum heart rate, approximating a marathon-intensity effort (MIE), then performed a $\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}}$ test. Running economy in the MIE was measured using oxygen cost with body mass scaled allometrically (${\text{allo}}\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}$); energy cost (EC), determined using caloric equivalents; and percent of $\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}}$ (%$\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}}$). Pearson’s correlations were used to determine relationships between age and running performance variables.

Results

Runners (n = 31, 13 females; mean age 54.9 ± 8.4 years) had a mean VO_2peak of 52.5 ± 7.9 ml O₂ kg⁻¹ min⁻¹. Age was significantly correlated with $\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}}$ (r = − 0.580, p = 0.001) and ${\text{allo}}\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}$ (r = − 0.454, p = 0.034). Age was related to EC in females (r = 0.649, p = 0.042) and MIE $\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}$ in males (r = − 0.600, p = 0.039).

Conclusions

In this population, age was negatively associated with $\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2peak}}}}$ and ${\text{allo}}\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}$. Females showed a positive relationship between age and EC, while males had a negative correlation between age and MIE $\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}$. Aerobic capacity declines with age, but there may be sex differences in age-related alterations to submaximal running.