'Mature' runners.

Redhead wrote (see)

Hi Frog, we are honoured to see you again.  How the Womble?

Womble well, thank you, but running only indoors on treadmill at the moment

Johnny J wrote (see)

 If you've been keeping fairly fit with 2 or 3 runs a week you will be fine to
start a marathon program. Plan to do 300-400 miles of steady runs to build a solid aerobic base then follow a 16 week training plan to get you the time you want to aim for. I'm not a fan of too many very long runs. The emphasis should be on quality training, particularly tempo runs. Incorporate a couple of 1/2m races as part of the training.
Give us a clue about the sort of time you would be looking for.

Noted, although you weren't talking to me.

I basically did no running at all in August and September owing to tendinitis, had lots of physio and ultrasound. I am now back up to running three or four times a week, typically say 20 to 25 miles a week, (eg a 4, a 7, and a 12), paying no attention to speed, just getting used to running again. Just getting back out there was the first goal, and has been accomplished.

In my dreams I'd like to go sub 4 at VLM.

Red and Sarnie, thanks. I've just had a phone call and my car has passed its MoT

MF, good news that you are back into your running again.

I didn't run today, as I had quite a good work out yesterday, wading through the mud etc. I did, however, walk a brisk mile this morning, and intend doing tomorrows club session. We had an excellent turn out for our race of 88 men and 65 women, a total of 153. This was a big field for a race which is only open to club runners.

Being a v60 now I often wonder why there are so few v60’s around. After all, those who came into running during the marathon boom of the late seventies and early eighties should be flooding this category.

They can’t all be injured and it is still a bit young to be crocked by age.

Not very scientific but I had a look at some figures from a few races. Looking at those who run in the m40-m45 cat, almost half will half stopped running 10 k’s by the time they are in the m50-m55 category and about 80 %  will have stopped doing 10k’s by the time they reach the m60-m65 category.

While times obviously slow with age, I thought I would look at age grading on these. The theory with age grading is that it allows for ageing and pretty much stays the same as you get older.

The age grading average score actually went up as people went through the cats which kind of says that the faster runners keep on running while the slower runners stop running.

Is it just that when the speed drops below a certain level, people stop running ?

Or is it that for many the motivation for running is chasing those PB’s and when these are no longer possibilities is there no other motivation to run ?

 Did a 4.2 mile mud run yesterday and legs were too stiff today to risk another run.

Redhead
I like cake!

Derek
There are plenty of M60s around here. Certainly enough to make some good competition.
I think all the reasons you list are contributors to quite a big reduction. Generally the M60s are club runners. Club spirit and having running friends and understanding age grading keeps them going.  
Most guys don't understand the age grading system. They see themselves getting slower and they can't do high mileage any more because they can't recover quickly enough.  What they have to do is to train hard for an M60, get an M60 age grading, and compare that with their M50 age grade instead of comparing absolute times.
JJ

Morning all,

Off for a plod soon and it isn't raining for a change although it is rather dreary.

Derek, I see plenty of V60s in races and they're either ahead of me or running past me.  We have some very speedy over 60s on the RW forums and on this thread JJ and TE are speed monsters 

Hi Derek and welcome to the thread. I agree with JJ and Red that there are still plenty of V60s racing, and that category is very competitive. It is also correct that most are club runners, who have been racing for many years and gone up through the age categories. I believe that is why the standard is so high, as we were racing in our 40s when the standard was much higher than today's. I am now in the 65-70 category and unfortunately, all those that I have raced against in my forties and fifties seem to have stopped, as I no longer see them in races. This does seem to contradict my statement that there are still plenty racing, and I do wonder whether some  started racing later in life, or perhaps I hadn't noticed them in the past as they had finished further back in the field. I am a great fan of the age grading formulae, as it enables me to compare my times, converted to a seniors time. I hope you will continue to contribute to this thread and keep running and racing.

I'm intending to go to the club session this evening, but will take it easy, as I don't want the calf to pull again.

Three last night, though most annoyed that just half a mile from the office the headtorch rechargeable batteries packed up......running on a trail in the dark is not fun!!!
Did 4 miles this am to work, 8.25 warm up then 7.37-  7.18-  7.54 then staggered into the office.......speediest for some time. Trying to get some speed in the legs after too much plodding the last few weeks.

