Age-Perf NATIONAL CLASS Times

Male NATIONAL CLASS Times

AGE….Mile….…5k……….10k…….Half-Mar…..Marathon


20……4:44…..16:04…....33:00……1:12:31…….2:32:04


25……..”………..”………...”…….........”………….....”
...

30……..”………..”………...”…….........”………….....”
...


35……4:48.6…16:19…..33:19…..1:12:55………2:32:54


40……4:58.6…16:55…..34:15…..1:14:48………2:36:50


45……5:09.9…17:34…..35:38…..1:17:54………2:43:19


50……5:22.0…18:16…..37:09…..1:21:18………2:50:26


55……5:35.1….19:01….38:46…..1:24:59……...2:58:13


60……5:49.4…19:50…..40:34…..1:29:03……...3:06:43


65……6:04.8…20:44…..42:31…..1:33:31……...3:16:05


70……6:23.1….21:48….44:41…..1:38:28……...3:26:26

75……6:51.6….23:26….47:38…..1:45:14……...3:40:36

80……7:35.0…25:56…..52:23…..1:56:05……...4:03:30

85……8:44.5…29:50…..59:55…..2:13:04……...4:40:28

The above table lists the 80% Age Performances, garnered from this source:

http://howardgrubb.co.uk/athletics/mldrroad20.html

I have always felt that 80% is not national class at any age group. It's more regional level and cusp of sub-elite. 85% is more like it for age groupers. 90% is pretty tough and you will be competitive anywhere in the world for mid-distance and distance racing.

Age grader wrote:

I have always felt that 80% is not national class at any age group. It's more regional level and cusp of sub-elite. 85% is more like it for age groupers. 90% is pretty tough and you will be competitive anywhere in the world for mid-distance and distance racing.

I think this kind of depends on the group. For masters runners, I think the classifications are more accurate than for open athletes. 90% as a masters runner may not put you in the top 5 in the country, but it will make it pretty likely that you are the favorite at just about any race that you show up at.

Smoove wrote:

Age grader wrote:

I have always felt that 80% is not national class at any age group. It's more regional level and cusp of sub-elite. 85% is more like it for age groupers. 90% is pretty tough and you will be competitive anywhere in the world for mid-distance and distance racing.

I think this kind of depends on the group. For masters runners, I think the classifications are more accurate than for open athletes. 90% as a masters runner may not put you in the top 5 in the country, but it will make it pretty likely that you are the favorite at just about any race that you show up at.

You have point there, a bump at 40 to 44 or 45 and then an accelerated rate of attrition/drop off after that. Nevertheless, a 15:00 5K at 40 (90.2%) is very competitive for a masters runner unless it's at a huge world-level event. Whereas, the relative equivalent of sub 2:27 for the marathon, while very good, probably won't be top 5 for the age group at most world marathon majors, where you sometimes have runners going 2:12 or faster and a few more sub 2:20s.

Age grader wrote:

Smoove wrote:

I think this kind of depends on the group. For masters runners, I think the classifications are more accurate than for open athletes. 90% as a masters runner may not put you in the top 5 in the country, but it will make it pretty likely that you are the favorite at just about any race that you show up at.

You have point there, a bump at 40 to 44 or 45 and then an accelerated rate of attrition/drop off after that. Nevertheless, a 15:00 5K at 40 (90.2%) is very competitive for a masters runner unless it's at a huge world-level event. Whereas, the relative equivalent of sub 2:27 for the marathon, while very good, probably won't be top 5 for the age group at most world marathon majors, where you sometimes have runners going 2:12 or faster and a few more sub 2:20s.

Another consideration is the number of athletes that are still competing in the upper age brackets is fairly small. So whip you might have 10 guys capable of getting over 90% in the 40’s age group. By the time you hit the 60’s age group, there are maybe 2 or 3 guys hitting that 90% level. So the 80% level might not be truly National class at 40, it certainly is at age 60.

Age grader wrote:

You have point there, a bump at 40 to 44 or 45 and then an accelerated rate of attrition/drop off after that. Nevertheless, a 15:00 5K at 40 (90.2%) is very competitive for a masters runner unless it's at a huge world-level event. Whereas, the relative equivalent of sub 2:27 for the marathon, while very good, probably won't be top 5 for the age group at most world marathon majors, where you sometimes have runners going 2:12 or faster and a few more sub 2:20s.

There's a pretty big delta between masters running in the US and masters running in Europe, so I think the suggested national class number of 85% is too high for national class.

The US world majors are a good example, as they are softer than that at 40-49 for sure. 85-90% will give you a very good shot to win your age group most years. The years when it won't it will be as a result of an atypical performance, usually by some former world class stud , and even then, you are very likely to be in the mix for top American.

The Europeans seem to maintain their depth much more as they progress into masters running and deeper into age groups. I get that when we are talking about being world class, the Euros need to be considered though.

It's percentage to the World Record right? It's not like in triathlon where it's percent of age group?

If you're a national class runner, you're basically a 1%-er. LRCers might not like those times but you're going to win some local races and get tons of top-3/5/10's. Even in some bigger races, you might do decently well. & yeah, there's still some races where you might get buried but that's where you go to try to PR.