35-39 void and the wava fantansies

keepen it real wrote:

Once again I have been to a large race and kicked some age group ass. This time it was at Virgina Beach. I was beaten by many women and ran 1:14:50. Went out in 1:10 pace but training alone with my dogs on trails does not make you that speedy. SO, I was thinking I placed about 20th in my age but was amazed to see me 2nd. And the WAVA chart put me at national class. My questions are: Where are all the 35-39s, should I get appearance fees for being "national class", should all races do WAVA conversions?????/

great job bill!

keepen it real wrote:

Once again I have been to a large race and kicked some age group ass. This time it was at Virgina Beach. I was beaten by many women and ran 1:14:50. Went out in 1:10 pace but training alone with my dogs on trails does not make you that speedy. SO, I was thinking I placed about 20th in my age but was amazed to see me 2nd. And the WAVA chart put me at national class. My questions are: Where are all the 35-39s, should I get appearance fees for being "national class", should all races do WAVA conversions?????/

that is my age group as well. it has always sucked. check out national leader times for hs when we were there. i have no explanation, but it's always been that way. exceptions? sure, but no doubt it was the low point for american distance running.

Two things;

first, the RnR Half is not a very competitve race, from a non-elite standpoint. At least for a race with 20,000 entries. I usually run right about where your % is at (80) and I've taken home hardware 4 times in 6 tries. You placed 53 in a race with 17,000+ finishers with a good, but not great time. So I consider it to be a soft race.

With regard to the WAVA tables, I think they do a pretty good job of tracking performance as you age. The age predictors, which are based on the factors calculating the %, have followed me pretty closely over the last 10 or so years.

Oh yeah, congrats!

1:14 for a 15k is a good start. 2nd in age group. That's even better !.. Keep at it...You will get better....

!

Nice race! But I wouldn't be holding my breath waiting for appearance fees if I were you.

I'm not sure why a competitive void exists in the late 30's. I did my fastest racing from 35-39, including a 1:12:08 half marathon when I was 35. So you're saying I was pretty good?

Absolutely push for those appearance fees. I'm just entering that age group, so maybe you can be a pioneer for me! Maybe all the 35-39 year olds are putting in 140 miles a week preparing to clean up in the masters ranks?

And I don't know how serious you are, but don't get down on yourself, it's not an accident that you finished 2nd in age group --- that is a quality performance. Congratulations!

keepen it real wrote:

Once again I have been to a large race and kicked some age group ass. This time it was at Virgina Beach. I was beaten by many women and ran 1:14:50. Went out in 1:10 pace but training alone with my dogs on trails does not make you that speedy. SO, I was thinking I placed about 20th in my age but was amazed to see me 2nd. And the WAVA chart put me at national class. My questions are: Where are all the 35-39s, should I get appearance fees for being "national class", should all races do WAVA conversions?????/

Perhaps they're all over in Italy at the Worlds?

I ran a 25K trail run a year ago. Finished 10th overall and 7th in the 30-39 age group, I kid you not.