90's Club Runners better than today's Club Runners Elite runners today are faster than elite's 15 yrs.
ago.
Every distance & age group record is faster in 2011 than it was in 1996.
Logic would tell us the same would be true for local and regional runners as well, but the statistics tell us otherwise.
I have followed the local/regional running scene actively since the early 90's when I began running.
As a competitor for age group placings I have been curious as to current conditions compared to those 15 yrs.
ago.
I was a runner in what I'm going to refer to as the "Club Runner" category.
We were generally in the top 5-10% of finishers and competitive for age group awards.
My Pr's from the 90's were 16:04 - 5k, 33:40 - 10k, 1:15:27 for 1/2 marathon.
I did some research to see where runners from 15 yrs.
ago would compare to today.
Since I ran regionally and mostly in Pa.
I compared the same races from 1996-98 to 2009-11 and found some surprising results.
I compared the Sue Crowe Memorial Arts Festival Races and Nittany Valley 1/2 Marathon in State College,Pa.
The God's Country Marathon in Potter Co.
Pa, The Cooks Forest 1/2 Marathon in Clarion, Pa.
and the Butler Road Races in Butler Pa.
In all races I compared 3 yrs.
from the 90's - 1996,97,98 to 3 recent yrs.
-2009-10,11.
I averaged the top 3 finishers per age group for the respective decades.
Here's what I found.
(Some results courtesy of Runners High).
Arts Fest: (Ave.
pace per placewinner) OVERALL 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 1st.
5:08 - 5:34 5:23 - 6:01 5:31 - 5:50 5:41 - 5:51 6:30 - 6:28 2nd.
5:13 - 5:40 5:27 - 6:12 5:38 - 6:26 5:59 - 6:15 6:40 - 6:49 3rd.
5:19 - 5:49 5:34 - 6:23 5:50 - 6:40 6:01 - 6:26 6:46 - 7:02 NV 1/2 Marathon: ( Ave.
time per placewinner) OVERALL 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 1st.
1:12 - 1:17 1:14 - 1:21 1:16 - 1:21 1:20 - 1:21 1:32 - 1:23 2nd.
1:13 - 1:18 1:16 - 1:22 1:19 - 1:22 1:23 - 1:22 1:34 - 1:30 3rd.
1:14 - 1:19 1:18 - 1:23 1:22 - 1:24 1:27 - 1:24 1:36 - 1:3 Gods Country Marathon (Ave.
time per placewinner) OVERALL 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 1st.
2:47 - 2:46 3:08 - 3:10 2:54 - 3:20 2:55 - 3:14 3:17 - 3:28 2nd.
2:48 - 2:55 3:27 - 3:32 2:59 - 3:26 3:01 - 3:24 3:25 - 3:34 3rd 2:51 - 2:58 3:49 - 3:46 3:11 - 3:32 3:09 - 3:28 3:29 - 3:41 Cooks Forest 1/2 Marathon (Average Placewinner Time) OVERALL 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 1st 1:11 - 1:16 1:16 - 1:17 1:17 - 1:21 1:14 - 1:20 1:24 - 1:27 2nd.
1:13 - 1:17 1:20 - 1:19 1:17 - 1:26 1:17 - 1:22 1:25 - 1:29 3rd.
1:14 - 1:19 1:20 - 1:27 1:16 - 1:26 1:18 - 1:23 1:26 - 1:31 Butler Road Races (Ave.
pace per placewinner) OVERALL 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 1st.
5:16 - 5:08 5:51 - 5:49 5:39 - 5:58 5:31 - 6:04 6:09 - 6:09 2nd.
5:21 - 5:24 6:02 - 5:54 5:48 - 6:11 5:38 - 6:16 6:15 - 6:29 3rd.
5:23 - 5:31 6:11 - 5:56 5:55 - 6:18 5:47 - 6:36 6:22 - 6:38 I took my analysis one step further.
I compared some of my personal races from 1991-93 to the most recent races to again see how I would compare.
Here's the results; Nittany Valley 1/2 Marathon - 1991 - 1:22 finished 7th overall, 3rd in age group (30-39).
Last yr.
