Abstract
Running economy (RE) is the steady-state VO2 for a given running velocity and has been shown to be strongly correlated to distance running performance. The impact of aging on RE in runners of high caliber has not been fully studied. PURPOSE: To determine whether aging affects RE in a cross-sectional cohort of age-group winning runners. METHODS: Subjects were recruited from large (>1,000 finishers), local road races and had to be an age group winner (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place finisher) in order to be considered for the study. Three groups were established based on age: Young (Y) (18-39 yrs, n=18), Masters (M) (40-59 yrs, n=22), and Old (O) (>60 yrs, n=11). Each runner reported to the laboratory three times and completed a lactate threshold test followed by a VO2 max test (Day 1) and on a separate day completed a RE test (Day 2). The RE test was conducted at four running speeds: 161, 188, 214, and 241 m/min. Each runner ran for four minutes at each speed and the steady state VO2 was determined from the last minute of exercise. Complete recovery was allowed between running speeds. The VO2 at each speed was plotted and a regression equation was determined and the slopes were then compared. Day 3 included body composition assessment and measurements of flexibility, muscle power, muscle strength, and muscle endurance. A 1 X 3 ANOVA was used to test for differences and significance was established at the p<0.05 level. RESULTS: Upper body strength and power were significantly lower in the O group (p<0.05). The O group ran at a slightly lower relative VO2 at each speed compared to Y and M, however, this was accomplished at a significantly higher fraction of VO2max (p<0.05). The following regression lines were calculated: Y=0.1827 (X) - 0.2974; R2=0.9511 (Young); Y=0.1988 (X) - 1.0416; R2=0.9697 (Master); Y=0.1727 (X) + 3.0252; R2=0.9618 (Old). The slopes were not significantly different from each other. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this cross-sectional study suggest that RE is maintained in age-group winning runners and that aging by itself does not limit performance-related RE. However, this maintained RE does come at a higher O2 cost.
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