I ran 20:43 for 5k at 53 and about 30 pounds over my old racing weight. I was training for a half that didn’t go very well but I had one magical 10-miler in about 80 minutes and felt almost effortless. I kept saying I was going to get back under 20:00 but it’s one thing after another—injury, lack of motivation, life getting in the way. Im 59 now and feeling way, way slower than just a couple of years ago despite similar training.
Hahahahahahaha!! Man I see you old miserable dinosaurs shuffling down the paved pathways as I effortlessly glide through steep technical mountain terrain. You guys are pathetic. Weak looking and kyphotic. How you don’t fall and break everything is astonishing. Lift your damn legs and stop shuffling. And why do you old turds give such dirty looks to everyone? Can’t get it up anymore?
We were young punks too at one point in our life's. Chances are high that we were faster as well.
Soon to be 55 and if I didn't have plantar facistis and long day with coaching on side would fairly excited. Life gets in the way of training. I still run and do strength training at home and lots of climbing in the hills. I think I cold run sub 18 but time isn't stopping and double nickel is around the corner. Good luck and well done to those reading.
Age 62 in 3 weeks. Holding up well, but I was never a competitive runner or particularly fast. I believe my running history (or lack thereof) is helping me now that I am past 60. 2 days ago, I ran 4 miles in 36:56. My goal is to keep the 5Ks under 30 minutes and the 10Ks under 60 minutes for as long as possible.
I'm curious if my age-related decline is typical, or more pronounced than others here
Age 25 15:20
Age 50 17:35
Age 59 21:00
I fee like I have slowed a little too much this past decade.
Thoughts?
big drop from 17:35 to 21 more like 19 flat at 60
if you do not have any runner related injuries and you are training about the same you might want to get a complete checkup blood work ect.
Yeah. Might want to check on some things.
Age 51 to 60 (best 5K): 17:54, 18:19, 19:09, 19:13, 19:16, 19:39, 20:17, 21:10, 21:35, 21:00
I had a foot injury when I was 52 and never was the same afterwards. But, Hey, last year I was able to claw back some seconds! I have hopes of braking 21 this year, haven't run a 5K yet but think I'm in 21:20 shape right now. It's amazing to think I haven't been under 20 for almost 5 years!
I've run most of my life but didn't start training seriously until my early 30s, and "peaked" in my early to mid-40s.
At ~ 43-44, I was hitting by best times across the board, running the roughly equivalent of my 5k best (15:54) from 1500 (4:10) to HM (13:29).
The wheels started to come off at ~ 44-45, with a sudden drop in capability across all distances roughly equivalent to ~ 30s for 5k.
From 45 onward, I have not really raced, other than a couple of low key 5k "races" at ~ 50 and 53. Based on recent "workouts" of 4 x 1000 at nearly 57, I'd guess I might be able to train for a 5k in ~ 19:30-45, if I worked really hard at it.
So for me, that means:
- sudden sharp drop of ~ 30s per 5k at ~ 45
- roughly 15s per 5k drop per year thereafter to ~ 57
I went from "pretty strong" age-graded results (~ 85-89%) at ~ 43 to "fair to middling" results (~ 76-78%) almost overnight, and have declined relatively uniformly at about that level since.
My age grading was pretty close to the curve (actually fell off at 40-42) until late 40s/early 50s but have managed to beat it since then. Now a few years older not sure if I can break 18, but with the right course, good conditions, and some decent competition maybe.
My age grading was pretty close to the curve (actually fell off at 40-42) until late 40s/early 50s but have managed to beat it since then. Now a few years older not sure if I can break 18, but with the right course, good conditions, and some decent competition maybe.
Aging hits everyone a little differently.
17:28 at age 60 is phenomenal
One of the best out there, won World Master 1/2 Marathon 60 AG; fast time too.
The mental aspect is just as difficult as the physical. Motivation takes a beating when no matter what you do the physical decline persists. You just have to keep trying to maintain or improve.
Switched focus to mile and 800s from 55-60 (now). High 19s for 5k is hard.
5:36 and 2:29 most recently.
I take more rest days; at least one day of high intensity/week is necessary to peak; brief swimming does more to relieve stiffness than anything else I tried.
I just thankful I'm still running. A couple of times that has looked in doubt.
I get out of shape faster, and it takes longer to get back in shape. I still age grade 80-84% maximum for goal races, and that number has been consistent from my 20s.
It's been harder to avoid injuries; more things falling apart that didn't before (hip and foot stuff), and LOTS more sickness this past year with two new grandkids, with them sharing colds, stomach flu, etc. that they brought home from daycare, although that seems to be mostly past after the first year.
My job requires more sitting now (meetings), which has not been helpful.
This is a good thread and totally relevant right now.
Turned 56 and coming back from a year of solid injury related/nerve damage from a herniated disc. Getting treatment and working to get back to fitness. But, as everyone here has said, you lose fitness so fast at this age, and all the sitting at the computer doesn't help, does it?
Two years ago was hitting 1:36:XX for the HM, but I seem very far from hitting that now, so I definitely feel the earlier comment about age hitting us all differently. If I can successfully
My mental state is this: on my good days, I still feel like I did when I was in my 20's. That is until i look at my watch. But, and this is key, I can live with that. I love the feeling of having a good day and going into a race and running against the people around me. The feeling of pushing hard and seeing how it feels.
I started in the fall of 1978 in junior high, running cross country, and while my self-worth isn't tied to how fast I ran (as it was in my younger years) I still want to keep doing it. I know I'm slower now, but I'm just hoping to go back to being able to do it again, slower or now. Jury is still out however right now. ;(