I would have finished 14 overall, but won my age group Cherry Blossom 10 miler - 1992 - 59:49 - finished 150 overall.
This yr.
same time would have placed me 118.
Arts Fest 10k - 1992 - 35:53 finished 17, 3rd in age group (30-34).
In 1993 I ran 34:53 - finished 12th, won age group (35-39).
This yr.
I would have been 3rd overall and won my age group (either) with either effort.
Phila.
1/2 marathon - 1993 - 1:15:27, finished 146, 23rd.
in age.
Last fall I would have been 97 overall and 11 in age group.
I think the statistics speak for themselves that we "club runners" who were in our 30's in the 90's were a much better group than currently exists for the same age group.
No disrespect or anything, but generally speaking we got more out our talents and abilities than today's current group.
The numbers don't lie.
I tried to use a wide cross sample to allow for differences in courses,weather,etc.
but in race after race the 30-49 age group was much better "back in the day".
By contrast as we have gotten older, the times for 40-49, and 50-59's have gotten faster.
"We" are clearly better than the generation before.
But what about the generation after? Clearly there are more "runners" today than ever.
Large mega races sell out in hours, and runners today have distinct training advantages.
Coaches are readily available,runs,paces,performances and efforts can be dissected a million different ways, but performances are not improving.
The overall winners of races are still generally dominated by late teens and 20's, but the 30's and lower 40's are typically slower than 15 yrs.
ago.
The late 40' - 50's ( my age group) are mostly faster than 15 yrs.
ago.
The question I don't have an answer for is why.
Perhaps we were on the tail end of the running boom of the 70's.
When we ran larger races Americans were competitive (Steve Spence, Bill Reifsnyder, Jon Sinclair, Keith Dowling, Keith Brantley, etc.
were all American role models for us "Club Runners".
Perhaps it's title 9, perhaps "Gallowalking" and the popularity of leisurely running, or perhaps it's that today's 30-ealry 40 yr.
olds have other interests? Curious as to whether these results are specific to Central Pa.
in general or if they hold true for your areas? If so, what are your thoughts as to why we're getting slower? Welcome feedback.
ago.
Every distance & age group record is faster in 2011 than it was in 1996.
Logic would tell us the same would be true for local and regional runners as well, but the statistics tell us otherwise.
I have followed the local/regional running scene actively since the early 90's when I began running.
As a competitor for age group placings I have been curious as to current conditions compared to those 15 yrs.
ago.
I was a runner in what I'm going to refer to as the "Club Runner" category.
We were generally in the top 5-10% of finishers and competitive for age group awards.
My Pr's from the 90's were 16:04 - 5k, 33:40 - 10k, 1:15:27 for 1/2 marathon.
I did some research to see where runners from 15 yrs.
ago would compare to today.
Since I ran regionally and mostly in Pa.
I compared the same races from 1996-98 to 2009-11 and found some surprising results.
I compared the Sue Crowe Memorial Arts Festival Races and Nittany Valley 1/2 Marathon in State College,Pa.
The God's Country Marathon in Potter Co.
Pa, The Cooks Forest 1/2 Marathon in Clarion, Pa.
and the Butler Road Races in Butler Pa.
In all races I compared 3 yrs.
from the 90's - 1996,97,98 to 3 recent yrs.
-2009-10,11.
I averaged the top 3 finishers per age group for the respective decades.
Here's what I found.
(Some results courtesy of Runners High).
Arts Fest: (Ave.
pace per placewinner) OVERALL 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 1st.
5:08 - 5:34 5:23 - 6:01 5:31 - 5:50 5:41 - 5:51 6:30 - 6:28 2nd.
5:13 - 5:40 5:27 - 6:12 5:38 - 6:26 5:59 - 6:15 6:40 - 6:49 3rd.
5:19 - 5:49 5:34 - 6:23 5:50 - 6:40 6:01 - 6:26 6:46 - 7:02 NV 1/2 Marathon: ( Ave.
time per placewinner) OVERALL 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 1st.
1:12 - 1:17 1:14 - 1:21 1:16 - 1:21 1:20 - 1:21 1:32 - 1:23 2nd.
