The relationships between age and running performance variables in master runners

Peak aerobic capacity (V̇O_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.

In a cross-sectional study, runners completed two running tests within four weeks of a goal race of 10-26.2 miles. Subjects ran for five min at 88% of predicted maximum heart rate, approximating a marathon-intensity effort (MIE), then performed a V̇O_2peak test. Running economy in the MIE was measured using oxygen cost with body mass scaled allometrically (alloV̇O₂); energy cost (EC), determined using caloric equivalents; and percent of V̇O_2peak (%V̇O_2peak). Pearson's correlations were used to determine relationships between age and running performance variables.

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 V̇O_2peak (r = - 0.580, p = 0.001) and alloV̇O₂ (r = - 0.454, p = 0.034). Age was related to EC in females (r = 0.649, p = 0.042) and MIE V̇O₂ in males (r = - 0.600, p = 0.039).

In this population, age was negatively associated with V̇O_2peak and alloV̇O₂. Females showed a positive relationship between age and EC, while males had a negative correlation between age and MIE V̇O₂. Aerobic capacity declines with age, but there may be sex differences in age-related alterations to submaximal running.