What His Body Teaches Us About Getting Older

Most of us picture aging as a slow decline — creaky bones, shorter walks, lower energy. But Juan López García, an 82-year-old ultramarathoner from Toledo, Spain, turns that idea on its head. Despite not even taking up running until his mid-60s, Juan is not just active — he’s athletic, competitive, and physically comparable to healthy adults decades younger.

A Late Start That Led to a World Record

Juan spent most of his life as a car mechanic, with very little regular exercise. At age 66, he decided to try running a single mile — and could barely finish it. But instead of quitting, he kept going. Gradually, he increased his mileage, pushed into longer races, and eventually started competing.

Today, at 82, he’s a world record holder in the 80-to-84 age group for the 50-kilometer (about 31 miles) ultramarathon. On top of that, he won a world marathon championship for his age group in 2024 with an impressive time — and didn’t just win for his age, he set a European record along the way.

What Makes His Body So Remarkable?

A team of European scientists invited Juan into their lab to better understand how his body functions. What they found was astonishing:

VO₂ max comparable to people in their 20s: VO₂ max measures how much oxygen the body takes in and uses during intense exercise — a key marker of cardiovascular fitness. Most people see this number decline steadily with age, but Juan’s level rivals what you’d expect from athletes decades younger.

Efficient oxygen use: Juan’s muscles absorb and use oxygen well — an essential trait for endurance running.

Strong but not “superhuman”: Interestingly, not all of his performance markers were extraordinary. His lactate threshold and running efficiency — two other predictors of athletic performance — were strong but within typical ranges for athletes in their 60s.

Taken together, his results suggest that exceptional fitness isn’t the product of genetics alone — it also can come from consistent training and lifestyle choices, even when started later in life.

How He Trains and Lives

Juan’s training routine is disciplined but grounded:

Running: He regularly logs around 40 miles per week when not preparing for a race — and almost double that when he’s training.

Strength work: He does light strength training several times a week to support muscle health and injury prevention.

Mediterranean diet: He eats a balanced, Mediterranean-style diet — fish, vegetables, and wholesome foods common in Spain — helping to fuel his body and maintain lean mass.

Despite people often assuming that age automatically brings decline, Juan’s story throws a spotlight on the possibility — not just the hope — of aging with strength, vigor, and purpose.

What His Example Means for All of Us

Experts studying Juan think his results offer a broader lesson: aging doesn’t have to be defined by inevitable physical decline. While genetics and luck play roles, his journey highlights that:

It’s never too late to begin: Juan didn’t start training until his 60s, yet achieved world-class fitness.

Consistency matters: Regular physical activity — even if started late — can significantly slow down many age-related changes in the body.

Healthy aging is achievable: With effort, guidance, and patience, many people can improve their strength, endurance, and overall health even into their 70s and beyond.

In a world where many fear aging, Juan López García’s life is living proof that our later years can still be full of vitality — and that what we do today shapes the healthy, active person we become tomorrow.