Run-Down Forums

[Micah Ward]

The World Association of Veteran Athletes have tables that calculate how an age group performance compares to current world bests at various distances. It is a way of seeing how your current times, no matter how old you are, compare with the times being run by open ahtletes.

Look at 47 year old Tatyana Pozdnyakova of the Ukraine. I will list her times for assorted distances and her WAVA adjusted time and then the current world best in that order:

5K 16:17 14:37 14:54

10K 33:28 30:14 30:29

Marathon 2:29:00 2:16:57 2:18:47

As you can see, her adjusted time is faster than the world best at every distance. These figures come from a Running Times article on Masters runners and they ask if the WAVA tables need adjusting or if Pozdnyakova is the best female runner in the world. Considering that she is the only known masters runner whose times adjust faster than the world records, I might agree with RT that she is indeed the best female distance runner in the world.

Food for thought.
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[RangerG]

Oh great Micah! Ya had to list a 47 year old lady for a reference

I'm 47 year old guy, and Tatyana Pozdnyakova's 5k time is around 7-8:00 faster than mine

Ok, how about putting something in here to make me feel motivated huh, huh??

Garrett
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If I could only run like John Capel...

[Dan]

The problem with age grading (and adjustments of any nature to a lesser degree) is that they're based on averages and completely meaningless when applied to individuals, which unfortunately, is the only thing they can really be applied to. Not everyone competes as long or ages at the same rate, but the formulas cannot possibly take that into account on a case by case basis. Some people defy the odds and run better in their 30's than in their 20's, but that doesn't necessarily make them the best runner in the world. Just a different progression curve.

Dan
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[Micah Ward]

Any time you throw out that "greatest runner in the world" title you of course enter into a debate that can only creat more debate. Haven't we done that already?

The tables are inexact but fun though, and they do give a general idea of just how good your age group times are. I wish I knew more about what Poz did in her late 20's.

RG, I am 46 and had to go to the 70 and over guys to get times I am competitive with.
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