-At what age did you realize that - realistically PRs just aren't going to happen anymore?

Macdaddy wrote:

I'm pushing into my thirties, but I realized at about 23 (roughly 2 years after graduation/team environment) that it wasn't going to happen. I tried, but real life and metabolism got in the way...

For those who came before me, how do you push through? Any words of encouragement?

For me, my PR's came in my mid 30's, at that time I was at my physical peak. I started to slow in early 40's but not by much, and by my mid to late 40's saw a substantial decline.

Most men reach their physical peak around 30 give or take a few years.

Macdaddy wrote:

I'm pushing into my thirties, but I realized at about 23 (roughly 2 years after graduation/team environment) that it wasn't going to happen. I tried, but real life and metabolism got in the way...

For those who came before me, how do you push through? Any words of encouragement?

Macdaddy:

I am ~62 and have been running now for almost ~52 years.

Slightly after college when I had to start working and had a hard time finding competitive track & field races within a reasonable drive at around age 25, I knew inside that I probably was not going to set any new PRs and my training reflected that. But I know I was in my prime until age 36 because I could perform any workout and do other sports the next day and the next, etc. Then I could come back the next day and do it all over again. I also ran near my personal best in the mile at age 36 without much training. So there was an outside chance, if I could find the desire and time that I could break my mile record at that age!

Then at age 36 I had a serious ankle sprain. I'd had many before but when I went in to the doctor he told me if I turned it over again if might roll it all the way over to the bone. Yes, that scared me! I still ran the same amount of miles but I slowed some of my runs because I was cautious about ankle sprains. Then at age 40 I quit playing basketball 5 on 5. Big mistake-because it's such a great all-around leg developer for all sports!

I think I took a gradual downhill spiral after that. But I could run year-round and beat many of the kids I coached at the varsity level~if only for a day. I retired from teaching and coaching recently so I do a lot more running alone.

I have never desired to run a marathon. Running is for fun even though it is my life's passion. I was always a miler-type and never got that attitude out of my system.

I never had a full-time coach who knew distance running. They were sprinters or football coaches. I have a hearing problem so never learned much from my teammates either. I ran my body to the bone in high school, and after that I wanted the body of an Adonis so I could attract women. I lift, run, and play other sports now. I never had nor desire a marathoners body.

I do feel that if I had wanted to lose my caboose and if I had solid coaching as a youngster I would have been able physically to run PRs into my 40s for longer distances. What's between your ears is very important in our sport!!!

Depends on when you start and what distance.

I'm 2:49 marathoner, so nothing special. I set it at age 41, though I'd been running marathons for awhile I'd never stayed healthy enough to hit sub 2:55 prior.

Last year at 44 I surprised myself when I unexpectedly set a life time 10k PR by over a minute, exactly 4 weeks after finishing my 1st 100 miler. I'd done no speed work, occasional tempo runs, and mostly many long slow road and trail runs. It was eye opening to me that that type of training made me faster and kept me healthier than pounding the roads for shorter distances.

Middle to moderate distance guy (10k, a few half marathons). I have never run a marathon. What a perspective! At almost 50 years of age I will set a huge PR, if only I would run a marathon.

Age 817, stopped PRing.

mid 20's. no matter what i did, increase in mileage, different training, could never get within about 10 seconds of 5k. ran some decent half marathons, but they didnt translate to an equal 5k time. then the injuries started about every few months into training.

Try running a 2:18 at 56 years old. Good luck.

At about the same age I realized the only person PRs mattered to was me and that they really don't matter much. Enjoy the ride.

I just recently became aware of this book, Run Strong Stay Hungry

look like it might be good.

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/run-strong-stay-hungry-9/9781937715694-item.html

16

27 - I injured my hamstring and didn't let it heal correctly. I can still run decently, but the hamstring tightens up with more than a few miles at my old PR paces.

Rodger Kram wrote:

I just recently became aware of this book, Run Strong Stay Hungry

look like it might be good.

I believe there are three or four Letsrun regulars featured in the book (50+ training and racing thread).

Runner A: started competitively running in HS - Mid-late 20s

Runner B: started competitively shortly after the time Runner A is realizing PRs just aren't going to happen anymore -

Mid-late 40s

lollerama wrote:

Runner A: started competitively running in HS - Mid-late 20s

Runner B: started competitively shortly after the time Runner A is realizing PRs just aren't going to happen anymore -

Mid-late 40s

+1

This is a good post. I am 38 and am wondering when improvement will grind to a halt. I have been running since age 13, did not run in college, and set a half marathon PR last year at age 37. I didn't run much between age 31 and 35 because of having two kids during that time, if that makes a difference. I'm hoping I can eek out a couple more years of PRs at non-5K distance by training harder. For 5K and under, I track "post-college" PRs, which, being 15 years out from college, I find pretty satisfying.

I'm 31 and have improved all of my PRs from 8k - half marathon within the last year.

I ran competitively in high school and college... what has changed is my expectation of training. I keep my week pretty structured (quality session every Tuesday and Thursday and LR on Saturday), but allow flexibility in my overall volume. I have a hard time consistently maintaining anything over 85-90 mile weeks due to my work schedule... I just feel wiped out and my workouts really suffer. I've kept my weekly volume in the 70s with spurts in the 80s. I do more speed work now in an attempt to limit my losses. In high school I could run 53.7 for 400m, just last week I turned 57.8 in a solo 400m. So, I'm slower now but I think if I can keep my speed somewhat respectable then the aerobic base I've built over the years will continue to keep me competitive. I struggle in 5ks, but I still feel good in anything around 10k and up.

I am very similar to you, but was a little slower at 400 in high school, but close to your current mark now. I am 33, married, kid, career, etc. I might reach 50mpw some weeks, so you run more. The most interesting part of your post was that you struggle at the 5k, despite your 400 wheels. Why do believe that is the case? It is the case for me. I, like you, have 8k - 1/2 times that line up pretty well, too.

I guess struggling isn’t the word, I just can’t match the times from my early to mid 20s. I’ve never considered myself a strong 5k runner...

One thing I have noticed when racing 5k’s is I do much better with a pretty rigorous warmup. I started experimenting with that last year because I would be able to hold better pace at the end of 10k than I could 5k.... I came to the conclusion that I just need to have my body feeling really warmed up prior to jumping right in to 5k pace, and it has worked. Now, for 5k warmups I run 3 miles, do all my stretches and drills, then run 5 minutes tempo pace + strides, then I’m ready to roll.

Ran in high school, not in college. Was pretty decent. No real races or training for 15 years. Decided to try the marathon, thinking that I'd like to try to break my 10K PR within a few years.

Never came close to it. Now, looking back, I realize a few things. I never followed a proper training plan for the marathon, whereas in HS, I assume the coach knew what he was doing with us. A bigger factor, though, I feel is racing weight. Even at my lowest, I was still 15-20 pounds heavier than in HS. And I don't feel I was overweight at all. Nearing my last marathon, I was asked by a few people if I was ok because I looked sick after losing that much weight in my face - which I guess is probably the right look for distance runners.

So, it's not just age or even training but also weight that keeps us from PRs as we age. If I couldn't get near my HS weight when peaking at 80 mpw, I don't think it's possible to ever see that weight again.