Despite of the growth of ultra-endurance sports events (of duration > 6h) over the previous few decades, the age-related declines in ultra-endurance performance have drawn little attention. The aim of the study was to analyze the changes in participation and performance trends of older (> 40 yrs of age) triathletes between 1986 and 2010 at the Hawaii Ironman triathlon consisting of 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42 km running. Swimming, cycling, running and total times of the best male and female triathletes between 18 and 69 yrs of age who competed in the Hawaii Ironman triathlon were analyzed. The relative participation of master triathletes increased during the 1986-2010 period, while the participation of triathletes younger than 40 yrs of age decreased. Linear regression showed that males older than 44 yrs and females older than 40 yrs significantly improved their performances in the three disciplines and in the total time taken to complete the race. Gender differences in total time performance significantly decreased in the same time period for all age groups between the 40-44 yrs and 55-59 yrs ones. The reasons for these relative improvements of Ironman athlete performances in older age groups remain, however, unknown. Further studies investigating training regimes, competition experience or socio-demographic factors are needed to gain better insights into the phenomenon of increasing participation and improvement of ultra-endurance performance with advancing age.

Article LEPERS (AGE, 2012)

In the last decades, the participation of elderly trained people in endurance events such as marathon running has dramatically increased. Previous studies suggested that the performance of master runners (> 40 yrs) during marathon running has improved. The aims of the study were : (i) to analyze the changes in participation and performance trends of master marathon runners between 1980 and 2009 and, ii) to compare the gender differences in performance as a function of age across the years. Running times of the best male and female runners between 20 and 79 yrs of age who competed in the New-York City marathon were analyzed. Gender differences in performance times were analysed for the top 10 male and female runners between 20 and 65 yrs of age. The participation of master runners increased during the 1980-2009 period, to a greater extent for females compared to males. During that period, running times of master runners significantly (P<0.01) decreased for males older than 64 yrs and for females older than 44 yrs, respectively. Gender differences in running times decreased over the last 3 decades but remained relatively stable across the ages during the last decade. These data suggest that male (> 65 yrs) and female (> 45 yrs) master runners have probably not yet reached their limits in marathon performance. The relative stability of gender differences in marathon running times across the different age groups over the last decade also suggests that age-related declines in physiological function do not differ between male and female marathoners.

Lepers & Cattagni (2011)

The aims of this study were: i) to analyze age-related declines in swimming, cycling, and running performances for road-based and off-road triathlons, and ii) to compare age-related changes in these three disciplines between road-based and off-road triathlons. Swimming, cycling, running and total time performances of the top 5 males between 20 and 70 years of age (in 5 year intervals) were analyzed for short distance road-based (1.5 km swim, 40 km cycle, and 10 km run) and off-road (1.5 km swim, 30 km mountain bike, and 11 km trail run) triathlons at the 2009 World Championships. Independently of age, there was a lesser age-related decline in cycling performance (P<0.01) compared to running and swimming for road-based triathlon. In contrast, age-related decline did not differ between the three locomotion modes for off-road triathlon. With advancing age, the performance decline was less pronounced (P<0.01) for road-based than for off-road triathlon in swimming (>65 years), cycling (>50 years), running (>60 years), and total event (>55 years) times, respectively. These results suggest that the rate of the decline in performance for off-road triathlon is greater than for road-based triathlon, indicating that the type of discipline (road versus mountain bike cycling and road versus trail running) exerts an important influence on the magnitude of the age-associated changes in triathlon performance.

Lepers & Stapley EJAP (2011)

The aim of this study was twofold: i) to analyze age-related declines in swimming, cycling, and running performances for Olympic and Ironman triathlons, and ii) to compare age-related changes in these three disciplines between the Olympic and Ironman triathlons. Swimming, cycling, running and total time performances of the top 10 males between 20 and 70 years of age (in 5 years intervals) were analyzed for two consecutive world championships (2006 and 2007) for Olympic and Ironman distances. There was a lesser age-related decline in cycling performance (P<0.01) compared with running and swimming after 55 years of age for Olympic distance and after 50 years of age for Ironman distance. With advancing age, the performance decline was less pronounced (P<0.01) for Olympic than for Ironman triathlon in cycling (>55 years) and running (>50 years), respectively. In contrast, an age-related decline in swimming performance seemed independent of triathlon distance. The age-related decline in triathlon performance is specific to the discipline, with cycling showing less declines in performance with age than swimming and running. The magnitude of the declines in cycling and running performance at Ironman distance is greater than at Olympic distance, suggesting that task duration exerts an important influence on the magnitude of the age-associated changes in triathlon performance.

Lepers et al. Int J Sports Med (2010)

This study describes the decline in performance with age during Olympic triathlon Age Groups World Championships among the different locomotion modes. Mean performance of top 10 performers were analyzed for each group of age using the exponential model proposed by Baker et al., (2003). Comparison in performance decline was done between locomotion modes. Decline in performance in triathlon as a function of age follows an exponential model. A significant interaction effect between age and locomotion mode was observed on performance values. In swimming, a
significant decrease was observed close to 5% per year after 45 years. Decline in performance was less pronounced in cycling until 60 years. Analysis of the effect of age in the different locomotion modes of a triathlon could provide information for maintaining quality of life with aging.

Bernard et al Exp Aging Res (2010)

This study examines the performances in Olympic triathlon Age Groups World Championships and the decline in maximal performance with increasing age in male and female triathletes. Mean performance of top ten performers were analysed for each group of age during the last Age Groups World Championships events using the exponential model proposed by Baker et al.(2003). Constants of the exponential model were compared between men and women. The decline in triathlon performance follows the exponential model. The statistical analysis shows a significant gender effect on the period of decrease in performance. In male subjects, performance loss does not appears before 45 years, whereas in female, it appears earlier (40 years). In both populations, significant decrease is observed after 50 years. The prsent results using a multimodal mode of locomotion activity are in agreement with previous results reported during an unimodal activity. However, triathlon performance decline appears later suggesting an effect of locomotion mode. In this study, gender effect is similar with those reported previously. Further explicative studies are necessary to analyse these observations.

PS :
The author Frédéric Sultana won the Master division (> 40 years old) at the Long Distance Triathlon National Championship in 2008.

Sultana et al (2008)