Introduction. Few studies have addressed whether above average bone mass and strength, as often observed in young physically-active people, persist with age in athletes [1]. Exercise interventions in elderly people yielded heterogeneous results [2, 3]. To investigate life-long running and walking against age-related loss in bone mass and strength [4], this cross-sectional study focuses on two questions: 1) Do bone mass and strength parameters differ between Master sprinters, middle and long distance runners, walkers and sedentary people? 2) Are bone mass and strength maintained in Master runners and walkers? Methods. 158 male and 149 female Master athletes and 75 sedentary control people aged between 33 and 87 years were included into this study. Athletes participated at World or European Veteran Championships and achieved on average 82% of the predicted age and gender world record performance. Tomographic scans (XCT 2000, STRATEC, Germany) were taken at 4% and 60% of the ulna length and 4% and 38% of the tibia length. Data was analysed in terms of trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (tBMD; epiphysis), bone mineral content (BMC; epiphysis, diaphysis), bone area (A; epiphysis, diaphysis) and polar moment of resistance (RPol; diaphysis). Results. Both genders showed evident group differences in diaphyseal BMC, A, and RPol within the weight-bearing tibia of runners, whilst tibia epiphysis and radius parameters were mostly similar. In the tibia diaphysis, data values followed a pattern of: Sprinters > middle distance runners > long distance runners > walkers > control participants. Group differences between sprinters and control participants amounted to 23%-26% in females and to 14%-17% in males (P < 0.001). 2) Age-related declines were mainly found within the females’ tibia and radius shafts. Declines of approx. 0.5% per year applied to diaphyseal tibia BMC and A of all female athlete groups. Age-related changes of radius BMC and A were found within all female groups, except from long distance runners. However, enhanced tibia bone mass and strength in the athletes in younger age led to a higher or similar bone mass and strength in older age compared to control people. Conclusion. Loading of bones by running leads to higher bone mass and strength of Master athletes, especially in the weight-bearing tibia diaphysis compared to sedentary people. In men, this difference persists over the entire lifespan whilst it tends to diminish with increasing age in women. It is unclear at this stage whether the latter is directly related to the ageing process or to hormonal changes occurring after menopause.