Pete MaGill - Tell us what you did to be able to run a 14:34 5k at 46.

When did the title of this thread change to "RunDaddy - Tell us what you did to be able to run a 18:00 5k at 46?"

How do you know this is me ?

I am 47 actualy with age 45 pb of 18.04 and can i hell as run under 18.

By the way SOCALPETE was good enough to give me advise in a previous thread with regard to training to break 18.

To me he is an all round good guy.

Not that you said he was not i just felt like it needed the need mention it.

Interesting that this thread is still going! I am just going to wait until Pete's book comes out and learn all of his secrets and use them against him once we are in the 50+ age group. Should be some good injury prevention tips too.

AK-50 wrote:

This is a classic Letsrun thread. We have a basic question, how does someone like Pete do it, then we get the snotty daddies who say that anything more than 30 min per day is detrimental to child rearing, and now we got the SBs of the world, who--I take it happen to be world class masters athletes--saying that those who run just 60 miles a week just arent't into it. You can't script better sanctimony than this.

I believe SB is correct. Truth hurts for many, I'm not sure why. Just call it as it is.

Interesting thread. Ignoring all the posts about parenting, it seems like the main "secrets" for success are:

1) Run fairly high mileage consistently and intelligently with an appropriate mix of strength/plyo/hill workouts.

2) Choose your own parents wisely (a genetic component).

Not too complicated really. I can't control number 2 but I can do much better at number 1.

AK-50 wrote:

This is a classic Letsrun thread. We have a basic question, how does someone like Pete do it, then we get the snotty daddies who say that anything more than 30 min per day is detrimental to child rearing, and now we got the SBs of the world, who--I take it happen to be world class masters athletes--saying that those who run just 60 miles a week just arent't into it. You can't script better sanctimony than this.

I have a feeling your were simply looking for an excuse to use the word sanctimony.

I was at pains to say this was not a moral judgment, but a statement of fact: You can't realize your potential in this sport at any age on 60mpw. Your reasons for not doing more than 60 are your own and none of anyone's business, but you shouldn't be surprised that you're not faster if that's all you're willing to do.

AGE 50+ WR's

1:58.65

4:05.2

4:27.9

8:47.14

14:53.2

3 years or so you, Socal, Borrego should be capable of a few of these, which is beyond amazing, but it will be cool to see a sub 4 (1500) at age 50, and I am sure 14:45 is a possibilty.

....what is it with people who take everything personally .... so you don't run 60 miles per week....if u choose not to do that then so be it......it's not an insult, it's essentially a matter of fact.

It's simply an observation of how well you want to run....if you don't want to put in the time then so be it, but also don't expect to be as 'world class' as Steve or Pete....if it's not your end all to be all then fine, but then also don't complain if you don't reach your full potential. At times you only do what want.....nothing more, nothing less.....as i say life gets in the way of good training...

SB wrote:

I have a feeling your were simply looking for an excuse to use the word sanctimony.

Snort laugh.

You can't realize your potential in this sport at any age on 60mpw.

How about a speed-based university 800m specialist?

Granted, 85+ in the fall/winter is great for such types, but is anything over 60 or 70 really necessary after February in this case?

I suppose the situation of a uni 800 guy is a more specific than the far-reaching "reach your potential" statement, and I should probably have started a new thread for this, but hey, I figured while I've got your attention...

Who says that 60 mpw is all I'm willing to do? Mighty presumptuous of you. An unheralded part of what we call 'talent' is the ability to do higher mileage week in and week out. Not everyone can do that at any age, and indeed it does get somewhat more challenging in your 40s and 50s. Pete, nwmaster, and you other guys are both loaded with talent (speed and aerobic ability) and have a great work ethic. With your logic, every 14:30 college runner is just a shlub and would be like Geb if they'd only put in 140 miles a week. Indeed, to be like Geb, a runner does need to put in big volume, the rub is Not Everyone Can a) handle that mileage and b) improve to that level. In a nutshell, you're taking a way too simplistic look at it.

That said, some guys like Pete and nwmaster have been way cool and an inspiration for years here.

An 800 specialist, whether open or master, would not average more than 60mpw over a year, but he/she would likely spend as much total time in preparation as someone running 80-100mpw. At that end of things, the strength/pylo dimension becomes as crucial as the total volume run, and those sessions can be very time consuming.

To direct this specifically to masters, however, I would say that it's probably a mistake to specialize as narrowly at one event as it is necessary for an open athlete to do. If you look around, you'll see that the most of the best masters 800-1500 people, and even some sprinters, will run a full X-C season with their clubs, and may race on the roads up to 10k, and even above, especially as they move into their mid-40s and beyond (see, e,g., Ed Whitlock, who will race 800m to the marathon in one season, or the mind-blowing sprint world record holder Karla Del Grande, who runs X-C every season). I generally recommend that masters athletes attempt to be simply "distance runners", rather than narrow specialists. This is a healthier approach for the older athlete; its also therefore the approach most likely to produce greater long term consistency in the athlete's favorite event range.

Take a look at what I actually said. I didn't say anyone who ran more than 60mpw would be good relative to others, I said one needs to do more than 60mpw to maximize one's potential. If your hypothetical 14:30 college guy is doing this on 60mpw, then he is selling himself short. In fact, plenty of 14:30 college guys realize that they are 14:00 guys, or better, when they decide to get a little more serious. They're still not Geb, but they're better than they were before.

And, I think that the idea that being able to handle more mileage is a "talent" is dubious. At the far margins, their are people who can handle massive volumes without breaking down, and there are people who can't run more than a couple of miles per day. The latter, however, rarely become runners in the first place. The vast bulk of people who have had any success in running at all can handle more than 60 intelligently run miles in 7 days. If this is a "talent" it is a pretty widely distributed one.

[quote]aging wrote:

Running is too selfish to continue at a high level once your married with kids.

[quote]

I think the worse thing you can do for your family is to give up on your passions and use your family as an excuse.

i heard SoCalPete actually had 14 children but he ate most of them when they were young and only the fastest/strongest survived.

i also heard that anyone that finished ahead of me at spokane must have been a crappy parent as there is no way that they are actually more talented and/or better trained.

jesus...what is wrong with you people.

Surprised why this thread hasn't tured into "Dennis Simonaitis tell us what you did to be able to run a 30:07.3 at the age of 45?" Which by the way is worth a 14:29.

Does Dennis have any kids?

Heat wrote:

Surprised why this thread hasn't tured into "Dennis Simonaitis tell us what you did to be able to run a 30:07.3 at the age of 45?" Which by the way is worth a 14:29.

Actually what this thread has turned into is a bunch of ga-ga Masters performing cyber fellatio on Pete MaGill and other fast Masters while congratulating themselves on how open-minded they are.

nothing wrong with debating an issue like trying to run at a very high level while balancing family and work...when fast guys get wicked defensive about it you have to wonder.

You obviously don't know Dennis.

Put it this way, no doubt the extra work pays off, but there really aren't that many 45+ yr olds out there doing more than 60 mpw, and other things do get in the way, but doing 60, 80, 100 mpw at 45, 55, or 65 is not the same thing as when you are in you 20s.

IMO running 100 mpw is a very one dimensional existence. Okay for the young but pathetic for the old. There is a point where you branch out and experience other things.

Do you "hardcore" masters go on ski trips, camping, vacations, fishing?

Fact: High mileage guys are missing out and if they have kids the kids are most likely missing out as well.