Zola Budd 7th place Carolina Challenge (18:43)

And let's not forget that just last year, she ran the Comrades Marathon (89km) here in South Africa for only the 2nd time, and finished as the 7th overall female in a time of about 6:55 hrs.

One of the guys down in Durban that I know of has a 16:XX PB from fairly recently, and he runs about 6:40 every year at Comrades

Zola is an extremely talented athlete

in the right sport wrote:

She's 51 I'm older wrote:

You're absolutely right. that's why the majority of gold medals at the Olympics are won by athletes in their late 40s. Also check out the rosters of NFL, NBA, MLB and World Cup teams. Just as many in their 40s as 20s and 30s. Not sure why throughout the history of sports you are the first to notice the fact that it's possible to be elite in the late 40s.

Um, ever hear of George Foreman? Chris Chelios? Gordie Howe? Bill Shoemaker? Lester Piggott? Laffit Pincay?

Foreman? An exception in a very watered down sport. Chelios and Howe? A skill sport, and even then they are the exceptions. Piggott? Never heard of him and too lazy to look him up, but going to go out on a limb and say exception. Pincay? How many past their prime horses did he ride to victory? Oh, that's right. Zero. What else you got? Some golfer who one once or twice after 50?

in any sport wrote:

in the right sport wrote:

Um, ever hear of George Foreman? Chris Chelios? Gordie Howe? Bill Shoemaker? Lester Piggott? Laffit Pincay?

Foreman? An exception in a very watered down sport. Chelios and Howe? A skill sport, and even then they are the exceptions. Piggott? Never heard of him and too lazy to look him up, but going to go out on a limb and say exception. Pincay? How many past their prime horses did he ride to victory? Oh, that's right. Zero. What else you got? Some golfer who one once or twice after 50?

The idea is that exceptions can become more the norm.

Remember 20-30 years ago the top guys seemed to wane at 30. Today they hang on much longer.

50 actually will be the new 40.

You should look up Lester Piggott though. He came out of jail after a year at 50 plus and won a top race 10 days after his comeback. Beating a 19 year old.

Lagat ran 13:06 5000m as a master, 31 seconds below Rupp's prep and junior American record, though about 16 seconds slower than the Kenyan and world "junior" record.

Bad Wigins wrote:

Give Til It Hurts wrote:

The high school mile record is 3:53. The best master in history, Lagat, ran 1.5 seconds slower at 40.

If you can run your HS times at 50, you were underperforming in high school, or are doping as a master.

He only tried once. He has not taken masters performance seriously. He's already coaching US track league teams i.e. retire.

Elites shouldn't be considered typical. You don't have an unlimited supply of stem cells. Elites use them up fast to become elites, probably even faster if they dope.

She's 51 wrote:

mymastasays wrote:

Must be over 50 years old! Impressive.

Not really. It's like 4 minutes slower than her PB.

You're the typical know nothing about things in particular!

A 51yo woman putting together a 18:43 5k ...is quite elite. But then she was one of the best runners in the world in her prime!

You ought to use the age-graded calculators ( few people can judge this stuff off the cuff without intraments).

Her prime performances suggest that she can run faster.

But why don't you look around in the "world" and see how many women runners can run 18:43 for 5 k at 51 yo!?

subfive wrote:

Her prime performances suggest that she can run faster.

But why don't you look around in the "world" and see how many women runners can run 18:43 for 5 k at 51 yo!?

Of course. That's my point.

If you look around the world you won't find too many former 5k record holders either.

Make sure you compare apples to apples. Not apples to pumpkins.

She's 51 wrote:

I just don't believe our physical abilities decline so much if we continue training properly. If I could find an event that caters to my strengths I believe I could still be elite in my late 40s.

Maybe you could be elite at 40, but if it was as easy as "....find an event that caters to my strengths...." don't you just think others might have tried that too?

No, you'll get there by motivation and luck spurred by genes and/or PEDS.

If you don't take PEDS these days, there's negligible chance of being National class elite master.

dunkieP wrote:

Maybe you could be elite at 40, but if it was as easy as "....find an event that caters to my strengths...." don't you just think others might have tried that too?

No, you'll get there by motivation and luck spurred by genes and/or PEDS.

.

Maybe they are too proud to give up their specialist dreams?

I wasn't and that's how I found my event. I AM actually qualified to compete as a pro.

A bunch of you guys could too. A whole bunch. Even the oldsters.

I would kick Zola Budd's behind in a 5k and will be making a nice living as a pro master athlete .

She's 51 wrote:

I would kick Zola Budd's behind in a 5k and will be making a nice living as a pro master athlete .

0/10

18:43 51y female 5k age-graded is 89.2% and worth 16:30, but this was cross country and probably is worth sub 18 on a track. 17:43 51y female 5k age-graded is 94% and worth 15:40, and that is probably closer to the true worth of this performance. XC performances are usually a lot slower than on the roads or track, particularly early in the season and in the south, where she probably ran.

Joanie ran 2:47 age 53. Probably the most impressive elite longevity so far.

well it might not be but I would guess that her best was on a track with good weather at end of season when peaking and not on grass cross country course with hills, early season and probably not ideal weather. Plus i doubt she is training at a level she once was.

you tried wrote:

[quote]She's 51 wrote:

I would kick Zola Budd's behind in a 5k and will be making a nice living as a pro master athlete .

0/10[/quote

-0/10. I don't owe you anything. My accomplishments speak for themselves .