Age-related decrements in cycling and running performance

Authors

  • A St Clair Gibson Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town
  • Ni Lambert Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town
  • TD Noakes Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2078-516X/2004/v16i2a181

Abstract

Objective. This study examined age-related decrements in athletic performance during running and cycling activities.

Design. The age group winning times for males aged between 18 and 70 years competing in the 1999 Argus cycle tour (103 km) and 1999 Comrades running marathon (90 km), South Africa's premier endurance cycling and running events respectively, were examined.

Main outcome measures. The relationship between speed (cycling and running respectively) and age was calculated using a 4th order polynomial function. The derivative of each of these functions was determined and then the slope of the function corresponding to each age was calculated.

Results. The rate of decline in running speed occurred at an earlier age (~ 32 years) during the running race compared with the cycling tour (~ 55 years).

Conclusions. These findings establish a trend that there is ‘accelerated' aging during running which can perhaps be attributed to the increased weight-bearing stress on the muscles during running compared with cycling.

SA Sports Medicine Vol.16(2) 2004: 8-11

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Author Biography

  • A St Clair Gibson, Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town
    A St Clair Gibson MRC/UCT Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine Sport Science Institute of South Africa PO Box 115 Newlands 7725 Tel: 021-650 4577 Fax: 021-686 7530 E-mail: agibson@sports.uct.ac.

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Published

2004-12-20

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2004)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2004 South African Journal of Sports Medicine

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The South African Journal of Sports Medicine reserves copyright of the material published. The work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) International License. Material submitted for publication in the South African Journal of Sports Medicine is accepted provided it has not been published elsewhere. The South African Journal of Sports Medicine does not hold itself responsible for statements made by the authors.

How to Cite

Gibson, A. S. C., Lambert, N., & Noakes, T. (2004). Age-related decrements in cycling and running performance. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 16(2), 8-11. https://doi.org/10.17159/2078-516X/2004/v16i2a181
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