Best age grade performances you've seen (50yo +)

I used to race ParkRun in its earlier days, and there were some remarkable athletes who would step in occasionally. Probably the best one who fits your criterion was Jane Davies (60 years old, ran 20:02)

yourlocalguardian.co.uk

Veteran Davies stuns Bushy Park field

Jane Davies (VW60) of Epsom & Ewell Harriers stole the show in last week’s Bushy Park time trial, clocking a time of 20.02, equating to a…

Link:www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/sport/othe...

A couple years back at the Denver 5k in 2022, I lost to a 64 year old man who ran 19:09. Really impressed by how fast he was for an elderly man, especially given the mile high altitude!

Dang, that's extraordinary ... 92 percent.

What did Bekele’s 2:04 this morning age grade to?

Eeeesh. That stings a bit

Take a look at next Sunday’s US Masters 10k race results and report back to your post.

2:00:56, 100.59%

mastersrankings.com

New Age Grades!

One can look at Age Graded Performances to demonstrate the latest version of the factors are more accurate. They are much closer, if not right in line, with what that athlete did, or would be capable of doing, in their prime....

Link:mastersrankings.com/new-age-grades/

There is a local DC lady in her 60s that has some absurd age grades. However, since the Parkrun ceo has decided he is the Handicapper General from Harrison Bergeron, I cannot pull up her name at the moment.

I'm mid 50s, and my goal for 10k and under is to try to hit 80%. I have some friends that can run in the mid-high 80s range, but they were D1 all-american caliber runners.

Are any of those guys using TRT or DHEA, or anything like that?

Oops, that might have been me.

I got above 90% at four sea-level races last year. The age grade winners at USATF masters events at least a few times a year on the faster courses are in the 94-96% range for men, and 95-100% for women. Unless it's a hilly course or hot day you'll get about half dozen runners at these races running above 90%.

And to the skeptics, yes they do drug test.

Running Times magazine used to have an excellent recap of the best yearly Masters race performances. Unfortunately, this publication no longer is in print. Not sure if there is any online equivalent?

Here’s the link for Masters 10k championship.

usatf.org

USA Track & Field | 2024 USATF Masters 10 km Championships

Link:www.usatf.org/events/2024/2024-usatf-m...

They are not. The 61 year old guy at 19:31 was a 29:30 guy who never really got out of shape or gained weight, though he had years where he'd race very little and then work back into form. I think when he raced little, he stayed consistent in training and fortunately avoided major injuries. He's really lean, but has done weight training off and on and looks really good.

The 79 yo is amazing guy who didn't run until he was early 50s. He was a soccer player and always had the physique for it. It took him about 4-5 years to get to where he was one of the best in the region for his age. Last time I saw him last fall, a few friends of mine who never met him were astounded that he was 79, thought he looked about 65. I'd agree.

I know another guy, about 72, who has graded out in the low-mid 80s numerous times over the past 15-20 years. He's been running for fun since his 20s or early 30s, but he didn't actually started training seriously until his mid 40s. He had a great running physique and I remember back in the late 80s-90s, we were always kind of surprised he could run like 37 minute 10ks on such light training.

Well, he really got into it as a masters runner and by his mid-50s was beating his times from younger days and on a competitive big city masters team that traveled to USATF national events (road and XC, never liked the track much). His lifetime 5k PR is barely under 17, I think, but he ran 17s throughout his 50s and 18s throughout at least some of his 60s, I think. He continues strong to this day.

I had raced Fiona Bailey a few times; she regularly scores over 90% age graded (and kicked my ass sometimes).

Look up Wanda Gau… she ran sub 20/1:30 5k/half into her 60’s. Fast races in my area 80% age grade might not get you in the top 20% of the field. #briankraftmemorial5k

Jaime Heilpern has to be up there, I think he recently ran a low 4:40 full mile at 53 or 54 years old.

Same race had 60 year old man hit 17:10. Certified course too.

My wife Michelle has had some of top 5 age grades the last couple years at 97 to 98 percent from 800 to 5k. Her 10k age group record was 95. She was at 100 when she did the walk and broke a 12 year old record. Her 17:44 at 56 at Bucknell was wild. As well as her 2:22 in Rochester just two weeks later.

A good race gets me into the low 80s. I've hit 85% a couple times under perfect racing conditions at distances that I'm best at (10K/HM). Modest high school PRs, no running in college, and kind of weird running form. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't take any supplements or banned substances beyond the occasional multivitamin.