Well I am in a funny position. I started doing a seriesof races this year - the Halewood 5k. Because I liked the race so much I ended up joining the club who put it on ( Knowsley Harriers ) a couple of months back after thirty odd years of writing 'unattached'. The things is I am the only v60 there so every time I line up for a new distance I set a new club v60 record. While I have always been a plodder, after the achiles blew up in June, I am currently a seriously slow plodder.

So on the one hand I am the v60 who is still running and who joined the club.. On the other hand, even for me, the times are seriously slow. So i keep flipping between 'this feels good' and 'this is embarassing'.

LOL Derek, it's certainly not embarrassing that you still run in your 60s!  I bet you're still faster than me anyway.  Are you in Scouseland then?  My friend lives in Knowsley village and I used to live and work in Liverpool many years ago.

Mark, well done.  I've got to start my speedwork schedule next month but November is my recovery month.  Are you going to try to beat 4 hours next year?

MCS, three sub 8 minute miles following your warm up mile is very impressive.

Time to don  the head torch and jog home, not speeding home though..............

Best comeback run so far .Did a 4.7 mile trail run which wasn't too bad underfoot and still felt reasonably strong at the finish. There's hope for me yet.

Redhead
I ain't at all speedy. I have a feeling I won't see 7 minute miling again at my age except for short intervals.
JJ

evening people

Hope you are all well

mcs very impressive sub 8 mins, what head torch do you recomend cause i want to do trail running but no idea which is the best,

im hoping to get out at the weekend to start the slow training, chest infection is nearly gone and can't wait to get out there,

sarnie
I lost my head torch. Bought a new one and got twofor the price of one from a BOGOF scheme. Inevitably the lost one then re-appeared so I now have three!.
get one that has AAA batteries. If you get one with a  "disk" type batteryit costs nearly as much as the torch to replace it.
Also try to get one with a headband that goes round and across the head. The ones with just a head band tend to slip down.
JJ

JJ, sounds very encouraging, you are probably fitter than you thought.

Went to club session this evening and did 4 sets of 4 hill reps. with a jog recovery between sets. I didn't run as hard as I would normally, as I didn't want to injure the calf again. Thankfully, I had no problems and opted for the long run back. Total mileage was 6.6. I'm hoping to try out my new trail shoes tomorrow.

We've just heard that the pub  the club had booked for a Christmas Meal is shutting down at the weekend. We are now hoping that it's not too late to find another venue.

You're right about the button-shaped batteries, those are flipping expensive.

My head torch has gone awol since the last house move.

Johnny J / Terence  Earney, I like the age graded too. I do the calculation on what times I could do at 35 and what times I can do now  (on a good day ) and see what the age grading throws up as a percentage. A 'run all day' pace of 8 minute mile at 35 seems to equate to a 9 minute 45 second pace at 60. How do you find the age graded formulas work for you ? Are they about right or do you find them pitched slightly high or slightly low ?

Redhead, Originally from N wales and I split my time between Liverpool and there nowadays. 42 years ago I came here to be a student for just the 3 years before going back.

 I had a look at your page and that is very impressive with the number of marathons and the ultras even without the knitting - I dont even like carrying a bunch of keys when I run.

Morning all,

It's a glorious sunny day here and I really want to run but am taking a rest day as I've had to jiggle my schedule this week.  I'd better do lots of muck shifting as cross-training instead 

Derek, thanks.  I ran the inaugural Liverpool marathon last year and it was wonderful to see all our old haunts again.  I love the idea of a "run all day" pace of 8 minute miling - I'd be happy to run that pace for 30 minutes!  

Actually, now I've said that I realise that's exactly what I'm going to have to train towards if I ever want to beat my 1/2 marathon pb 

Womble, hello there!  I'm trying to be firm and not do VLM next year as I didn't get in via the ballot.  How about you?

TE, shame about your club meal as it might be difficult finding an alternative at this late date.

Will check my head torch and let you know what make it is. In the car today for work reasons and cant remember......go for one with the highest lumens you can afford. Mine runs on three AAA batteries and I have rechargeable ones they are working well now I have sussed the charger I bought. Think mine was about £45 and is very comfortable to wear, you can adjust the beam to broad or a spot light its very good.