You find you repeat yourself more as you get older, found it a lot with my parents ![]()
fair play to him…
its the only way I am ever going to win anything - keep going until everyone in the age group gives up
I hope we’re not in the same age group as I’m currently on my 35 year training plan !
I still have the will and desire at 57, it’s just that my body gives me new injuries every few months that stop any meaningful training especially running.
Slightly gutted as that is my main love, especially off road mountain terrain. I’m struggling mentally at the moment to throw in the towell and up the walking and thus admit defeat.
Yes, I’m trying to slow down my running and walking some of the hills, partly due to lack of fitness and partly so that I can keep going for longer! Really enjoyed getting out on Saturday and today even though both were fairly short.
I’ve been having an e-mail discussion with some old school mates recently as we’re hoping to have a get together some time - was planned for last year but COVID scuppered that
we’re all in our late 60’s now and it’s like sitting in the A&E of a hospital comparing all the bits that don’t work fully, what pills we’re on, what scares we’ve had.
FML
I noticed this as my parents aged and I was in Oz. Over the years, the phone conversations would be less about what they’ve been up to and more about various medical ailments, mostly about their friends!
Not sure if it’s age related or lack of fitness but it certainly takes a bit longer to get over a very hard effort these days. I’ve struggled a bit since Saturday but I think the fact that it was such a big effort compared to recently is probably a big factor in it as well.
Strava says there was about 2.5 hours at threshold which would probably equate to 3:15-3:20 marathon pace I think.
And the standing desk at work might be adding to a bit of fatigue although I should be getting adapted to it now after nearly 4 months since being back onsite in January.
Some interesting points here and off Mungo and Nick, I’ve not quite been in the 1:20 league though.
As I’m approaching 51 in about 3 weeks I’m still at the young end of the spectrum so will need to see what happens in the next few years. I know my 5K last week was a bit false due to the trainers but with a decent block I think I could get towards 19:20ish without too much pain, from there to PB territory (18:45) would be a bigger challenge though.
I think where I’d struggle more is at MP, I’m not sure about the desire to hurt at that level for 3 hours, although Saturday wasn’t miles off.
As per mungo’s comments, it’s as much a question of who slows down the least, I know weights and strength work can slow down the aging process and I think it also stimulates hormones like T, diet as well which is something I’m at best C+ with.
But my cycling over shorter intense distances has been OK and slightly returning in recent weeks, possibly due to doing some heavy leg presses as well.
I now need to avoid overdoing it again though and getting plenty of recovery, I usually sleep fairly well but still get carried away with several big sessions PW.
1:20 half?
That was over by a min and decades ago, I was probably in my best shape ever endurance wise in 2010, so guys in there late thirties early forties can still get faster over the longer stuff if all the planets align.
I whole heartedly agree with the tough stuff I basically did two hours hard fri, sat and Sunday.
IMUK panic maybe, as this deviated drastically from the plan and 80/20 went right out of the window.
Had to, and I mean had to …have my rest day today, as totally destroyed in every dept.
Well done on the times, your a step up from me, getting a 20 min run split in a tri last year was a nice touch for me but it took some work.
Upping the weights and intervals now to try and help my feeble bike power.
Sorry, the 1:20 was @Sparky
I’m looking to do a sprint in a few weeks and would like to get sub 21 on the 5K. Might be possible.
I do need to pay more attention to the lower intensity stuff though, and still sometimes do an easy session to fast. E.g. tonight I did an easy 5K and should have tried to keep the HR at aerobic, was about 8 beats over because I couldn’t get off the dreadmill quick enough!
I should also say I’m impressed with your long sessions, I couldn’t face much like that right now but I’m not about 9 weeks from a tough Ironman 
Chatting to a guy at Oxford Station yesterday who had finished the Centurion Thames Path 100 in about 23 hrs 13 - he was 62 - made me look at the finishing stats.
Winner did 13:43 - course record - amazing
First person in the M70 category finished in 23;36 - Ken Fancett - he is a legend at these events - his 31st 100 mile event with Centurion alone. Even more amazing.
Makes my 71 mile can’t be arsed dnf seem a bit pathetic now 
They are the real outliers though.
Out lying in a field somewhere?
Yep, there are certainly some good fell runners who seemed to have escaped the mere mortal injuries, aches and pains.
There was that chap, can’t remember his surname, Ken someoneorother who did the Bob Graham a few years ago aged 71 I think.
Does get me somewhat miffed that my temple is bruised and battered and nearly always injured boo hoo.
I’m a firm believer that age is at least partially in the mind. I am not going to blame slowing down, bad training sessions, slow recovery ( or even bad hangovers) on age until I have no other options.- Everyone I’ve known who has started the “i’m getting old” chant seems to have got old faster.
How old are you? We all said that when we were younger 
I think in endurance sport, it’s less about age and more about when you started. I’m in my 38th year of ES now and I’m knackered but if you take it up later in life then it makes a difference IMO.
51.- And not noticed any differences in my life so far that could only be because of my age.
I’m point blank getting slower, but if you compare yourself to the younger you 10, 15, 20 years ago you should be, unless you were messing about or 4 stone heavier back in the day.
A 40 year old me would leave me for dead and be changed and gone before i got my medal.
Age group wise I had a 4 th in a sprint tri last year , this was my only race were I wasn’t in the top 3 for 4? Years.
Excluding m.dot and national qualifier events.
My aim is top ten in those as there a very high standard.
Which is probably better than the 40 year old flyer these days as the sport has moved on.
If your still enjoying the process / training / riding and running with guys decades younger keep going … and going … and going.