1:13 - 1:18 1:16 - 1:22 1:19 - 1:22 1:23 - 1:22 1:34 - 1:30 3rd.
1:14 - 1:19 1:18 - 1:23 1:22 - 1:24 1:27 - 1:24 1:36 - 1:3 Gods Country Marathon (Ave.
time per placewinner) OVERALL 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 1st.
2:47 - 2:46 3:08 - 3:10 2:54 - 3:20 2:55 - 3:14 3:17 - 3:28 2nd.
2:48 - 2:55 3:27 - 3:32 2:59 - 3:26 3:01 - 3:24 3:25 - 3:34 3rd 2:51 - 2:58 3:49 - 3:46 3:11 - 3:32 3:09 - 3:28 3:29 - 3:41 Cooks Forest 1/2 Marathon (Average Placewinner Time) OVERALL 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 1st 1:11 - 1:16 1:16 - 1:17 1:17 - 1:21 1:14 - 1:20 1:24 - 1:27 2nd.
1:13 - 1:17 1:20 - 1:19 1:17 - 1:26 1:17 - 1:22 1:25 - 1:29 3rd.
1:14 - 1:19 1:20 - 1:27 1:16 - 1:26 1:18 - 1:23 1:26 - 1:31 Butler Road Races (Ave.
pace per placewinner) OVERALL 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 90's - 00's 1st.
5:16 - 5:08 5:51 - 5:49 5:39 - 5:58 5:31 - 6:04 6:09 - 6:09 2nd.
5:21 - 5:24 6:02 - 5:54 5:48 - 6:11 5:38 - 6:16 6:15 - 6:29 3rd.
5:23 - 5:31 6:11 - 5:56 5:55 - 6:18 5:47 - 6:36 6:22 - 6:38 I took my analysis one step further.
I compared some of my personal races from 1991-93 to the most recent races to again see how I would compare.
Here's the results; Nittany Valley 1/2 Marathon - 1991 - 1:22 finished 7th overall, 3rd in age group (30-39).
Last yr.
I would have finished 14 overall, but won my age group Cherry Blossom 10 miler - 1992 - 59:49 - finished 150 overall.
This yr.
same time would have placed me 118.
Arts Fest 10k - 1992 - 35:53 finished 17, 3rd in age group (30-34).
In 1993 I ran 34:53 - finished 12th, won age group (35-39).
This yr.
I would have been 3rd overall and won my age group (either) with either effort.
Phila.
1/2 marathon - 1993 - 1:15:27, finished 146, 23rd.
in age.
Last fall I would have been 97 overall and 11 in age group.
I think the statistics speak for themselves that we "club runners" who were in our 30's in the 90's were a much better group than currently exists for the same age group.
No disrespect or anything, but generally speaking we got more out our talents and abilities than today's current group.
The numbers don't lie.
I tried to use a wide cross sample to allow for differences in courses,weather,etc.
but in race after race the 30-49 age group was much better "back in the day".
By contrast as we have gotten older, the times for 40-49, and 50-59's have gotten faster.
"We" are clearly better than the generation before.
But what about the generation after? Clearly there are more "runners" today than ever.
Large mega races sell out in hours, and runners today have distinct training advantages.
Coaches are readily available,runs,paces,performances and efforts can be dissected a million different ways, but performances are not improving.
The overall winners of races are still generally dominated by late teens and 20's, but the 30's and lower 40's are typically slower than 15 yrs.
ago.
The late 40' - 50's ( my age group) are mostly faster than 15 yrs.
ago.
The question I don't have an answer for is why.
Perhaps we were on the tail end of the running boom of the 70's.
When we ran larger races Americans were competitive (Steve Spence, Bill Reifsnyder, Jon Sinclair, Keith Dowling, Keith Brantley, etc.
were all American role models for us "Club Runners".
Perhaps it's title 9, perhaps "Gallowalking" and the popularity of leisurely running, or perhaps it's that today's 30-ealry 40 yr.
olds have other interests? Curious as to whether these results are specific to Central Pa.
in general or if they hold true for your areas? If so, what are your thoughts as to why we're getting slower? Welcome feedback.