Gene Dykes breaks Ed Whitlock's record at Jacksonville Marathon!

Why Drug Testing? wrote:

Curious: When did all this drug testing start with the masters? (I just run local charity events & club races where cheap ribbons and a bottle of Gatorade is usually given to the age-group winners - no drug testers ever show up. Lol). Is there prize money and sponsorship at stake at some of these higher profile events? Or is it just trophies/medals & bragging rights that is involved? It seems weird to be drug testing 50, 60, & 70 yr olds in a competitive sport that most do for fitness, enjoyment and the camaraderie.

I'm not sure when it started but as I said it is only at IAAF championship races where in competition testing takes place. Events such as the ones below. In these cases cheating is probably for the bragging rights - world champion, US champion etc.. In cases where athletes are caught in out of competition tests it is often because the athlete was openly bragging about what they were taking. A clean athlete overheard the conversation and reported it to the federation.

You're kidding...masters "openly bragging about what they were taking?" I wonder what substances they would be bragging about? Surely, they must realize loose lips sink ships. Lol.

So, back to my original question: If there's no prize money or sponsorship at stake with the masters and just an inexpensive medal and bragging rights is the award, why the drug testing? It seems pointless and illogical to test any amateur, young or old, who isn't running for living where prize money and the ever important sponsorship is at stake. ?

Because clean competitors don't want to compete against dopers. At any age.

There’s a great podcast interview with Gene where he talks quite a bit about his training and racing. Worth a listen..

https://cloud259.com/2018/04/13/episode-63-boston-marathon-and-the-splendid-septuagenarian/

Is it that hard? wrote:

Because clean competitors don't want to compete against dopers. At any age.

But what exactly are Grandmasters & Senoirs competing for? Prize money? Sponsorship? A spot on an Olympic or WC team? Are they running to make a living?

Most Senior runners I know run for fitness, fun and a hobby to do in retirement/semi-retirement. I'm a senior runner who runs first and foremost for fitness, and it's still fun (well...most of time), and I do some races now & then to support the local charity, and to see if I can finish the darn race without getting hurt. Lol. So, why all this drug testing at this level?

Is it that logical? wrote:

But what exactly are Grandmasters & Senoirs competing for? Prize money? Sponsorship? A spot on an Olympic or WC team? Are they running to make a living?

So, why all this drug testing at this level?

Answers:

Ask them.

No.

No.

No.

No.

To catch cheaters.

Is it that logical? wrote:

Is it that hard? wrote:

Because clean competitors don't want to compete against dopers. At any age.

But what exactly are Grandmasters & Senoirs competing for? Prize money? Sponsorship? A spot on an Olympic or WC team? Are they running to make a living?

Most Senior runners I know run for fitness, fun and a hobby to do in retirement/semi-retirement. I'm a senior runner who runs first and foremost for fitness, and it's still fun (well...most of time), and I do some races now & then to support the local charity, and to see if I can finish the darn race without getting hurt. Lol. So, why all this drug testing at this level?

To be exactly as good as they can be without chemical assistance. Just like everyone else..

Is it that logical? wrote:

Most Senior runners I know run for fitness, fun and a hobby to do in retirement/semi-retirement. I'm a senior runner who runs first and foremost for fitness, and it's still fun (well...most of time), and I do some races now & then to support the local charity, and to see if I can finish the darn race without getting hurt. Lol. So, why all this drug testing at this level?

There are also international competitions, some of which are at a very high standard. And there are seniors who take competition very seriously. Most do not, and just do it for general fitness but there is a sub group who want to push themselves and measure themselves against the best in their age group. Also, there are those who attend these events as a form of tourism, visit an exotic location and take part in your sport. These competitions have become a big dollar event. The World Masters Games (part of the Olympic organisation) was held in New Zealand in 2017 . It was the largest sporting event ever held in New Zealand, bigger then the Commonwealth Games, and attracted over 28,000 athletes from 100 countries.

Auckland went the whole nine yards to promote the event. Below is a video of the opening ceremony.

Peter Snell competed, but in table teniss:

Is it that logical? wrote:

Is it that hard? wrote:

Because clean competitors don't want to compete against dopers. At any age.

But what exactly are Grandmasters & Senoirs competing for? Prize money? Sponsorship? A spot on an Olympic or WC team? Are they running to make a living?

Most Senior runners I know run for fitness, fun and a hobby to do in retirement/semi-retirement. I'm a senior runner who runs first and foremost for fitness, and it's still fun (well...most of time), and I do some races now & then to support the local charity, and to see if I can finish the darn race without getting hurt. Lol. So, why all this drug testing at this level?

Most runners set a goal that they want to achieve. It can be a sub 3h marathon or running 3000 mls in a calender year or to run 100 marathons in a lifetime. Most people need some kind of a specific goal for motivation. Fitness and fun are by-products but they are not targets that give motivation because they are not specific enough. Sometimes we reach our targets and sometimes not but we need one that keeps us going. Otherwise there would be quite a many rest days.

That's stupid that fitness & fun aren't motivating enough for Seniors who want to run and can run. If they need more than just fitness benefits and the thrill & enjoyment of getting outside and excercising then they're probably running for the wrong reasons in the first place.

I've run for 35 yrs straight now, and as much as this old carcass will allow. I've run in all kinds of crazy weather from 100 degree temps to blizzards, I've run through a plethora of injuries and arthritis, I've run through stressful life-changing events. As I said, I do some local races to support the charity and to see if can just finish the race without falling apart. Lol.

And on rest days, sure...myself and other Senior runners I know have plenty of rest days at the gym; non-weightbearing cardio, strenght training, yoga, etc. It's not all about constant running but balance with other forms of excercise. That should be motivation enough for Seniors to enjoy the wide variety of equipment & activities in a gym environment and meet other Seniors with the same fitness enthusiasm.