Masters racing is pointless if you've trained hard in your youth

prove me wrong wrote:

lax wrote:

I'm curious about all these masters-hating threads. I remember, at my best, being encouraging of the masters racers (and always afraid that some tough-as-nails master would destroy me). Who cares what someone else does for their hobby?

btw, I run only for fitness now.

It's not a masters hating thread. As I said before, if you're still setting PRs, go for it! This is true whether you're 22, 32, 42, or 52. But I just don't see why an older guy (or gal) would even attempt to race and train hard if he/she has run much faster in the past off of similar training. Training harder to run slower is an exercise in futility.

You're assuming that my goal is to run specific times. It's not it's to compete. It might not be what everyone wants to do, or why they train, but I've been happier to place in Masters Championship and scrape into the world rankings at 50 or 55, than running far faster in my 20s.

So, I'm quite happy training hard to run four minutes slower at 5k (coming up for 64 years old) if it makes me a successful competitor against other 60+ runners.

If it doesn't make you wiser

Doesn't make you stronger

Doesn't make you live a little bit

What are you doing?

I separate my running career into two phases. HighSchool/College, and "Adult". I'll never touch my College PRs as an Adult, but I have a whole new set of PRs to pursue.

I've also shifted away from short distances (800m, 1 Mile) to Longer (Half Marathon, Marathon). The only overlap race between my two phases is a 5k, and I'm happy running within 2 minutes of my younger PR in that event.

The longer distances are untouched. I never ran them officially in College. But, I probably could have thrown on an extra mile or two on the back of any college 10 or 12 mile run and have a pretty respectable Half Marathon time.

As someone already pointed out, there are age-graded tables and All-American standards. As one gets older, the goal posts move which keeps one motivated. You'll know what I mean when you turn 40.

prove me wrong wrote:

lax wrote:

I'm curious about all these masters-hating threads. I remember, at my best, being encouraging of the masters racers (and always afraid that some tough-as-nails master would destroy me). Who cares what someone else does for their hobby?

btw, I run only for fitness now.

It's not a masters hating thread. As I said before, if you're still setting PRs, go for it! This is true whether you're 22, 32, 42, or 52. But I just don't see why an older guy (or gal) would even attempt to race and train hard if he/she has run much faster in the past off of similar training. Training harder to run slower is an exercise in futility.

It's futile if that is all the importance you bestow upon it.

Most of us have come to grips with the realization that one's potential will change over time.

Striving to achieve that potential is what's important to us, not striving to match some performance that was only possible years ago.

Because it is a test against yourself. Life is a test against yourself...it is hard knowing that at my peak I raced 5:20 per mile for 10 miles and now an 80 second quarter is an all out sprint. But it is a test of what u can do NOW. Yesterday is gone...

Let's see - I earned a full ride track scholarship for my HS performances AND lot's of cash as a master runner. still love my daily run. You are proved Wrong !

Coyote Montane wrote:

I was never very good to begin with and run even slower now, so probably not the best to ask. However, the two times I did back down on purpose (age 35) and again at about 42 and just ran 15-20 miles a week for about 6 months I ended up with long-term injuries that took years of rehab and recovery. And I found that I was unhappier those years I couldn't run or couldn't run without pain. So when I got healthy again at age 46, I said No More. No more backing down until I can't. I run and train 'cause I enjoy it. End of story.

there is definitely a line where more running makes you stronger and injury resistant. But I will say that I had a year where I decided to back down mileage and focus on weights and other things. I did 15 to 20 instead of 40 to 50. But it was quality. It was one of my most fun years of running ever. And then I thought to myself, what if I can sustain this kind of quality with 2 or 3x the volume for better aerobic.

but anyway, i was probably more healthy and athletic at that lower mileage. You just have to be very careful to do it right.

The easiest proof is this...

Nobody trains at race pace.

Nobody trains with music blasting and cheering crowds.

Nobody trains by always trying to outkick someone.

All these elements let anyone of any age have their optimum performance or benchmark performance with an accurate clock.

Regardless of placing.

E. O. T.

Evan Jogger wrote:

However, there's plenty who do it because they still find the activity fun and they like seeing how good they can be right now, given the challenges of human ageing, career, family, etc. Many enjoy the comradery of training and racing with their peers, the social benefits. Something tells me you're not exactly the social type, however.

+1

Example: Steve Moneghetti, 2:08 marathon when young, sub 30 10k at 50, over 2 minutes slower than his best. Still enjoying running and competing.

highhoppingworm wrote:

Ghost of Igloi wrote:

Baloney. I was a 2:19 marathoner 47 years ago and still race as a master. I ran upwards of 175 miles in a week, averaged 110 miles a week for six years. Pointless is the myriad of trolling turds that have nothing better to do with their miserable life.

Oh the irony. The deep deep irony.

+1

Smoke more weed and do more trolling. You’ll feel better about your meager existence.

Perhaps the Masters' anthem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldQrapQ4d0Y

I'm 73. Been doing this stuff every day since a soph in HS. Habit or addiction or both? Con: Takes time away from eating. Pro: Can eat more, and more...

Look like Nickyy changed his username to try this same trolling again

https://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=10503547

old Zoomer wrote:

It's kind of like this. I'll explain for you as a young guy. I'm 45. My personal best was probably a girl who was about a 9.5 back when I was 22. Seriously, she was bangin.

Now that in 45, Ill probably never come close to that 9.5 again. I've been regularly f***ing your mom, and Id rate her at a 5 if I'm feeling generous. In just the right scenario, with the lights out and both of my balls lodged deep in her mouth with her thumb up my ass. At that exact moment she may even be pushing a 6 or 7.

Why do I keep f***ing your mom if the best I can achieve with her is a 7 at best when my lifetime PR is a 9.5? Not sure, but I do it just about every week anyways.

Gotta nominate this for funniest post in LetsRun history

prove me wrong wrote:

Bullet the Blue Sky wrote:

I didn't argue that it was rational, I said it was fun.

Training hard and not getting close to your PRs doesn't sound like fun to me!

Then don't do it and don't worry about people who do think it's fun. That's easy enough.

PR's or any other objectives as applies to running are just relative to the barriers that have to be overcome to achieve them. Aging simply provides a continuously harder set of barriers to overcome. That is why the same effort or more effort is needed just to maintain a particular level of fitness as one ages. There would be no elite racers if they had the same barriers to overcome as an older or masters runner.

fromtheheart wrote:

There would be no elite racers if they had the same barriers to overcome as an older or masters runner.

In other words there would be no elite racers if only old people raced. That is what you are saying.