Timely discussion for me as 54 year old. I have been running for 18 months after taking 28 years off, lol. When you start at zero, improvements come quickly. After 6 months of training, my first 5k race was 24 (-16C 3F). I managed to cut that time to 19:22 after a 14 months. One of my first running goals was to match the time I remember running as a 25 year old- 39:57 in the 10k. This year I will try to run that as well as run a sub 19:00 5k. Year three goal- sub 1:30 half and year four of my running plan- Boston Qualifier. Year 5- COMRADES! Cheers from Canada
I'm 43,smoker for 20 years,quit smoking 1.5 years ago and started running.could manage to run 5k in 30 minutes 😭,but this video is great inspiration,specially your Dad and commentors.
As a 74yo I am surprised that 48 mins is considered exceptional. The WR for a 70yo is 37:55. I am running 42 mins. for a 10k and aiming at sub 40. PS started running at age 65.
Excellent to hear of your dad's pace at 70. I am 53. I ran as a kid and basically stopped for 25 years, until, in 2014 I decided to run Comrades. I lost 10kg and now sit at around 75kg. I have gained 5cm in my calves over the last 5 years and have increased my pace substantially after doing a boot camp type exercise program with Fitness Maniacs. My first 5km run on 1 June 2014 was 48 minutes. I can now do the same run in around 22. My 10 km races are all sub 45 minutes , and I run a 1:45 half marathon. I have run a couple of 3:55 full marathons, but these are tough to do, as you mentioned, the longer stuff gets harder as we get older. Going to try for a 3:40 at Hillcrest on Sunday.
The ONLY way someone can get faster or stronger as they age is if they've never, ever reached their peak. For example, if you were an inconsistent "off and on" runner in your teens, 20's, and 30's, then, suddenly, at age 40 you start training consistently and properly, then, yes, you can definitely beat your best times from your 20's. BUT if you were a serious, competitive runner in your teens, 20's, and 30's, then, once you hit your peak, you WILL NOT get any faster as you age, unless you start taking some performance enhancing drugs. If people could keep getting faster and faster as they age, then the Olympic Games would be filled with 50 and 60 year old runners. But that just does not happen.
I had never been a runner, when in March 2019, at age 58, I “did” (i.e., did not run much of) my first 5K to support my wife, whose employer was a race sponsor. With no training or preparation, I finished in around 35 minutes. Afterwards, I began to wonder if I could finish in under 30 minutes if I trained for a full year, so that’s what I did. In March 2020, as a 59yo, I ran (yes, I ran it all this time) my first competitive 5K, winning 1st Place in my age group (55-59) with a far-better-than-I-expected time of 25:04. Sadly, I have not run it-or any other competitive 5K-since then due to the pandemic. However, now that I’m seeing some light of hope at the end of that tunnel, I recently got a Sole+ F85 treadmill and a Tonal, and started training again for next year’s (2023) 5K, when I’ll be 62yo and running in the 60-64 age group. In my first early test on June 9, 2022, I ran a 5K on the treadmill in 27:51. Then, four days later, I ran my first-ever 10K in a very slow, yet difficult, time of 76:39. This video, and my early test, make me wonder (hopeful?) if it’s a realistic possibility for someone my age, with my limited running experience (and zero coaching), to run faster at age 62 than I did at age 59 (e.g., sub-25:00 would be amazing). Any tips would be greatly appreciated. 🤞
Gene Dykes recently ran 2:54 for the marathon at age 70. He claims he just runs, no strength work or cross training. In July 2019 Steve Moneghetti, who won the 1990 or 1991 Berlin Marathon in 2:08:16 (a world class time back then), ran 49:26 (or similar) to break the M55 15k world record by over 1 min. My pb in my 20s was 50:30, which was handy back then. I know Steve well, we are both members of the Ballarat YCW Harriers, and he still trains at a very high level, although his Strava account suggests he rides his bike some days as well. Both these athletes train contrary to what you are suggesting, however, I am 60 and, although I was a 32min 10k runner in the 1980s, I have been running around 42min since I came back to running, after a 28 year layoff, about 6 years ago. I was a 6-7 day a week runner in 2015 when I ran 42:22 over 10000m on the track, but these days I am a 4-5 day a week runner, with 2-3 days of cross training and more recently 2-3 days of strength training per week. In July 2019, I ran 42:32 over 10k on what most people think is a long 10k road course. I rarely do speed work, as I trend to get injured, but now do more long slow running. My speed over 10k comes from my strength and endurance at the end of the race, rather than pure speed. Not everyone is the same, I suppose.
There is no actual research that I've seen that demonstrates that strength training or cross training actually helps with running or with (running-related) injury prevention. I hear it all the time- it's so commonly heard that I guess everybody takes it for granted that it's true- but, so far as I know, there is no actual science to back it up.
Ed Whitlock who held many age world marathon records also did no speed or weight training he just did 3 hrs a day steady running round a cemetary. If you do not now about him punch his name into any search engine. I believe he did a sub 3 marathon age 75.
Good video. As I’ve aged, I’ve been eating better(since my body can’t handle crap food as well) and training but less(body can’t handle over exercising). Still playing hockey with kids 10-20 years younger….although definitely not has quick or strong as I was 30 years ago. At least I can still do it.
i can run 43 minutes for 10 k at 62. But you said running faster as you get older. I ran 32 10k at 24 and now can only run 43. The age you start is bogus( dont believe this is a measure). It is all in strength training. Training your hips and legs and pelvic muscles everyday. Also you must do speed work, That means at least 1 track session. Also 1 tempo run.
Hi...I am 55 and I do 5 day strength training and started doing 10km running & walking (70 mnts) for 3 days and cycling 2 days ....is it advisable to do Strength training in morning and do running/walking/cycling in eve..(I take complete rest on Wednesday and Sunday no strength training...Pls help
Is your dads' running time or mileage still the same on 4 days a week? Does his long run still average within 30 to 40% of total miles per week or time? Does he still do tempo runs once a week or 3 times a month?
The only way you can get faster as you get older is if you have not yet reached your peak. Get the sub 2 marathon runner in 10 years and tell him he can get faster.
