Why is it that the lowest female vet category is V35 and V40 for men? It's my 35th birthday next week and the prospect of being listed in the veteran category is making me feel old!!!

I understand this has now been standardised to 35 for both men and women but is not yet recognised by all races.

Is this right (that it has been standardised)?
Makes sense as most of the calculators assume performance dips after 35 for men.

I think Gumps is right about the standardisation.

I'm a supervet and I quite like it - it makes me feel not quite so rubbish at running.

you are an uber-james-herriot?


:P

The Federation, previously known as the British Veterans Athletic Federation, was formed in 1975 to encourage, organise, regulate, and administer athletics for women of not less than 35 years of age and men not less than 40 years of age. However since August 2005 the ages have been equalised, so the starting age for men is now also 35.

http://www.bvaf.org.uk/

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I'm a bit tubby.

Duck girl - I am!

Gumps - when do you think they'll bring tri age groups in line with running? If ever.

Isn't there more categories in Tri? There certainly is for Ironman slots.

I don't think there are more categories, just that age groupers are given a higher profile?

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I'm a bit tubby.

Don't knock it... it now means that you are competing with a smaller age range for an age cat prize!

My first time on this site, so be gentle with me A few familier names though!

I know in my county they are now recognising the change in male vet age. It's also good to see they've decided to award in 5 year age groups rather than 10.

TC - there are more categories in IM and some 'big' tri events, whereas lots just have senior, vet (40-49), sv (50-59) and vintage. As I'm near the top end of a category I'd rather they split them all in two!

as a v50 male i am very pleased to see an increase in age related prizes, with vets teams being rewarded in far more races than 10 years ago. we will include one in our race, the Long Eaton 5 miler on June 11th, for the first time this year.

i suspect runners are the only people to look forward to getting older, as your chance of a prize increases rapidly.

not that they've much chance of winning prizes with you around Trin

For anyone interested, the Age Grade Tables have recently been updated to include 2006 data.

Check here:
http://www.howardgrubb.co.uk/athletics/wmalookup06.html

Chers,

Simon