Are Ed Whitlock's AG records realistically in reach for anyone you can think of?

Mbarak Hussein (Sp?)?

Ed had the very rare combination of outlier genetics, freak talent, and most importantly the desire and will to put in the hard work at an advanced age to break those records.

The cliche goes " records are made to be broken", but I suspect his will last quite a few years.

EhNiw wrote:

Almost by necessity, it would have to be a person you haven't heard of. People who train a lot in their youth or even middle age aren't going to be setting records at 70+.

I regret not asking EW about his middle age training while I had the chance. It's not like he sat on the couch. He ran a 2:31 marathon off of 1500m training at age 48!

He may have eased off in his 50s & 60s, but the serious runner he was maybe that meant 20-30mpw maintenance?

A 2:31 marathon doesn't happen without tons of miles. He ran a lot in his 40s at times. I'd like to know more about his mileage throughout life.

I wonder if he kept a running log, and if so, will it will someday be made public.

Hard to know, because so few people put that kind of time into training when they're old.

I would have to go with Dean Karnazes.

I'm not sure about the runner but I think his records will go down in a Barb McKeever managed event.

All of these predictions are way off and have totally missed the point. I guess that comes from not actually knowing Ed's story.

While there's a good chance his records will undoubtedly be challenged as the 70+ field increases, Ed took off a good number of years from running, which preserved his body. He wasn't even 20 years old when he stopped. After 20 years of rest he started up again.

Secondly, while he had the genetic talents, as do these guys, there are very few who have the luxury or commitment to actually run 3 hrs a day through your 50s, 60s, and 70s. A lot of commitment for no actual gain. He wasn't going to break the records either he was just going to run.

Most of the athletes here will probably burn out/die/stop caring before they actually get to 70. And who knows, there maybe random 60 year olds right now who have the genetic talents, infinite free time and drive decide today's the day to get off the couch and start running like this and may actually break it.

That's the thing. How does one go about attempting to tackle this Herculean feat? There's only one road map that's been created thus far (by Ed), and it ain't a path most can attempt to take, talented or not.

STEVE SPENCE

I'm just imagining the LR sleuth explosion if someone claims to break Ed's records...would put Rossi and the Brit to shame.

sean wade just set world records for 5k and 10k for 50-55

If he just ages as he currently does he has a shot if he would move back to the marathon

He ran 2:20 at 40yo for the marathon

Gary Patton for the mile. Might have to assemble an all-star crew to get them all!

USATF (among other sites) maintain lists of very accomplished masters athletes who are still doing remarkable things

http://www.usatf.org/statistics/records/masters_roadLDR.asp

https://www.usatf.org/statistics/records/masters_outdoorTF.asp

their names remain unknown because the problem is "brands" aren't going to invest in masters-athletes since they aren't exciting to the younger crowds who are the ones who spend money on the brands with abandon

Ed was remarkable in that the media finally started paying attention to him with the sub three hour @ 70

also remember Ed took a long break from running before returning, existing masters atheletes like Meb will not make it to 70 unless he suddenly takes decades off

it's a shame even Brooks didn't spend a dime on Ed despite him only racing in his decades old Brooks shoes, but of course those couldn't be marketed either, I mean are they going to admit there's been little progress in shoe technology over decades?

celebrate masters wrote:

USATF (among other sites) maintain lists of very accomplished masters athletes who are still doing remarkable things

And they don't list mile records. What's up with that?!! Like the mile isn't a real race?

they do for indoor mile, it's just their site navigation is terrible so can't find anything unless you use google instead

https://www.usatf.org/statistics/records/byEvent.asp?division=american&location=indoor%20track%20%26%20field&age=masters&distance=1&distanceUnits=mi&distanceType=run

Beevie wrote:

Eric Jenkins. Duh.

I second this

here is outdoor mile too

the problem is they split T&F and distance into many different pages so without nagivation, impossible to find

leaving off the link so the forum stops linking that stupid graphic

usatf.org/statistics/records/byEvent.asp?division=american&location=outdoor%20track%20%26%20field&age=masters&distance=1&distanceUnits=mi&distanceType=run

How about Dave Walters? Currently 61, he pulled off the triple in 2015-16, running Chicago, New York and Boston in 2:45, 2:47, and 2:45 respectively. For reference on how much he's slowing down, his age 49 and age 51 Chicago marathon times were 2:34 and 2:37. So about a minute per year slower. I'll admit it's a long shot (Ed's records are incredible!) but I think Walters has a decent shot.

Here was a fun article about him after Chicago 2015

http://www.runnersworld.com/masters/masters-ace-flies-precious-cargo