Do runners past the age of fifty still run 100MPW?

Maybe your relative down time in your fifties allowed your superior performances later in life.

Are there any top level runners who could maintain there levels throughout life. I started running in my 40's, I'm in my 50's and wonder if my late start actually is good for my runnng now.

I'm pretty sure that Brian Pope runs that much.

Randy Martin wrote:

My goodfriend Gary Romesser turned 56 this past November. He was born in November 1950.

56 is not exactly "pushing 60 now". Close, but not pushing. He does however still get over the century mark in training quite often. He's a monster.

Sorry if my comment caused any offense. I was just guessing from when I started up as a master ten years ago and Gary was all over the top of the results. I guess when you are a track guy (5-year age groups), everyone in the next age group is seemingly "over there, somewhere", if that makes any sense.

On the other hand, Tony Young is five years younger, turns 45 this spring, yet I still think of him as a 40 year-old whippersnapper.

is the great Henry Rono really running 2 hours a day, now at at 54? That would equate to close to 100 mpw, even if he's jogging.

Marathondude wrote:

I'm pretty sure that Brian Pope runs that much.

alas, mr pope is not 50 either

MF

What surgery did you have? I had orthro on both knees

and both are without cartilage, osteo demonized and need replacements. I'm 53.

Like you, lots of miles. Once a runner of 4:16/ etc.

Is a knee replacement worth it?

Peace

qucassidy wrote:

What surgery did you have? I had orthro on both knees

and both are without cartilage, osteo demonized and need replacements. I'm 53.

Like you, lots of miles. Once a runner of 4:16/ etc.

Is a knee replacement worth it?

Peace

At age 52, I have not been able to run since about age 49. My knees went bad pretty fast, over a 5 year period. Arthroscopic surgeries for torn cartlidge. Dr. said I have arthritis. Walking is painful. I had NO knee problems all those years I ran 100mpw, from 20 to age 30. It's a crap shoot, I guess. Some guys knees hold up, others don't. I have a friend, also 52, who had lots of knee problems in college, which pretty much wiped out his career; now; he can run casually, 3-6 miles, 3-5 times a week with NO knee problems...go figure.

Age slows down the healing process

For me the term recovery run has become an oxymoron

Running at any speed just pounds the heck out of me

last year my training was less than 20mpw

run hard

bike easy

bike easy

repeat

The runs ranged from 20 to 70 minutes with the 20 minutes at 10k effort 40 minutes at 10k plus 10 secs and 70 minutes at 10k plus 20 secs

Two months before turning fifty I ran a 5k in 16:49 followed by a 5000 2 weeks later in 16:45.The return of a chronic pf problem motivated me to shutdown the running.

After 4 months of letting the heel heal I started running again.

This time only 1 day per week.I started with 1 mile uphill really hard and have progressed over the last 6 weeks to 3 or 4 miles hard as in close to race effort.The other days I ride the bike but several of those rides are 2 hour hard mtn trail type rides.It seems to be working.The idea is to stress my body with race type efforts.The body responds to the stress just like allways attempting to rebuild STRONGER.The key difference is it just takes more time to repair the damage.

Everyone heals/recovers at different rates but as we get older we all start healing/recovering slower from workouts.

Does mileage aid short term recovery?

Is there a long term price to pay?

I believe it really depends upon the person.If running 100mpw at 50 works that is great but if you start breaking down consider cross training mixed with some quality running.It might not get you that last 10 secs per mile but it just might keep you in the sport for an extra decade.