At about what age does long distance running ability diminish???

I would say for me around 33 - 34 years old.I ran a 1:06.39 half marathon/my P.R. is 1:05.03.It wasn't so much physical ability it was more desire and the willingness to do the training.I still run between 20-70 miles a week but my frame of mind is one of a recreational runner/dink and not a athlete.I still can bop out a 57/10 miler if I decide/welling to tear my hamstring, the joy's of growing old,ha,ha.Oh yea I am in my forty's.

I think the average age for physical decline is 35 as you say. But since very few people get anywhere near their real potential (whatever that might mean)we can still keep improving for a few years, if we are more focussed, and train and race smarter than we did when we were younger.

Well, Eddy seemed to be setting records at age 44

you're right....he SEEMED to be setting records. in actuality, he was stealing records.

I started late, about 29 or 30 and cont'd to improve up till about 37 or 38 but in my 40s now it is has been nothing but slower times and getting injured when I try to train harder. Scariest of all is that while the times I put up today seem slow they will seem fast in another 5 years based on past performance. Wish I had the magic formula but will keep on plugging at it.

I'm 44 and my shorter distance PR's are in the past I believe. I can still come within 1 minute of my 10K PR and I've improved my marathon PR by 10 minutes since turning 40 (4th in 40-44 at Chicago 2004). Last year I also set PR's for 10 miles and 1/2 marathon.

The speed might not be there but I'm a bit more dedicated than I used to be.

Cynic wrote:

you're right....he SEEMED to be setting records. in actuality, he was stealing records.

What PRs did Eddy set after turning 40?

Getting back on track, I encountered injuries at age 26, and they have been with me too much to ever make a real comeback. Not a physical peak, but injury is a factor for some.

I started running about age 16. My best two years were at age 24-25 and 34-35. Ran my first marathon at 25 and my best one at 36. Things slowed some at age 37 but how much of that was due to having less motivation and lack of big enough goals? Now, at 68, even joggiing has deteriorated to nearly a walk. I am still not sure how much of that is due to the high mileage that I have on my body. The big thing is that it has all been fun and still is. One thing I wish I had when I was coaching myself is the access to the information and experts that are now available. It was a completely different sport when I started in 1952 but it seems to me that one ran near ones potential if they trained hard and avoided injury then and that this is also true now.

Thanks for the post Orville.......I love hearing "veterans" and those who have been around the block more times than me.....stories and experiences.

I am at "that" age as well as the original poster said ....35 years old.

At age 35 you have at least 10 great years ahead of you if you want them. Look at Old Man By The Sea's weekly thread. The training and the results the masters are getting now are unbelievable. The times run by masters now are as good as the open runners achieved when I started.