For those who ran in high school or college, were you able to keep improving into your 30s? And for those who started running later in life, what age did you begin, and when did you first notice performance decline? I only started running recently and I’m curious to hear how different backgrounds and experiences affect how aging shows up in the sport.
Currently in my early 30s. Ran in HS, college, and at a sub-elite level (close to qualifying for national championships/olympic trials on the track) for a couple years after college.
I am still in pretty good shape, but because I reached such a high level on the track, I understand that I will never be able to PR on the track again, unless I take up sprinting. I have found new ways to challenge myself - moving up to the marathon, as well as trying to gradually improve/compete for the win in the popular annual road race in my city.
I recently set a road 5K PR, though it is way slower than my track 5000 PR and more of a testament to the fact that I only ran a handful of road 5Ks when I was at that sub-elite level, all as sort of training runs/prize money grabs. But a PR's a PR, and because training has been going well, I think I could set another one in the same race next year.
I think I have adapted well to longer-distance training, and should be able to continue to chip away at Half/Full Marathon PR's for many years to come.
I didn't run competitively in HS or college and didn't get "serious" about running until about age 29. I PR'd in all of the common road distances (5K to marathon) at age 32-33. Since then it's been all downhill--I'm now 67 and still running, but slower every decade.
I didn't run competitively in HS or college and didn't get "serious" about running until about age 29. I PR'd in all of the common road distances (5K to marathon) at age 32-33. Since then it's been all downhill--I'm now 67 and still running, but slower every decade.
Currently in my early 30s. Ran in HS, college, and at a sub-elite level (close to qualifying for national championships/olympic trials on the track) for a couple years after college.
I am still in pretty good shape, but because I reached such a high level on the track, I understand that I will never be able to PR on the track again, unless I take up sprinting. I have found new ways to challenge myself - moving up to the marathon, as well as trying to gradually improve/compete for the win in the popular annual road race in my city.
I recently set a road 5K PR, though it is way slower than my track 5000 PR and more of a testament to the fact that I only ran a handful of road 5Ks when I was at that sub-elite level, all as sort of training runs/prize money grabs. But a PR's a PR, and because training has been going well, I think I could set another one in the same race next year.
I think I have adapted well to longer-distance training, and should be able to continue to chip away at Half/Full Marathon PR's for many years to come.
Awesome that you have kept at it I feel like a lot of guys once they lose their magic a couple years after college usually give it up running completely.
For those who ran in high school or college, were you able to keep improving into your 30s? And for those who started running later in life, what age did you begin, and when did you first notice performance decline? I only started running recently and I’m curious to hear how different backgrounds and experiences affect how aging shows up in the sport.
started at 28. peaked at 38. I'm 43.
I think I could still PR if I really wanted to, especially since everything I did was pre super shoe. I'm just not as motivated anymore.
I should add that while I think I can still PR if the motivation comes; since 38 years old, I have gotten objectively slower in distances between 100 and 400 meters. not time trial type stuff, but just what I can do for 4 to 8 reps when trying to go very high intensity.
For those who ran in high school or college, were you able to keep improving into your 30s? And for those who started running later in life, what age did you begin, and when did you first notice performance decline? I only started running recently and I’m curious to hear how different backgrounds and experiences affect how aging shows up in the sport.
started at 28. peaked at 38. I'm 43.
I think I could still PR if I really wanted to, especially since everything I did was pre super shoe. I'm just not as motivated anymore.
For those who ran in high school or college, were you able to keep improving into your 30s? And for those who started running later in life, what age did you begin, and when did you first notice performance decline? I only started running recently and I’m curious to hear how different backgrounds and experiences affect how aging shows up in the sport.
For those who ran in high school or college, were you able to keep improving into your 30s? And for those who started running later in life, what age did you begin, and when did you first notice performance decline? I only started running recently and I’m curious to hear how different backgrounds and experiences affect how aging shows up in the sport.
started at 28. peaked at 38. I'm 43.
I think I could still PR if I really wanted to, especially since everything I did was pre super shoe. I'm just not as motivated anymore.
I think I could still PR if I really wanted to, especially since everything I did was pre super shoe. I'm just not as motivated anymore.
LOL
im not sure what you're LOLing. is that i think super shoes can knock 5 years of time off? if you don't think they make a huge difference over racing in Nike Free Runs, you haven't made that transition yourself.
The past couple years, I've gotten within 30 seconds of my 5k PR, the first year on 15 miles per week. The second year on 2 months of 25 miles per week. Where I was at 50 miles per week for my 38 year old PR.
i was pretty fly for a white guy (and a youngster). I can’t tell you how many grown ups nudged me out of the starting area at road races, as I humorously flipped them off as I passed them late in the race.
I didn't run competitively in HS or college and didn't get "serious" about running until about age 29. I PR'd in all of the common road distances (5K to marathon) at age 32-33. Since then it's been all downhill--I'm now 67 and still running, but slower every decade.
What times did you reach starting that late?
PRs of 18:10, 36:44, 1:18:59, and 2:42:50 for 5K, 10K, HM, and marathon. Yes, I know my 5K/10K are ridiculously slow for a sub-2:45 marathoner. That marathon was on an honest course (Twin Cities). I was just really slow!
I am 29 now, turn 30 in 6 months. Started running at age 7 and started taking it seriously at age 11 when I was in 6th grade. Was primarily a middle-distance runner for most of my career. I think it's over for me in my main event in college (800), I think I could maybe squeeze out a mile pr since I relied heavily on my 800 abilities when I set it but struggled aerobically and am a lot aerobically stronger than I was at 22 (set a 5k pr last year 1 month before turning 28) Realistically speaking I think I probably have maybe 3-4 years left to PR in anything other than the Marathon since I've only run two and my pr is soft compared to my 800- 5k times (just did enough to qualify for Boston then ran Boston)
Running is a tough sport though, it's unfortunate to know that no matter what I do within the next 10 years I won't be able to Pr in anything anymore, unlike golf where you can last so much longer and guys in their 60s beat guys in their 20s. Can't beat father time I guess, but I am really going to try and enjoy these last few years I have to set Prs and win races.
I ran in h.s. and college. My PRs from 800m to 8,000m were set in college. In my 30s, I went after other pb's in the half marathon and full marathon. My PRs in the half and full are relatively very weak compared to my college PBs.
Now I'm in my late forties and honestly I can barely run. I just kind of shuffle along at 12 minute mile pace. It is painful.
im not sure what you're LOLing. is that i think super shoes can knock 5 years of time off? if you don't think they make a huge difference over racing in Nike Free Runs, you haven't made that transition yourself.
The past couple years, I've gotten within 30 seconds of my 5k PR, the first year on 15 miles per week. The second year on 2 months of 25 miles per week. Where I was at 50 miles per week for my 38 year old PR.
PR again and report back until then I am not believing it.
43 is much older than 38 and soon you are 44. Ageing is real and so are delusions.