A 2026 global survey of 340 multi-marathoners found substantially higher aerobic fitness than age norms, with a slow decline across older ages. VO2max, the maximum rate the body can use oxygen during hard exercise, stayed high even past age 50. The group averaged 52.2 years old, included 54.1% men, came from 24 countries, and averaged 121 lifetime marathon completions, according to Scientific Reports in the Scientific Reports study. Researchers estimated VO2max from wearable fitness-device data by sex and age group, not laboratory gas-analysis testing.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- Who did researchers study?
- How fit were they compared with normal aging?
- How fast did fitness fall with age?
- What does higher VO2max mean for longevity?
- What should runners do with this?
Who did researchers study?
The runners were highly experienced, not one-race finishers. The mean of 121 lifetime marathons means repeated training blocks over many years. Mean age was early 50s, so the results speak most directly to middle-aged and older endurance athletes.
The sample covered men and women and 24 countries. That breadth helps readers see patterns beyond one club or race. It remains a select group with unusual training history.
How fit were they compared with normal aging?
Multi-marathoners scored well above population norms at almost every age. Several older cohorts exceeded the elite 95th percentile threshold, as discussed in the Rapamycin Longevity News discussion. For context, the FRIEND Registry reports U.S.
treadmill VO2max falling from 48.0 to 24.4 mL/kg/min in men from the 20s to the 70s. The marathon group sat much higher on that curve. Men had higher absolute values, while older women showed the larger relative advantage against age-matched norms.
How fast did fitness fall with age?
The modeled cross-sectional decline was gradual. It was 0.23 mL/kg/min per year in men and 0.15 in women, flatter than general-population trajectories.
That pace means a decade of aging cost roughly 1.5 to 2.3 units. A 60-year-old lifelong marathoner could therefore resemble a much younger average adult. The pattern supports sustained aerobic volume as a way to flatten age-related decline.
What does higher VO2max mean for longevity?
Higher estimated fitness was linked to lower modeled mortality risk across groups. The calculation used 3.7% lower all-cause mortality per 1 mL/kg/min higher VO2max, derived from earlier cohort research, according to the British Journal of Sports Medicine overview.
A 10-unit advantage would therefore imply a large risk difference on paper. But deaths were modeled from prior cohorts, not observed in these runners. Modeling is not proof of longer life.
What should runners do with this?
Keep aerobic training consistent across years rather than chasing one peak season. Include frequent easy running, regular longer runs, and some higher-effort sessions that lift oxygen use. Maintain strength, sleep, medical checks, and gradual progression after illness or injury.
Treat watch VO2max as a trend, not a medical score. Wearable estimates can err by about 10 units, and the study design was cross-sectional, self-reported, and wearable-estimated. Use lab testing or race performance for bigger decisions.
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