'You may lose a little lung capacity as you shrink because there's reduced space in your chest cavity,' says exercise scientist Steven Hawkins, Ph.D. By 80, men are down about two inches and women lose more than three inches. Between ages 30 and 70, men, on average, lose 1.2 inches of height, and women lose nearly two inches. But perhaps there is the opportunity for better performance if they train more optimally.' You might find that your running shorts hit you a bit farther down your leg. The message is that athletes at this age can do amazingly well, in spite of their training. 'The training journal of a 72-year-old who ran a world record sub-three marathon showed very little speed or power work. 'World-class masters over 70 spend more than 80 percent of their time training at one speed,' says sports psychologist Bradley Young, Ph.D. 'The most important body parts for keeping graybeards independent are your legs,' says longevity expert Walter Bortz, M.D.Īs you come into the next decade, you're likely to become a one-pace wonder, if you haven't already. Even if your quads and calves aren't as cut as they used to be, the fact that they're still strong is invaluable. A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reported that a faster walking speed correlates to a longer life span. Researchers have concluded that regular physical activity decreases risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all other age-related causes of death by 25 percent and increases life expectancy by up to two years.Įven though the speed you consider comfortable has decreased, you're likely still outpacing your friends. You'll be around to see your great-grandkids run their first race. 'When other runners hear that I'm 85,' Davis says, 'their eyes get big and their mouths open wide and they say, 'You're my hero.'' (Ours, too.) But you're likely a celebrity because of it. Your body isn't doing you any favors, and you know from your small age group at races that you're a minority. 'I need a 5:30, and my best is 5:37, so I'll just keep trying.' If you're like Davis, still logging miles, major kudos. Her current goal is to qualify for Boston.

She climbed Mount Whitney to celebrate her 80th birthday, and then followed that feat with another marathon. Witness Margaret Davis, of Azusa, California, who entered her first marathon at age 79. Think you're too old to get into running, let alone marathoning? Wrong.

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