I did some math on how many M70-74 could run 5 miles in 45 minutes in my state of 6.5 million people... about 5 people... so that would be maybe 250 for the US. Assume 10x that in the M60-64 would be 2,500 and maybe half that for M65-69 and it works out to about 4,000 total. That's very close to the the 3,600 predicted by 0.008%. I think my math is about 0.012% vs your prediction of 0.008%.
at age 61 i was rated 37th in the marathon world wide, 20? in the 5k and 10k. for the past 2. 5 years (covid years) i have honestly not had a pain of any type in my body. nothing. that is one advantage of running so slow. i do sleep a lot. probably 9-10 hours every night and a nap after i exercise most days.
I find I also need to sleep 9-10 hours and take occasional naps. But I think a secret to escaping injury is cross training. I do cross country skiing (skate mode) whenever I can in the winter. I hope to get another week of it this year, but it isn't looking good at the moment. But at 82 and often under 27 for the 5K, and around 55-56 for 10K, I'm reasonably sure I could do a 45 min 5 mile.
27:00 equates to 44:45 and 56:20 for five miles and 10K, so you are right in there. I agree that cross-training is key after 60.
What did you do differently than the others in order to still be running? Or do you think it’s genetics?
I know you aren't asking me, but at 82 I'm probably the oldest around here, with a hilly ("Hillacious!") half a year ago at 2:05. So let me suggest the secret is *no marathons.* After one almost exactly 3 hour marathon in Central Park some 55 years ago, I abandoned that distance and stopped training for it. My average week over the subsequent decades was around 30 miles, many uphill or on trails, with xcountry skiing in the winter.
Three years ago I ran a 3:43:20 at Boston (8:32 pace) at the age of 62. Last two years I have run Boston right at 3:51 as I haven't had as much time to train. The wear and tear, and just the amount of time marathon training means that I have decided that this next Boston will be my last marathon. I'll keep running halfs and shorter distances.
I find I really need to be careful to not over train. I used to run everything at maximum for whatever kind of training I was doing. Now I have to be careful to back off if needed. I also find that any kind of injury just takes longer to recover from.
I don't think the % of Americans that can run a 9 minute mile for 5 miles is as relevant to whether an individual can do it. Even in the 18-30 age group the majority of Americans can't break a 9 minute mile for 5 miles yet many can run sub 5 minute miles for that distance.
I used to live in Sacramento and one of the local race directors would routinely through down 35 minute 10K times at age 55/56 and he still does a lot of 50 mile ultras and beats most of the younger competitors including me.
If you are able comfortably run under 45 minutes now and keep up your training, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to do it in 3 years barring injury but everyone ages differently. My father was just as active at 65 as he was at 60 but did start slowing down between 65-70 though was still very solid at 70, however; the decline from 70-75 was much more noticeable and he tires a lot more easily now than he did even 3 years ago. 62-65 shouldn't be a huge decline but everyone is different.
Interesting question. I invite people that age to remember their last high school reunion. I’m 63 and I think I’m the only person in the entire school that can run at all. Hell, I think 20% of them are actually, in fact, DEAD. Heck, we get a finishers medal to still be standing, let alone running!
I do find it humorous how many of us running at this age still feel the need, just like adolescents, to brag about running…..completely missing the fact that we are all god-awful slow compared to our old running selves.
In all seriousness, I can manage to creep under 9 min pace for 5 miles, but I’m more proud of the fact that I feel good and running is still fun.
Interesting question. I invite people that age to remember their last high school reunion. I’m 63 and I think I’m the only person in the entire school that can run at all. Hell, I think 20% of them are actually, in fact, DEAD. Heck, we get a finishers medal to still be standing, let alone running!
I do find it humorous how many of us running at this age still feel the need, just like adolescents, to brag about running…..completely missing the fact that we are all god-awful slow compared to our old running selves.
