Attaining a Good For Age time

2»

Comments

  • Stevie  GStevie G ✭✭✭✭
    Barry B wrote (see)
     

    I'm must be below averageimage, 39 min 10K, 1:27 HM but only managed a 3:16 and 3:17 at marathon,  

    What level you are at what pace must be one of the most oft debated things on this forum.

    The truth is it's all relative and depends who you compare to.

    If you compare to your average office slacker, the times you mention are terrific.

    If you compare to your 18-40 male who puts 50/60miles a week in they're probably distinctly average.

    compare to the best in the world and it's as good as a different sport...

  • WardiWardi ✭✭✭

    There have been movers & shakers at work amongst veteran's groups & individuals who are trying to make the GFA system fairer.  I have copied a few extracts from another forum and the important points are below in italics..

    An interesting piece of news on the "good for age" entries.
    Our own Jeff Aston (LM ever present) is currently submitting his "stats" to David Bedford, to hopefully change the London Marathon "good for age" entries.
    At the moment you will see that the 41 to 59 year olds have the same qualifying times. Jeff thought that this was unfair to the late 50s and decided to do some stats to divide the groups into smaller age groups.  His idea went through Welsh Masters, then British masters. I then as secretary obtained the backing of Martin Duff and Steve Smythe from Athletics Weekly and approached Dave Bedford alongside Jeff. Dave has now asked Jeff to compile the stats and it looks hopeful that they will be adopted for 2013 or 2014.

    When the GFA proposal from Jeff was submitted to the London Marathon, being the BMAF Road Race Secretary at that time, I also had a massive interest in Jeffs proposal. Nothing has happened since, to be exact David Bedford had only agreed to look at them.  As there had not been any noticable movement on the proposal, I personally spoke to Dave Bedford on this in London last week and he seemed to think that Jeff's info was mislaid. Jeff has now submitted his updated proposal with this year's (2012) stats included, to Dave and the new Director Hugh Brasher and they have both been received by them. All I can say is watch this space!

    Jeff's stats took into consideration the number of masters finishing within each age band over the last few years and when his suggested GFA entry totals were applied it still did not exceed the current range of competing masters in the VLM. Therefore the VLM would not have a problem with final totals. Should the totals increase, it would be relatively easy to tweek the age band times to reduce the final total masters entries. In recent years though, the overall average race finishing times seem to have become slower than the average times produced 20 year ago, which makes Jeff's GFA proposition in age bands a much fairer entry system to the o/50 applicants.

    So there we are, I will only believe it when I see it but these proposals are simply common sense.  Doesn't stop me wishing I was 25 again though!

  • Wardi - hope that doesn't backfire and result in New York GFA times for VLM!

    40 - 44: 2:50

    55 - 59: 3:15



    What are peoples views in using half marathon times as GFA. E.g, for NYC, for 40 - 44 male, 1:23 HM time is needed. I've not achieved this, nor a 2:50 mara. If I was in the US and wanted in to NYC using GFA, I would go for the HM time. Plenty more oppotunities to train, race and recover.
  • Interesting to see the half vs marathon comparisons for people. I only started running at 49 and did my first marathon just over a year later (London aged 50). I achieved GFA in this - 03:12:xx - off of a pb half time of 01:33;xx. I have got a little faster ever since and this year at 57 I did my second sub 3hrs (02:57:xx) and my half pb is only 01:27:xx.

    According to the expert predictors this shouldn't be possible. I have concluded that I just have one gear in the gearbox hence my forum name!

  • I think progression has much more to do with numbers of continuous years running, most of us peak around 7-10years into it although there exceptions I'm sure.

  • Stevie  GStevie G ✭✭✭✭

    Also Ran, are they seriously equating a 1hr 23 half marathon with a 2:50 marathon?

    ie, losing a mere 4mins over the same distance again?

    Pure bonkers.I've done a fair bit quicker than 1hr 23, yet wouldn't be at all confident of breaking 2:50 for a marathon if i trained for the distance.

  • Hi SG, yes I was really surprised - I had a look recently to see the times as I fancy doing it some time in the future without buying a International Tour Company place.

    The times look like this for 2013 onwards;

    Men

    Age Marathon 1/2 Marathon

    18-39 2:45:00 1:19:00
    40-44 2:50:00 1:23:00
    45-49 2:58:00 1:25:00
    50-54 3:06:00 1:29:00
    55-59 3:14:00 1:33:00
    60-64 3:24:00 1:39:00
    65-69 3:35:00 1:42:00
    70+ 3:46:00 1:48:00

     

    Women

    Age Marathon 1/2 Marathon
    18-39 3:10:00 1:30:00
    40-44 3:25:00 1:37:00
    45-49 3:35:00 1:42:00
    50-54 3:49:00 1:48:30
    55-59 3:52:00 1:50:00
    60-64 4:10:00 1:58:00
    65-69 4:26:00 2:06:00
    70+ 4:50:00 2:17:00

    Pretty tough Marathon times comapred to VLM. "In recent years we’ve experienced a significant increase in applicants for guaranteed entry (entry that is accepted automatically) to the ING New York City Marathon. This has reduced the number of non-guaranteed entries (entry that must go through our random drawing on Marathon Opening Day). If this trend continues, within five years we will no longer be able to offer non-guaranteed entry. "

  • Stevie  GStevie G ✭✭✭✭

    ahh i'd qualify on the half time then image

    Having said that, the London marathon championship qualifying times are harder for men , you need a sub 1hr 15 or sub 2hr 45.

    that's a more reaslistic like for like comparison.

  • Do you offer a Pacing service SG image - need to find 2 minutes from somewhereimage

  • Stevie  GStevie G ✭✭✭✭

    Haha, I'd probably get you round for sub 1hr 23 ok, but I expect the splits would be a ridiculous story of too fast start, average middle and fast end!

  • HellywobsHellywobs ✭✭✭

    So how do you know what the GFA times are for ladies under 40, given they give a range of 3.15 - 3.50?  Do they work it out depending on how many GFA entries they have?  Although it's more difficult for the guys, at least they set out the times, it seems very opaque for the ladies.

     

     

  • Also-ranAlso-ran ✭✭✭

    That is the range you will have to be in (3.15 - 3.50). If you beat 3.15 in a qualifying race then you will be on the Championship start (also sub 1.30 half will qualify for this).

  • Helly-  I think sub 3:15 for a lady will get you a champs start and sub 3:50 is GFA. It does not depend on number of entries, it is just a matter of getting the GFA time to qualify.  This is why the male times are tougher because a lot more men run and therefore more are capable of getting these times.

Sign In or Register to comment.