I've been thinking about this in regards to the half and full marathon. From what I've seen, it seems like 1:10/2:40 are the times that sub elites tend to get stuck at, like these are the times that win smaller, local races. I know guys that were ok in high school, 1:58 800m or 4:40 1600, who are now 1:10/2:40 guys. Is this about the limit where genes becoming the limiting factor? Or is there still an upper limit, but that most don't progress more because gains become so hard to achieve?
I got the idea from some other thread about there being a gulf between 30/31 10k guys and 36-38 guys. Obviously people exist in the middle, but they don't often seem to be seen. Probably because 32 - 35 guys are at bigger races where they get swallowed up, but it's still odd