Well the point is to level the playing field, but the AG system actually goes beyond that making it favourable to the older athlete. I mean it’s as good as you’re likely to get.
Our club standards follow a similar thing and the gold standards although achieveable require a heck of a lot of work for 18-39 Males and 18-34 females. 4:15 1,500, 15:55 5k 2:39 marathon etc
Then you get older and all of sudden people who were never really close start banging in silver and gold standards all over.
I’m not saying it’s wrong but I suspect it is skewed by age grading of elites probably does follow those percentages as they are many years past their peak by mid-40’s where as those who maybe don’t start running till 20’s or later have a younger ‘running age’ so don’t start peaking till 30’s and beyond (though will never likely hit the heights of those who combined Youth with years of development). Just my two pennies anyway:)
Yep, i agree with all of that Tom. The pros, whilst they could probably hit very similar times to their peaks when they are in their 40s are very unlikley to continue to approach the sport with that level of commitment, so there’ll be a statistically significant drop once they hit retirement age, which as you note, skews the AG world records.
So what we’re saying is for the older chaps on here to pipe down, we’re not giving you that much of an easy ride!!! 18:38 5kms at 45 just are not going to cut it!!!