Wow: Ed Whitlock has run a 1:38:11 half-marathon at age 82

one last question Ed. Do you ever travel to the crim 10 mile anymore? You finished a few seconds behind me in 2000. Incredible 6007 u ran that year! Keep up the awesome times and i predict 324 for your marathon next month

old guy 67 wrote:

That's 7:29 pace!

I know guys in their 60's who used to run 32 min 10K's (5:15 miles) that can't run one 7:30 mile today.

I hope I'm able to run one 10 min mile when I reach 82.

Can you name these sexagenerians that ran 32 min. 10ks ?

That's quite an elite crew you ran with Grandpa Munster !

Congratulations, Ed - well trained.

For what it's worth, when I had an exchange with Ed here a few weeks back, I discovered he was running sub-2:00 for 800m aged 46. Considering few runners at any age will break 2:00 , this proves Ed kept plenty of speed into middle age.

BTW - The remark about runners in their 60s meant *now in their 60s* - running 32m 10Ks when they were younger... David Rees can run 32-ish for 10K aged 60, but he's the WR holder.

Rees and Whitlock impress me as much as any Farah or Rupp.

Amazing times! I am 63 years old and hope to run when I am 82. I am battling an injury this year so not running as much, only 1 half this year and LOTS slower than you but have been running 33 years, my mile times have dropped 2 minutes since I started. Best of luck to you, Ed.

michiganrunner48 wrote:

Ed do you have any advice for me on problems with my left knee? I had 15 percent of the meniscus removed during surgery 12 years ago. For some reason i have the same problem in that same knee. I am 48. Thanks for your time Ed

I really don't know much about things medical and I am reluctant to give advice to others about anything in general. I only relate my experience. I have not had any surgery on my knees. I have had several bouts of pain under my patella. So far they have always recovered with rest. Sometimes more than a year off running. I take glucosamine as it is reported to improve cartilage, I am not convinced it does but taking it in case.

michiganrunner48 wrote:

one last question Ed. Do you ever travel to the crim 10 mile anymore? You finished a few seconds behind me in 2000. Incredible 6007 u ran that year! Keep up the awesome times and i predict 324 for your marathon next month

How do you know it's the last? Haven't been to the Crim in a long time, must come again. Maybe next year, would they invite me? As of now I would settle for 3:24. We will see.

Congratulations Ed on your recent half-marathon WR and best of luck next month in the marathon.

What kind of a taper do you do for the marathon Ed? Do you follow the traditional 3 week mileage reduction method, with your last 3 hour/20 mile run done 3 weeks out? Or do you keep up the long efforts until closer to the race date, then back off some? Are you concerned about losing fitness with a longer taper? The old advice usually given is that you can only hurt not help yourself in that last 3 weeks. I'm not sure that I totally subscribe to that. My tapers are usually shorter, around 10-12 days. Good Luck Ed!

This is a great story and interview. I don't want to sound like one of those people with the hackneyed comments on those blogs "Thanks for the inspiration, you're the best, etc..", but knowing you run every day that long really motivates me. Even for my one and only long run this week, a quarter of which is on the boring track to avoid hills. You are an inspiration.

Thanks

I read the article again. Sorry about using that term "inspiration". It is just motivating and a unique method that is very refreshing from all the typical stuff you read. The results are good too (world records)! I like the idea of doing boring loops and just getting out the door.

not sure exactly Ed what was the last year you ran at crim but i do remember you very close behind me in 2000. I struggled that year to just get under the hour mark for 10 miles

michiganrunner48 wrote:

not sure exactly Ed what was the last year you ran at crim but i do remember you very close behind me in 2000. I struggled that year to just get under the hour mark for 10 miles

I think he was referring to your "last" question.

Montego wrote:

Congratulations Ed on your recent half-marathon WR and best of luck next month in the marathon.

What kind of a taper do you do for the marathon Ed? Do you follow the traditional 3 week mileage reduction method, with your last 3 hour/20 mile run done 3 weeks out? Or do you keep up the long efforts until closer to the race date, then back off some? Are you concerned about losing fitness with a longer taper? The old advice usually given is that you can only hurt not help yourself in that last 3 weeks. I'm not sure that I totally subscribe to that. My tapers are usually shorter, around 10-12 days. Good Luck Ed!

I don't start to cut back until at least a week before the marathon depending on how I feel. When I ran 2:54:49 at age 73 my last long run was the Tuesday before the Sunday race. Last year I also ran a long one on the Tuesday but I think that it may have hurt me as I did not have the prior extensive background of long runs. I'm still trying to find out what's best.

Wow Ed !

u may be right

Ed Whitlock wrote:

When I ran 2:54:49 at age 73

motherofgod.jpg

The guy is a stud!