In all seriousness, I can manage to creep under 9 min pace for 5 miles, but I’m more proud of the fact that I feel good and running is still fun.
In the whole scheme of things, it doesn't mean much. 5 miles under 45 minutes after age 60 and 4 dollars will get me a grande latte at Starbucks. But as I approach my 62nd birthday, I am looking for practical measurements that will help me to determine If I should continue running, or, has the time arrived for me to cover distances of ground by going for long walks. The Harpoon 5-Miler (Boston Seaport District) in May will be my next test. If I finish in under 45 minutes, then I'll probably keep on with this running thing for at least another year.
Interesting question. I invite people that age to remember their last high school reunion. I’m 63 and I think I’m the only person in the entire school that can run at all. Hell, I think 20% of them are actually, in fact, DEAD. Heck, we get a finishers medal to still be standing, let alone running!
I do find it humorous how many of us running at this age still feel the need, just like adolescents, to brag about running…..completely missing the fact that we are all god-awful slow compared to our old running selves.
In all seriousness, I can manage to creep under 9 min pace for 5 miles, but I’m more proud of the fact that I feel good and running is still fun.
In the whole scheme of things, it doesn't mean much. 5 miles under 45 minutes after age 60 and 4 dollars will get me a grande latte at Starbucks. But as I approach my 62nd birthday, I am looking for practical measurements that will help me to determine If I should continue running, or, has the time arrived for me to cover distances of ground by going for long walks. The Harpoon 5-Miler (Boston Seaport District) in May will be my next test. If I finish in under 45 minutes, then I'll probably keep on with this running thing for at least another year.
60 to 75 is a wide range, I think you're better off trying to chunk it in 5 year increments. My friend's dad was still whipping out 26 minute 5Ks at age 77 and 78 at the time that made him the #2 runner in his age bracket in New Jersey. His PR for age 75 was 24:05 so definitely was seeing a slow decline as he aged. He ran a 5 mile in 40 flat at 71 and a 8K in 37:30 at 70 so again you can see the decline as he aged but at that time I don't think anyone was better than him in NJ in the 70 to 74 age group.
Bottom line most people can't run that fast at any age it is harder to fun fast as we grow older but there are some fast folks in every age group at least relative to the average.
I am entered into a 5 mile race that will be run 2 days after my 62nd birthday. I am confident that I can complete it in under 45 minutes. Even after all these helpful replies, I am still guessing, but my estimate is that among men who are 62 only (excluding all other ages), only about 1 in 1,000 can achieve this. I won't be near the elites for the M 60 to 69 group, but I'll take sub 45 minutes at this advanced age.
Good luck on race day. I'm 62 and also have a 5 mile race scheduled in a few months - trying to get back in shape after Covid and some minor setbacks last year. Coincidentally I pushed the pace yesterday and was running a little under 9:00 m/m but had to stop after 4, and jog the last two. That was my easy pace just a few years ago. If I can get back to Boston qualifying shape, that would be around 8:30 m/m for 5. That won't happen soon but that's my goal for now.
Good luck on race day. I'm 62 and also have a 5 mile race scheduled in a few months - trying to get back in shape after Covid and some minor setbacks last year.
A lot of M60-65 runners came out of the woodwork to post on this thread. I wish some of you would join the discussions on the 50-plus training and racing thread. Quality advice, feedback and inspiration to be found there ... National-class and World-class age group competitors.
But I could use some company back in the 9-minute-mile Pace Group. : )
Incredibly based and ancient poster. 26.2 is a toxic distance people run as an excuse to not do speedwork and brag to people who are out of the sport.
Well, I'll try a Tenacious 10 miler on April 9 around Seattle's Lake Union. Maybe I can do around 90 minutes, two 45s, but I doubt it. The over eighties are uphill and this is flat.
Having trouble understanding why, if only .01% or whatever small % of us geriatrics can run under 45 min. for 5 miles, do we not get any respect on here? Seriously.
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