It Had To happen Sometime
I think I finally might be slowing down. I did a 5K race today, one minute slower than I've done all my others for the past 10 years. I didn't start running until age 50, and didn't race until a couple of years later. A local running team sponsors a winter series of races, always on the same course, and I've always done that in 20:1X, last year X=7.
This year, 21:16. My HR this year was 148, and last year was 156. I'm sure SOME of the change is due to aging finally catching up with me, as both the HR and time were about 4-5% different year to year. Other factors might include sloppy course (it was drizzerable with puddles), still recovering from last fall's accident, and just plain laziness - maybe I don't want to work so hard anymore?
Anyway, I've given up on entering the "50-50" club (age and VDOT both = or > than 50), and have decided to join the equally arbitrary and meaningless "100 Club": Age + VDOT = or > than 100. At least that gets easier to achieve as one gets older.
Comments
I think we need some more data . . . from future races.
St Anthony's just posted this year's participant list. There are 262 in the men's 50-54 and 129 in the men's 55-59 - a 50% drop out rate in participation. I didn't even look at the next age up. Since I'll be 54 this year, I looked at the spread by each year in the 50-54. Over 25% of the field is 50 and 12.7% at 54...so it is declining each year even within the age group. I feel a spanking coming on and am looking forward to aging up in 2012.
Thanks for pushing the envelope and setting the example.
Al - I think it has more to do with you still recovering from your accident and the sloppy/wet course. While I'm not a MD like you, I gotta believe you still have residual impact from that accident (which I've read you describe as pretty damn bad). I don't have to tell you that we just heal slower than we use to, so you probably aren't at the same overall fitness level you were this time last year sans accident. And a wet course will slow you down as you lose even a minicule bit of traction with the pavement. So cut yourself some slack about one meaningless 5k, and don't throw in the towel yet. You're still freakin FAST for any age. I have no doubt that the only part of you myself and many others will see on the CDA race course will be your back.
@ Jeff - What I've noticed (in IM fields) as I've moved from 50 >> 55 >> 60, and looking ahead is that the drop off is proportional across all ability levels. Meaning it gets EASIER to podium if you stay with it. What DOESNT get easier is going to Kona, because, for 60+, it's win or go home. So even if there used to be 10-12 fast guys at age 50-54 fighting for 3-4 places, at age 60 there may be 2-3 fast guys fighting for one.
I've noticed the same thing closer to home in local races. Much of my competition (meaning the guys capable of beating me) at age 50 no longer races, for a number of reasons: moved to the Sun Belt, retired and started to travel, injured, moved on to other adventures, etc etc. Yet there are some of the MOPers still plugging away, for fun and fitness.
I was looking at St George yesterday because I'm interested in that race in the future. They now have 1944 registered - 18% female (347) and 82% male (1597). Assuming a 10% no-show rate and 15% DNF rate they may not get 1500 finishers! Here's the senior age group attrition:
M50-54 - 119 registered
M55-59 - 57 registered (47.90% of prior group)
M60-64 - 26 registered (45.61% of prior group)
M65-69 - 11 registered (42.31% of prior group)
M70-74 - 1 registered (9.09% of prior group)
So the sport attrition rate increases with each age group telling me how tough it must be getting! I hope to race at least through the first year or two of the 60-64 age group and maybe the first year of M65-69 if I still have anything in the tank. If I'm still out there at 70, then I deserve the Kona slot just like the one guy at St George -- if he finishes.
You're still coming back, Al. SO much energy and body chi (how's that for a medical term, but you know what I mean) went into healing bones and tendons and teeth, etc. for many months. I'd say assess yourself this time next year, and you'll have a better view of the your performance with a long-healed self.
Why am I an "expert" at this? You know what happened to my husband, and it's just in the past few months that he's feeling like progress is returning. And he's been technically healed for a very long time. Hang in there. It's coming back to find you!
in the same vein; i'm the only 65-69 signed up for the Chesapeakeman Ultra; i looked at last years time and there were none. what does it mean when you think you can complete an ultra but there is no one in your age group!?
FYI. i competed in the summer senior games sprint tri in houston this year. only 4th in 65-69; one guy finished... 90 YO!
often in half IMs if i ain't first...i may be last in my AG
i have competed in a local 5K beach run where the last AG was 50-99. i complained and was told it would change next year since a 78 YOer complained also! in 2010 came in 9th, 2011 came in 12th; "age graded" to 63% (means i'm only good at local type races). good thing i do this to burn calories; not fill my trophy case!
It means you're the man! My wife, who has competed in a (very) few triathlons in the past five years, always feels embarassed when she gets a 1st or 2nd or whatever in her AG, when there are only 2-4 racing. In my mind, it's not just the ones racing you've finished ahead of, but also the ones who never even entered.
my wife is also into exercise, just not tris; i always tell her if she entered, and she just finished the vaste majority of the time she'd be on the podium...if not in 1st place. she just rolls her eyes and smurks
Jim- it means you are living life to the fullest. Go for it!!