A physiological comparison of the new—over 70 years of age—marathon record holder and his predecessor: A case report

Abstract

Purpose: This study assessed the body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, fiber type and mitochondrial function, and training characteristics of a 71-year-old runner who broke the world record marathon of the men’s 70–74 age category and held several other world records. The values were compared to those of the previous world-record holder.Methods: Body fat percentage was assessed using air-displacement plethysmography. V˙O2max, running economy, and maximum heart rate were measured during treadmill running. Muscle fiber typology and mitochondrial function were evaluated using a muscle biopsy.Results: Body fat percentage was 13.5%, V˙O2max was 46.6 ml kg−1 min−1, and maximum heartrate was 160 beats∙min-1. At the marathon pace (14.5 km h−1), his running economy was 170.5 ml kg−1 km−1. The gas exchange threshold and respiratory compensation point occurred at 75.7% and 93.9% of the V˙O2max, i.e., 13 km h−1 and 15 km h−1, respectively. The oxygen uptake at the marathon pace corresponded to 88.5% of V˙O2max. Vastus lateralis fiber content was 90.3% type I and 9.7% type II. Average distance was 139 km∙w−1 in the year prior to the record.Conclusion: The 71-year-old world-record holder marathon showed a relatively similar V˙O2max, lower percentage of V˙O2max at marathon pace, but a substantially better running economy than his predecessor. The better running economy may result from an almost double weekly training volume compared to the predecessor and a high type I fiber content. He trained every day in the last ∼1.5 years and achieved international performance in his age group category with a small (<5% per decade) age-related decline in marathon performance.