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Int J Sports Med 2009; 30(5): 360-365
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1105935
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Performance, Training and Lifestyle Parameters of Marathon Runners Aged 20–80 Years: Results of the PACE-study

D. Leyk 1 , O. Erley 2 , W. Gorges 2 , D. Ridder 3 , T. Rüther 1 , M. Wunderlich 1 , A. Sievert 1 , D. Essfeld 1 , C. Piekarski 4 , T. Erren 4
  • 1Department of Physiology and Anatomy, German Sport University Colgone, Cologne, Germany
  • 2Department IV – Military Ergonomics and Exercise Physiology-, Central Institute of the Federal Armed Forces Medical Services, Koblenz, Germany
  • 3Bundesversicherungsamt, Z5, Bonn, Germany
  • 4Institute and Policlinic for Occupational and Social Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Publication History

accepted after revision October 27, 2008

Publication Date:
10 March 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Successful finishing of marathon requires regular endurance training and appropriate lifestyle. Thus, marathon running times and training data from large samples of physically active and fit elderly are ideal for the assessment of age-related performance. In the present study we analyzed 439 278 running times from result lists of 108 marathon competitions and data from a survey via internet questionnaire about training and behavioural factors of marathon finishers. Marathon times and 6 992 data sets from the internet questionnaire were separated into groups based on age and sex and analyzed by two-way ANOVA. Our main findings are that 1) there are virtually no relevant running time differences (p<0.01) in marathon finishers from 20 to 55 years and 2) the majority of middle-aged and elderly athletes have training histories of less than seven years of running. With the exception of marathon running times we did not encounter any significant gender related differences (p>0.01). The present findings strengthen the concept that considers aging as a biological process that can be considerably speeded up or slowed down by multiple lifestyle related factors.

Key words

aging - gender - lifestyle - training - endurance

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Correspondence

Prof. Dr. Dr. D. Leyk

Department of Physiology and Anatomy

German Sport University Colgone

Am Sportspark Müngersdorf

50933 Cologne

Germany

Phone: +49/221/4982 37 30

Fax: +49/221/4982 37 31

Email: Leyk@dshs-koeln.de