Age Graded PBs - how realistic in practice?

isabel11 · #1 8th Feb 10, 04:39 PM

Just curious really, what I am really wondering is, is there any body out there who has been running fairly consistently since say their 20s-30s and has gone on to equal or better any of their pbs in their 40s or later, using their 'age graded' result for comparison purposes - see, for example

http://www.heartbreakhill.org/age_graded.htm

Sorry I haven't really explained that very well but hope you get my drift; if not using my own times as an example might help. My 10K pb just under 45 minutes, set about 13 years ago. The equivalent time for this for me know would around 48:30. In recent years however, I haven't done anything much under 55 minutes and my most recent 2 10ks were 57:30 and 59:30 ish respectively. I have mentioned on an earlier post that I have been going through a fairly extreme bad patch running wise lately, not caused by anything particularly serious, just loads of different things adding up, and I am now hopefully back on track, but even allowing for this it still seems like a huge gap.

I realise the age graded results probably assume you have maintained a similar level of training - mine has decreased a little but not drastically so.

I'm not too concerned about this - I am now enjoying running more than I have done for ages

and trying not to get too obsessed with times; like I said just curious really to see how any other vets may have fared.

Ernie · #2 8th Feb 10, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isabel11

Just curious really, what I am really wondering is, is there any body out there who has been running fairly consistently since say their 20s-30s and has gone on to equal or better any of their pbs in their 40s or later

I'm running more mileage now than ever before. I'm almost at the pace I was running in my 20s (and still improving). All my PBs were set when I was 24/25 but I know I'm capable of beating (nay smashing) those times. Ask me the same question next year, or maybe later this year

BaselBob · #3 8th Feb 10, 08:00 PM

I've got no chance.. even using the age graded calculation I'm miles off

isabel11 · #4 9th Feb 10, 09:28 AM

Ernie, that's great going - and a great attitude.

BaselBob - thank you! Although I said in my original post I wasn't too concerned its still makes me feel better to know its not just me.

Runningfox · #5 9th Feb 10, 02:20 PM

I'm on a downward slide nowadays, age-grading-wise. At age 55, just after I'd started running, my time of 37.21 for 10K gave me a percentile of 83.86%. At age 65 my time of 39.31 gave me my highest percentile of 87.13%. However, at 75 my percentile had dropped back down to 85.42% with my quickest time of 48.05. Since then my times have dropped even further, but I'm not really bothered. I'm more than happy that I'm still able to do it.

BeckyB · #6 10th Feb 10, 07:46 PM

go go running fox!

I'd be happy to get into the 60%'s!!

isabel11 · #7 11th Feb 10, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeckyB

go go running fox!

I'd be happy to get into the 60%'s!!

I'll second that! (and pleased to know there are at least three of us now - groups on Facebook have been founded on less!)

madmark · #8 11th Feb 10, 01:36 PM

I only started running properly about three years ago and now at 48 feel better than I did at 44 running. Did some long distance runs in my early thirties as in the three peaks race and coast to coast but now feel like I have more stamina but not the speed.

Sorry not being very helpful but just enjoy running I would say at 44 and 77 plus.

Runningfox · #9 11th Feb 10, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmark

I only started running properly about three years ago and now at 48 feel better than I did at 44 running. Did some long distance runs in my early thirties as in the three peaks race and coast to coast .

For what it's worth Madmark, it took me six or seven years to reach my full potential, so it's worth persevering until you're 51, at least.
Starting aged 54 I entered my first marathon after only 15 months of running but I didn't RACE the marathon properly for another five years. And all my best performances in the Three Peaks race came in my early sixties. So, stick it out for another three years and you'll be flying!
Cheers!

PS. One thing I don't understand though. You must have been running PROPERLY when you ran the Three Peaks. I assume you mean the Three Peaks of Yorkshire, not the dreaded car race!

madmark · #10 16th Feb 10, 12:30 PM

Running Fox:- Yes the Three Peaks of Yorkshire, though I have done the car one and my team came second to the Royal Marines so we did okay in that due our navigational skills and youth on our side at the time. I will plough on and hope I can match your years and PBs. Wasn't training to the degree I do now, just playing at it.