Researchers in the University of Boulder, Colorado and Humboldt State University carried out a study which reveals some unexpected benefits for older adults who hurry.

While some ran to get exercise, the research found adults over the age 65 — a few walking for exercise. What they found was this: individuals who conducted three times for 30 minutes apiece were not as likely in walking ability as those folks who walked to receive their 40, to suffer from debility.

According to the study, self-reported older athletes (joggers) could economically walk 10 percent greater than the self-reported people who didn’t walk or only walked for their exercise. It found that runners’ metabolic rates were similar to 20-somethings.

The study’s participants were then asked to walk with a treadmill using three various speeds — 1.6, 2.8 and 3.9 mph). Researchers wanted to measure their carbon dioxide generation as well as their oxygen consumption.

Researchers are unsure what it is that produces walkers experience not a much better efficacy speed than joggers, but feel it could be about the mitochondria that is within their own cells. And, evidence points out that people who exercise regularly and intensely possess much superior mitochondria within their muscles.

Further studies are in the works to look at whether or not high-aerobic exercise — cycling and swimming, for example — might help alleviate some bodily debility which includes age.

The study was published on Nov. 20 from the PLOS ONE journal.