why aren't there more national and world class 35+ year olds? Is it due to
a) the effects of aging
b) or simply because there are not very many 35+ that are willing (or have time) to train at a national or world class level?
Any examples of individuals that were able to continue to compete at a high level into there mid to late 30s? Or better yet improved?
Tergat, Lopes... It's probably more due to the fact that people realize there is an optimum path of improvement. If performances start to plateau as you approach your late 20's-early 30's you realize you are likely to never reach the top echelon and give it up.
It takes special athlete to keep grinding away for that that last tiny bit of improvement that takes them to the absolute top. Lopes is the only one that comes to mind who did that. Tergat is just redirecting his great talent. He likely would have run a faster marathon if he'd switched earlier.
There are plenty of guys and girls who started later and ran well into their 30's.
uh, let's see....(why I and many others better than me retired at age 30)......need to get a real job...wife wants to start a family.....injuries piling up......running 120 mpw was too tough to keep doing.
I think Rod Dehaven did his best stuff well into his 30s. Geb hasn't done half bad over 30.
geb looks like he could be 50
It's not about how you look.
I'd imagine that all those years of hard training just wear you down both mentally and physically. National and world class guys have been competiting at a high level for a long time by the time they reach their 30s. I don't think I could take 15+ straight years of the kind of work that it takes to be at that level.
see jenny crain, 39, ran in college but took some time off after. now is running better than she ever has i think. not an expert on her but maybe an example you are looking for.
And Colleen De Reuck, of course
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