50+ Masters Training and Racing Open Forum

When I was 65, I ran 27 weeks over 50 miles a week then finally snapped like a twig

i I felt it coming. My two choices were spread it out a little or let myself finally break and that’s what I did..

I hit 3000+ miles at age 59-60. Since then it has been between 2500 and 2900 plus some cross training.

Greetings!

Did not write for a while as there was nothing really to report. Kept fighting with my left hip joint. Got 3 PRP injections in Jan-Feb and the first sign of improvement appeared a few days after the 3rd shot only. At least could walk slowly without pain. But it arrived after some 10-15 min of brisk walking and therefore did not attempt to run. Was mostly doing elliptical work (about 5 hours per week) and some XC skiing (classic, not free style). Trying to deceive the pain was “running uphill” on a treadmill. Short intervals (2-3 min) varying incline in the range 10-15, 10 kph pace. Ran outdoors for the first time in early March – real frustration: could only make 2.5 miles with switching to walk every 500-600 m. Was improving litte by little and during the 3rd run was able to do some 500-1000 m intervals @ 4:20-4:30/km. And today (the 5th run outdoors) made 3K at 13:17 (i.e. about 4:25/km pace though a year ago my HM pace was 4:15/km). Very strange feeling: the “diesel” works fine and HR is below the LT HR level, but the left leg is sore, not 100% coordinated and does not produce enough power.

So, I think any competitive racing for this season is unreal. The goal is just to recover. Consider SVF and MBST after PRP.

Nevertheless, signed for a 5K regional competition on April 26 because it is in my town and I used to attend it since 1980. My son and 3 granddaughters will run. Perhaps could make it at a snail pace in 22 or 23 min (usually made it sub or low 19) following a strange Olympic slogan “the most important thing is not to win but to take part”, which I never fully shared.

Happy and injury-free running/training to all!

I had a race this weekend that I signed up for a couple of months ago. They asked for my expected finish time, which I put on the form. I was hoping to beat it by a little, and was ahead on my pace. But with a bit of a hill and into the wind the last mile I slowed a little, finishing 6 tenths of a second under my predicted time. Hard to beat that. I would have liked to have been a bit faster but still finishing with more runners behind me than ahead of me at 72 years old so can't complain.

39 limping miles for the week

500.1 miles for the year

50trngyrs… it’s been a wonderful running life

Fully recovered from the head cold that caused me to DNS my half-marathon two weeks ago, I logged 61 miles for the week that ended today, my highest mileage week since March 2020. My long run was 15.1 miles yesterday, which felt comfortable but left me somewhat fatigued for the rest of the day. I have a 10-mile race a week from today and a half-marathon in 20 days, both in Fresno, and am hoping to squeeze those in before it gets too hot. The current forecast for the 10-miler (start time 7:30 am) is good but two weeks later (start time 7:00 am) anything could happen.

Happy Easter to all!

Coming off of foot surgery last November at age 60, I'm just recently able to run a 15 mile/week at 9:30-11:00/mile. Before the surgery, I had taken about two years almost completely off because of pain from Haglund's. Before that I was in sub 20:00 5K shape. Now I'm probably just able to run 26:00. (I'll test that theory in the next two weeks.)

This week I'm starting doubles as a way of keeping most/all of my runs under 4 miles. My average day this month will be 2-am and 3-pm, with roughly 5 morning and 5 afternoon runs. In two weeks I will add a day/week of at threshold pace. (Yes probably a double, but just so that I can keep the volume/run very low.)

I'm not sure I'll ever get back under 20:00, but that's the goal for now.

I did 53 miles at moderate effort with a few strides last week. My legs have been feeling pretty dead for the last couple of weeks. This week I'll drop to about 35-40 miles. If i get my taper right I hope to sneak under 22:00 for the 5k at Carlsbad on Sunday. A low 22 is probably more realistic, but sub-22 just sounds so much better.

Lots of inspiration here. Keep it up! Relish the journey and the positive things you do as a runner for your health and well being.

Hi all,

I liked this thread because old runner tend to develop their very own style of training regime. We are getting our own version of Percy Cerutti maybe :)

This is to share with you what happened to me. Due to a setback I picked up cycling and very much like it. During the last half year I have developed a kind of hybrid regime whixh is a lot of fun for me. I still like the mixture of quick feet and endurance. Last week I had free time 24/7 and did a kind of fitness week clearly exceeding what I an doing usually (8 to 12 hours activity per week):

Mo AM 45 min medium run, 6x100m PM 1 h bike Z1/2

Tu AM WU 6x60m hill sprints, 45 min Plyos PM 1 h bike Rekom (HR about 100 very low)

We AM 1 h bike with 4x3 min VO2max with 4 min Z2 PM 1 h bike Z1

Th AM 45 min medium run, 6x100m PM 1 h bike Z1

Fr 2 h bike Z1/Z2

Sa 30 min quick run, 8x30 sec hill with 1:30 min super slow jog down PM 1 h bike Rekom

Su 2.5 h group ride Z1/Z2

All in beatiful spring. Life is great - thankful.

