If you were out pounding the pavement yesterday morning, you might have missed the New York Times story on the aging world of competitive running. Writer Tom Sims notes that 30 years ago, “the median age for a marathon runner was 34 for men and 31 for women. By last year, the age had risen to 40 for men and 35 for women. People over 40 now comprise 46 percent of finishers, up from 26 percent in 1980.”
And the olds aren’t just shuffling along. Sims also cites an extensive study of 400,000 marathon and half-marathon runners by the German Sports University Cologne. An analysis of finishing times showed no “relevant differences” between the ages of 20 and 50. “The times for runners between 50 and 69 slowed only by 2.6 to 4.4 percent per decade.”
Sims also gives a few brief profiles of competitive runners in their 50s, 60s and 70s. And how do these ancient marathoners avoid injury and a dimming of athletic passion? His answer is “nutrition, moderation, discipline, setting goals, proper equipment and experience.” Which is obvious. And correct.
Photo of Seoul International Marathon by hojusaram (originally posted to Flickr as runners), via Wikimedia Commons
