Marathoner DeMar: Physiological Studies2

Abstract

Clarence DeMar competed in more than 1,000 distance races, including 32 of the Boston Athletic Association Marathons. His performance in those marathons was best in his fourth decade and declined thereafter. However, even in his last, at age 66, he ran at 177 meters per minute or 7 miles per hour for almost 4 hours. This surpasses the capability of most young men. Laboratory studies revealed exceptionally superior cardiovascular and respiratory systems with a low basal heart rate, low blood pressure, and large vital capacity. Hemoglobin concentration and other properties of the blood were not unusual. His maximal attainable rate of oxygen consumption, an over-all measure of fitness, was 60 ml per minute-kg at age 49, the highest we have observed at that age.