...and are you still improving?

At what age do the PB's stop, or become more difficult to achieve?

I ran my first half-marathon without any training (I played basketball then) when I was 17.
One year later I ran the second and have been running ever since.
So I think I would say 18.

Almost all of my track PBs date back to 1999 but then I guess I never had the will nor health to train so intensely for the track.
Same goes for the road. It's been a few years since my best results (except for the Marathon but that's still a new event for me) but I haven't trained properly for any (again - except for Marathons).

I feel that I have a lot of PBs ahead of me still.
And I am planning on - may injuries stay away - attacking 4 or 5 of them in 2008. 1.500m, Steeplechase, 5K, 10K and maybe half/marathon or Marathon.
Wouldn't that be great...

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“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”

I must've been about 6 or 7 when running captured my imagination (1969/70?). I remember being mesmerized by a 5k or 10k track race on TV... Probably involving Dave Bedford. Since then, running has been all I've ever wanted to do.
First organized and competitive running was probably primary school cross-country when I was 9 or so.
Joined the local athletic club at 11...
... Stopped improving sometime in my early/mid 30's (mid 1990's); although this was due to a dip in enthusiasm brought on by a long-term injury (which never actually stopped me completely, but prevented me from doing the training necessary to maintain the "upward curve") rather than a "natural" peak.
Nowadays, all the effort is centred on trying to slow down the decline.

Good idea for a poll, Trinity: should be interesting.

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ONLY THOSE WHO WILL RISK GOING TOO FAR CAN POSSIBLY FIND OUT HOW FAR THEY CAN GO.

Only a couple of years for me, hence 30 - 40, so I'd like to think that there is plenty of room for improvement.

Really wish I had taken it up sooner.

Started running at 43 in 2005.(best way ever to give up smoking.)

First race October 07.

Nearly 20 races on and I`m still improving.Although I honestly don`t think there is much more to come.

I started running in 2005 at the age of 30, my running is improving, and has been helped alot my not smoking too.

Like Granty hope to have more pb's than not at the moment, I know I can do alot better than what I am currently doing now.

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In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular.

Bird in Boots

I used to be competitive with the best at school over a number of distances but never did any training, so I think my true birth as a runner was 31, although I've always followed athletics avidly. My inspiration was the 'Cramy' kick of the mid-eighties, glorious times for British middle distance running!

My last PB (10k) was in August this year at 34 and I think I still have decent chunks I can knock of my times as this is the first year I have trained even vaguely consistently.

Dave - you've only scratched the surface! You've got a massive 1/2 marathon PB waiting for you in 2008 if you convert your latest 10k performance.....

Yes.Looked at that myself LJ. Really should be room for a few minutes off that one if I can stay in shape next year.

you'll breeze it

__________________
In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular.

Bird in Boots

I've gone for 20-30,
I first ran at school and absolutely loved it (any distance), my dad was a runner/triathlete who'd started in his mid/late 30's and I always wanted to be like him. I never trained and always did well at district XC events. I didn't run as I got older (my grammar school promoted rugby, rugby, and more rugby, any other sport was a waste of time - except cricket in the summer!) though I did get the school record for 3000m without any training! After that things went downhill once I'd learnt to drive.

I started running properly aged 21; well I say running 'properly' when I really mean running regularly... my run was more 'waddle' like back then when I was 3 stone heavier Anyway, I'm still progressing fairly rapidly and most races I enter are PB attempts (typically with success). I still feel I have quite a bit in me to progress and ultimately I'm aiming to podium at a race one day. I think if I didn't have this goal i'd be much less focused on running and more focused on playing as many different sports as I could (e.g. I've just given up a weekly football session to allow for another 8mile run).

Perhaps I'm being over-ambitious but I can't see any reason why I can't get there with determination and hard work!