have I reached my peak?

Training Advice/Discussion Masters

7 years ago 04/23/2017 6:40pm EDT

I'm 36 years old, in high school I ran a 9:59/3200 meters, 16:05/5K, and 4:26/1600 meters. I stopped running after high school and started running again about 6 years ago. Since then, my PBs are 4:48/1600 meters, 16:48/5K, 35:28/10K and 1:19:04 half marathon. I average around 37-43 miles per week, with a 8-10 mile long run, one speed work out , one tempo workout, and 3 easy runs.

My questions is: will I see improvement if I raise my mpw to say 55-65 range, or am I reaching the age where I passed my peak already.

This is my first post on the website.

7 years ago 04/23/2017 7:01pm EDT

re: getting old

I strongly believe you have not reached your peak. This is my opinion based on your current impressive PBs with modest mileage. I would go one step further and venture to say that you should aim to break your HS PBs, at least in the 5k. Good luck!

7 years ago 04/23/2017 9:21pm EDT

re: getting old

There is probably no biological reason that you can't run your HS PRs right now. Going by age grade, you should be closer to peak fitness at 36 than you were at 18. Your HS 1600 age grades to 85.4%, while your 3200 and 5K are both in in the 81% range. Your current times go from 79.4% (1600) down to 75.4% (HM). This suggests you could still reap some gains from aerobic development. 37-43 mpw is OK but not huge, and 8-10 miles isn't that long of a long run.

You probably can't get to peak fitness by running the same workouts that you did in HS, or the same workouts you've been running for the last few years. What may hold you back the most is life interfering. You may not have the time to devote to running that you had when you were 18, or access to a coach, or the motivation of running for a team representing something that you cared about. On the other hand, you may be able to train more consistently and intelligently than you did at 18.

7 years ago 04/23/2017 11:58pm EDT

re: getting old

getting old wrote:
My questions is: will I see improvement if I raise my mpw to say 55-65 range,

Yes, but that's a huge "if." My bet is you won't do it.

7 years ago 04/24/2017 6:32am EDT

re: getting old

At age 36 you can still improve by making improvements to your training. The "37-43 miles per week, with a 8-10 mile long run, one speed work out , one tempo workout, and 3 easy runs" is not pushing the limits of what's possible and sustainable over a number of years. 60 mpw with a 15 mile long run over hills could be one change. You need to start doing it now and you could reach a peak at 38 to mid 40s.

7 years ago 04/24/2017 6:40am EDT

re: Speaker of Hard Truths

Speaker of Hard Truths wrote:
getting old wrote:
My questions is: will I see improvement if I raise my mpw to say 55-65 range,
Yes, but that's a huge "if." My bet is you won't do it.

Dude, that is not that much mileage considering the times you've run at 36!

I've seen guys in their 40's improve and running close to 70 minute half marathons, but only by banging out 80, 90, 100 mile weeks! Join the high mileage club or forget about improving. Choose one.

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