Attrition
Over the years, we get used to going to key races, such as the regional USATF Grand Prix Series, and seeing our friends and rivals there. That’s a big reason why we travel to these races. Many of us keep track of our times and places at these events and maybe note who we beat or beat us. Yes, this can be obsessive, but it’s also part of the fun! Yet, as we age, we see fewer of our cohort showing up. We invariably hear directly or through the pipeline about the reasons why: an acute or chronic injury; a serious debilitating illness; an unwillingness to train as workouts feel harder and less fulfilling; less motivation due to slowing times; and even death. The data bears this out. Results from the 2019 BAA Distance Medley Races (5K, 10K, Half Marathon) with over 23,000 finishers, showed that 80% of the field was under age 50; 14% were 50-59 and just 6% over 60. Last Saturday’s New Hampshire 10 Miler, a tough, hilly Grand Prix race that weeded out some younger casual runners, drew 1,088 finishers. Of those 33% were over 50 and 11% over 60, with just 23 runners 70 and older. It would be an interesting longitudinal study to … Continue reading