Effect of age and menopausal status on cardiorespiratory fitness in masters women runners

Forty-nine trained masters women endurance runners (mean = 42 km.wk-1) between the ages of 35 and 70 yr (mean = 46.4 +/- 8.3) were tested on a treadmill to examine cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max and VO2 submax) in relation to age, training, and menopausal status. Although VO2max was lower with increasing age, no age group differences occurred in VO2 submax at 5.4 km.h-1, 8% treadmill grade. The younger runners (35-39 and 40-44 yr) had significantly higher VO2max than the other 5-yr competitive age groups (45-49, 50-55, 55-70 yr) (P < 0.01). HR max did not differ across age, but HR submax was higher with increasing age. Premenopausal, transitional, and post-menopausal women were not significantly different on any exercise variable when age and/or training differences among the groups were statistically controlled. A decrease in VO2max of 0.58 ml.kg-1 x min-1 x yr-1 was determined (r = -0.62). It was concluded that 1) these highly trained women runners had higher cardiorespiratory fitness than previously reported for women of comparable age, 2) menopausal status did not effect cardiorespiratory fitness when age and training were accounted for, and 3) regular physical training seems to prevent age-related changes in HR max in women, but not age-related changes in maximal oxygen uptake.