PURPOSE

Peak aerobic capacity (O) declines with age, but running economy (RE) may not. We evaluated O 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 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 O test. Running economy in the MIE was measured using oxygen cost with body mass scaled allometrically (alloO); energy cost (EC), determined using caloric equivalents; and percent of O (%O). Pearson's correlations were used to determine relationships between age and running performance variables.

RESULTS

Runners ( = 31, 13 females; mean age 54.9 ± 8.4 years) had a mean O of 52.5 ± 7.9 ml O kg min. Age was significantly correlated with O ( = - 0.580, = 0.001) and alloO ( = - 0.454, = 0.034). Age was related to EC in females ( = 0.649, = 0.042) and MIE O in males ( = - 0.600, = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONS

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