Age vs. Running

Running performance degrades with age, but at much lower rate than many people think.

The following are just a few masters' performance numbers that can shed some light on the age factor. None of following runners is a former elite runner.

Ms. Shirley Matson ran a 5K in 17:28 and a marathon in 2:50:26 at the age of 50
Norm Gree, an ordained Baptist minister ran a marathon in 2:25:51 at the age of 51.
Nolan Shaheed, a talented trumpeter, ran a mile in 4:43 at the age of 56
Ed Whitlock ran a marathon in 2:54;48 at the age of 73.
John Keston, a former actor, finsih a half-marathon in 1:39:28 at the age of 81.

Source: Runner's World Sept. 2006.

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