Age Group 45-50 What is your're best 5k and 10k for 2006?

SoCal, thanks for the perspective and attitude. I have enjoyed competing in the 45-49 age group, perhaps even more than early 40s and even 20s and 30s--even though I'm a lot slower now. It's been more for fun, and only on a few occassions have I put any pressure on myself. Still enjoy the thrill of competing, but it's more for kicks and grins. And regardless of what some naysayers indicate, running 7:00 pace (give or take) for 10k, is pretty darn commendable--who cares if it's top 5% or 25% or 50%. Just getting out there to train and race a little (or a lot for some of us) is where it's at.

I used SCP's training plan for the third decade of life except for the training part.

reformed at 39

ran off and on 5 out of the last 10 years but have stayed fit this year at 49 years 10 months on 20mpw ran 16:45 track.This was my 2nd race in 5 years.The miles had alot of quality supplemented with bike riding.Was just getting into racing shape when the dreaded pf resurfaced.

stay fit and healthy over the long haul

I supposed to a bunch of young runners the faustian choice of running ONE minute faster for 5k at the cost of all future running or running the rest of their lives injury free with no more PR's.They all without blinking an eye opted for the faster time.

Of course there are many in between choices

How we decide to ration our running is kinda like deciding on our pace in a race except the distance is unknown;)

Another who has run since lementary school and only missed time due to an ACL repair is Emil Magallanes. Those of us who were around Central/Northern California ca attest to his career. And he still runs (and enjoys) like it was 1980.

What is refreshing is how candid Pete is about his abilities. So many times we here about how the top athletes "work so hard". While this is true (at least while they are actually competitive), what they don't often acknowledge that their "starting line" is far ahead of the rest of us. I have trained at least as hard (and as smart-no injuries) as most world-class masters (and even open) runners, but without the same results. I found this out early when my best friend in HS would train exactly the same as me (in terms of effort), yet run 20 seconds faster in the mile.

Your average sub-4:00 miler starts out in high school with an untrained sub-5:00 mile. I started at 6:30. Knowing that I am in a different "race" entirely allows me to enjoy my own improvement for it's own sake, and if I take a few "scalps" of more talented guys along the way, that's a perk. I have been lucky to find over the years that I do have a hidden talent- I don't give up and I take real good care of my body and mind. When I go out almost every day and feel as good or better than I ever did in my 20's, that is somethinig that i know is special.

Thanks Pete and good luck in Sacto.

ONeil,

I had to respond to your post, since I consider Emil to be both a friend and a master's mentor. I have improved quite a bit over the past year doing what he calls "man stuff." Emil's enthusiasm for the sport is astounding for his time in the sport.

A few months ago I was digging thru some old race the results. The result showed Emil and I in the same race, he was 17 and I was 22. The race was the 1973 US Marathon Championships and he finished the race somewhere around 2:45. I showed the results to his wife, and her comment was: "This is proof that he is crazy."

Funny thing is I saw his wife running hills yesterday in 25 degree weather. I guess his "craziness" for the sport rubs off on all of us, even his wife.

Ghost of Igloi

Nicely stated.

Good luck at Nats.

Check back with us in 20+ years when you're 45-50,

We'll see then.

SoCal Pete,

Please tell me what kind of training you perform! HAHA Thats amazing man!

Just looked at the master entries for XC club nats. I can't believe SoCal Pete's team. Are all these guys from the same area?

Not only are we from the same area, but 6 of us from our M40-49 A and B squads actually ran against each other in dual meets back in HS! And the rest of us have local roots (and friendly rivalries, now put aside in the spirit of club fraternity) going back two to three decades.

Interesting tidbits: Mike Parkinson (South Pasadena High School) and Andy Diconti (La Canada) were 1-2 in CIF their senior years, with Mike taking Andy - only to have Andy come back and take 4th at Kinney's (the Footlockers of that time). They were also fierce rivals in track, both clocking about 4:07 or 4:08 for 1600, and Andy winning the state 3200 that year. Of course, Jeff Nelson kicked all our butts the year before (in 1978), but I have a great photo in my yearbook where I'm actually leading him in our dual meet (a short-lived phenomena). Brad Jensen attended nearby Glendale High, a school we at La Canada took pride in destroying whenever our paths crossed. David Olds and I first met when we were 25 and coaching rival teams in the Prep League. Andy Atkeson and David were arch rivals as college students in the Ivy League. Andy Diconti actually just dug up an old photo of a very young Angel Roman running a summer x-country race against Andy and myself in Lacy Park (back when Andy and I still had hair!). Former TRH member Oscar Gonzalez was also in that photo. Tony Reyes and Andy D. were rivals when Andy attended Cal Poly SLO and Tony was at Cal Poly Pomona (where Tony was part of a National Championship team!). And the connections go on and on - but that's enough off the top of my head.

My point is: this is a very "So Cal" squad, and all of us have roots together going back decades. That's what makes this fun! Just like Frontline is a Michigan squad. Just like the Aggies are all tied together with longterm bonds. Etc., etc.

By the way, for the poster who asked about my training, I actually consider my training approach to be a major attribute of my success. I call it "off the clock" training, though there's a lot more to it than just throwing away the watch for 95% of workouts. But that's for the weekly masters thread!

Okay, gotta go do my run!

Sorry for the late post Jerry. I travel a lot working for the Bowerman Series for Nike Running. Kevin Paulk here. I am flattered to see my name anywhere near your list of top dogs. My 45-49 claims so far are 1:59 for 800m, 4:04 for 1500m, and so far this year ran 16:28 for 5k XC. Will enjoy suffering mighty with some 500 fellow 10k XC old Harriers this Sat at Golden Gate. I've raced every year since 1974. My best racing has been since I turned 41 through excellent coaching (Tom Carleo). I wish he could have taught me how to train and race when I was 20.

hey guess wat old men...i have news for you, noone really cares about your running b/c ur all washed up slow old men now..show me one 45 year old who can beat a top notch or even middle of the pack college runner..ur all just trying to relive past glories and its not working so stop...u clog up the roads in road races and u make running seem like a joke...please stop running period..if u wanna run go on a treadmill wear all the joggers belong

Au contraire young semi-literate person. Many of us care and are constantly inspired by the efforts of our fellow older competitors.

not fast runners...maybe people like you that probably run 4 hours in the marathon are inspired...i think its jus annoying and boring to watch...and kinda disturbing b/c ur so old...its not healthy for ur old knees and hips ok so stop running...your never gonna be fast again ok?

d3 south wrote:

not fast runners...maybe people like you that probably run 4 hours in the marathon are inspired...i think its jus annoying and boring to watch...and kinda disturbing b/c ur so old...its not healthy for ur old knees and hips ok so stop running...your never gonna be fast again ok?

This is the most vitriolic, uninvited, worthless drivel I have ever read. Did the doctor refuse to refill your Prozac again? All of these guys are tremendously inspiring, and I am a decent, but not great, 29:33 10k runner from the not-so-distant past.

Someone needs to get hooked on Phonics and unhooked on controlled substances.

"Hey"

"what"

"?"

"no one"

"you're"

"you're"

"it's"

"you"

"you"

"you"

"where"

"belong."

Again. You'd better get hooked on Phonics and unhooked on controlled substances.

"it's"

"just"

"you're"

"it's"

"you're"

"you're"

I am letting slide numerous egregious errata.

Hnt: Stay in school and Just Say No.

The funny part is that "d3" is likely just a master's guy trying to keep a master's thread on the front page with his heavy-handed trolling. Good work, mate!