Like golf, distance running is a sport where age is not much of a factor in performance before the age of 40. In fact, at the marathon distance, experience can be quite an advantage. I can remember watching Portugal’s Carlos Lopes win marathon Olympic gold in the 1984 LA games running 2:09:21 at the age of 37. At the time I thought Lopes was ancient but I also remember thinking I had another 10 years to train hard and improve my times. It was quite a motivating revelation. Another inspiring statistic for the aging, serious runner is that the majority of runners that make the US Olympic marathon team are over 30. This has been consistent for the past 4 teams, men and women’s. The Olympic team, 3 men and 3 women are decided by a marathon race where the top 3 make the cut. If this race becomes a tactical race, which is often the case, experience can win over leg speed giving the advantage to the mature runner.

Speaking of old runners, does a 28:30 10K time sound over the hill? How about a 13:45 5K? These are the current over 40 records for men. Steve Scott ran 3:58 for the mile at age 35 and it won’t be long before the sub 4-minute masters mile is ran. The master’s women’s 10K record is 32:20 and the 5K record is a world class 15:51. With the depth (shear numbers and talent) of runners in the Masters age group, competition is fierce. With the added incentive of prize money for the first place masters runner in many events (A recent phenomena) the incentive to train is heightened. How good are the master’s runners? It is not uncommon to see master runners double dipping in the prize money at road races, taking first for the overall and first for the master’s prize money. This happened in the 1996 Detroit Free Press Marathon where 40 something Doug Kurtis and Cindy Barber Keeler both came it 1st.

Life begins at 40. The track and field junkies continue to track the sport and its athletes into the master’s years. The National Masters News is the official world and U.S. publication for the sport and is popular reading with this group. It doesn’t stop but starts at 40. Age group records are collected in 5-year increments giving new inspiration and incentive to train as runners hit 45, 50 55…even 95! Check out these incredible performances!

Women

Men

The growth of the master’s ranks has been followed with the growth of events specific to age. The National Senior Games and the World Veterans Athletic Championships are two major masters events of the hundreds offered worldwide. Go on any search engine and the list of masters running sites is endless. Who goes to these games? I asked Jim Forshee of Ann Arbor. Jim was headed to Australia to run in the 14th annual World Veterans games. The games are held every 2 years.

Randy: Why are you going all the way to Australia to run in a track meet?
Jim: I’m going because I think I can win! I’ve been reading the National Masters news for years and I write down the times for each event in my age group. I turned 75 in March and I see that a 44 minute 10K and a 22 minute 5K usually wins it. I think I can medal.
Randy: Are any of your expenses covered and what do you get for winning?
Jim: I do pay my own way and as for what I get? A lot of pride!
Randy: How long have you been running?
Jim: Since 1974. My daughter Ann took up running and I said I could beat her, she said, "Go prove it".

Good genes are hard to beat. Jim and his daughter Ann Forshee Crane have been race and age group award winners ever since. Ann (now over 44) ran a very competitive time at the Boston Marathon. Speaking of genes, Dave Scott, multiple Ironman World Championship winner, is Ann’s first cousin!

This is Jim’s 3rd trip to the World Veterans games. He has gone each time he hit a new 5-year age group at the time of the games, when the age group is soft. Looking at the 75-80 age group rankings, he has noticed the times needed to medal should be easy for him even when he’s 80. He thinks he’ll be going to meets more often over the next 5 years. I’m sure it beats the rocking chair!

In just a few days I turn 50 and unlike turning 44, I’m excited at the possibilities. Like Jim Forshee, I’m in a new age group! At 40 I got a reprieve in my Boston Marathon qualifying time as it went from 3-hrs 15 min (For sub 40-year-old runners) to 3-hrs 20 min. This year qualifying time goes to 3-hrs 25 min! A new age group lets me shake off those young punks in the 45 to 49 year old range that have been kicking me around, just what I get to do to the those ancient 54 year olds in my new category!

Run forever,
Randy Step