I wish you a great running in spring, BR

The Carlsbad 5k is now in the books. I ran 22:18 for 1st 75-79 (7:02, 7:11, 7:11) which is almost exactly what I was expecting. I was very happy with the even pacing and small improvement in fitness. It was a good effort going into a few weeks break from running as I will be limited to walking through the end of the month with cataract surgery on both eyes over the next two weeks.

Good running to all!

Very good effort. Congratulations!

OG II, that's an excellent result. Congratulations! I hope the cataract surgery goes smoothly and doesn't shut you down for too long.

I ran a small 10-mile race today and was quite happy with my result. I ran 1:32:23 (9:14/mile pace) on a course with mostly small rolling hills and one significant climb between 7 and 7.5 miles. Good for second in my 10-year age group. I felt good throughout, although that big climb was tough, was picking off other women all through the second half, and was particularly happy to pass the third-place finisher in my age group (who is 6 years younger) in the final mile. She clobbers me in a 5K but I always run better at longer distances. Although there were thunderstorms all over the area, the weather at race time was perfect, low- to mid-50s, dry, and mostly sunny.

Now I just have to try to maintain what seems to be good form for my half-marathon 13 days from now...

Happy running to all!

worth noting, og II won his age group by 37 seconds. go toads! however, he also lost to an 80 year old who set a world record ;)

to be fair, at age 58, i lost to a 70 year old who also set a world record. that did not ease the pain of a very sub-par performance for me. got 18 months to get my $#!+ together before i turn 60...

cush

Yeah, Gary beat me like a drum in Tacoma too. If you can still break 5:00 in the mile you should be able to pull that 5k down a bunch.

Not much to report here. Less time at Planet Fitness and a little more running for the week. 51.9 miles with some good speed, or at least what counts for speed at 72. Still finishing in the top half of pretty much every race I enter, so I can't be too slow. And I have a running buddy joining me for my long run this week, which always makes it go better. Have a good week.

In case anyone is interested in one man's journey from surgery, here's what I accomplished in the first 9 months after I had my bursa sac removed and sharp heel protrusion shaved off:

Week 8: 3 runs, totaling 2.1 miles, at 11:00 avg pace
Week 9: 6 runs, totaling 6 miles, at 13:00 avg pace
Week 10: 3 runs, totaling 6 miles, at 11:20 avg pace
Week 11: 3 runs, totaling 3 miles, at 12:00 avg pace
Week 12: 5 runs, totaling 6 miles, at 11:00 avg pace
Week 13: 6 runs, totaling 9 miles, at 11:00 avg pace
Week 14: 1 run, totaling 2.5 miles, at 10:00 avg pace
Week 15: Hurt doing heavy lifting in the yard
Week 16: Eliptical
Week 17: Eliptical
Week 18: Eliptical
Week 19: Eliptical
Week 20: 3 runs, totaling 9 miles, at 10:00 avg pace
Week 21: Hurt in physical therapy
Week 22: Eliptical
Week 23: Eliptical
Week 24: Snowboarding (felt surprisingly good)
Week 25: Eliptical
Week 26: 2 runs, totaling 3 miles, at 11:15 avg pace
Week 27: 4 runs, totaling 12 miles, at 10:10 avg pace
Week 28: Off
Week 29: 5 runs, totaling 12 miles, at 11:00 avg pace
Week 30: 4 runs, totaling 12 miles, at 10:00 avg pace
* 5K in 27:30 (~8:00 behind my last 5K in 2023, before my foot issues)

Week 31: 3 runs, totaling 11 miles, at 9:30 avg pace
Week 32: 1 run, totaling 3.4 miles, at 10:30 avg pace
Week 33: 8 runs, totaling 26.5 miles, at 10:00 avg pace

Amazing performances amkelley, cush, Patton, and oldguyII. I could say I am jealous, but I am so far out of their league that couldn’t be rational behavior. My hip FAI continues to be a problem, more concerned about general health which other than hip is excellent. I suppose let those that can, do. Best to all of you.

Igy

I have a good friend, a 70 year old. He was a sprinter in college, and began training again about ten months ago. Recently he admitted to going to a longevity clinic and is taking testosterone. He is not going to run USATF Championships, but he believes it is alright to run all comers track.

To compound things, the event he is planning to compete in has traditionally been a USATF sanctioned event.

Should I tell him he would be cheating?