Men, as might be expected, get slower as they age. At a recent five-kilometer race in Pine Beach, N.J., which drew nearly 1,000 runners, the fastest man was 24 years old and the men’s times increased with each five-year age group.
But the women were different — their times were all over the place with older women beating younger women in almost every age category. The fastest woman was 37 years old; the fastest woman in the 45 to 49 age group beat the fastest woman in the 20 to 24 and the 40 to 44 age groups.
The same thing happened in another five-kilometer local race, the Eden Family Run, in Princeton, N.J.
There, the top female runner in the 50 to 54 age group beat the top females in the 20 to 24, 25 to 29, and 40 to 44 age groups.
And it’s not just a New Jersey effect. Others have noticed it elsewhere and when I did a random check of race results in California, I saw it there too. On Aug. 8, in a 10-kilometer race in Alameda, the 53-year-old woman who won in the 50 to 54 age group was faster than the woman who won in the 25 to 29 group. A 38-year-old woman beat every other woman in the race.
Also, the 24 year old man referenced is Bobby Cannon, a former haverford runner who is currently the 2nd youngest american for the marathon trials, next to Steve.
I cannot believe that someone would say that people get faster as they get older, man or woman. I think women might peak at a later age than men, for say long distance events like 10 miles and up. In general though, we all slow down, in every way, just as much we are bound to live one less day for every day gone by. Of course, i am the exception to this rule:(
well, I gather there are different peaks for men and women in at least one other area, in which men peak between 18-22, and women in mid 30s-40s. So perhaps there is a physiological correlation and explanation. I also gather, having spoken to my wife, that women who are pre and post-menapausal decrease estrogen and (she thinks) increase their testosterone to some degree. It does seem like the masters women do a lot better than the master men in our area too (say Alicia Harvey)
Men, as might be expected, get slower as they age. At a recent five-kilometer race in Pine Beach, N.J., which drew nearly 1,000 runners, the fastest man was 24 years old and the men’s times increased with each five-year age group.
ReplyDeleteBut the women were different — their times were all over the place with older women beating younger women in almost every age category. The fastest woman was 37 years old; the fastest woman in the 45 to 49 age group beat the fastest woman in the 20 to 24 and the 40 to 44 age groups.
The same thing happened in another five-kilometer local race, the Eden Family Run, in Princeton, N.J.
There, the top female runner in the 50 to 54 age group beat the top females in the 20 to 24, 25 to 29, and 40 to 44 age groups.
And it’s not just a New Jersey effect. Others have noticed it elsewhere and when I did a random check of race results in California, I saw it there too. On Aug. 8, in a 10-kilometer race in Alameda, the 53-year-old woman who won in the 50 to 54 age group was faster than the woman who won in the 25 to 29 group. A 38-year-old woman beat every other woman in the race.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/health/nutrition/30Fitness.html?em&ex=1188619200&en=36f463777ab38c10&ei=5070
Also, the 24 year old man referenced is Bobby Cannon, a former haverford runner who is currently the 2nd youngest american for the marathon trials, next to Steve.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe that someone would say that people get faster as they get older, man or woman. I think women might peak at a later age than men, for say long distance events like 10 miles and up. In general though, we all slow down, in every way, just as much we are bound to live one less day for every day gone by. Of course, i am the exception to this rule:(
ReplyDeletewell, I gather there are different peaks for men and women in at least one other area, in which men peak between 18-22, and women in mid 30s-40s. So perhaps there is a physiological correlation and explanation. I also gather, having spoken to my wife, that women who are pre and post-menapausal decrease estrogen and (she thinks) increase their testosterone to some degree. It does seem like the masters women do a lot better than the master men in our area too (say Alicia Harvey)
ReplyDeleteWow....should I just trying to get faster now?????
ReplyDeleteshould I stop trying....
ReplyDelete