How a Running Age Calculator Can Help You Compare Running Performance As You Age- Answers to FAQs About Age Graded Calculators
What is the purpose of a running age calculator and percentage age grade in running?
The purpose of using percentage age grading in running is to put all runners, regardless of age or sex, on an equal playing field.
Think of it this way! If you are running over your ‘prime’ running age, you can compare your times much more fairly using a running age grade calculator.
As a runner, you want to know how you are doing. Is your training working? How does your fitness compare to last season or how does the start of your training cycle vary from the past? These questions get more challenging to answer as you age and a natural decline occurs in your time.
How is a running age calculator designed?
Running times are age-corrected to show a runner what the equivalent performance would have been at various younger running ages. They are typically calculated using ages in the 20s and 30s depending on the distance.
The most recent version of the running percentile calculator bases the “age-factors” on the prime age of 27.
A running percentile calculator is a great motivational tool. You can see improvements in percentage age grade in running even if your actual times are slowing down.
Where and how can you access an age graded running calculator?
Here is a link to an easy to Use Running Age-Graded Calculator (USATF Masters Calculator):
USATF Masters Calculator
This age graded running calculator uses Road Event Age-grading factors (2020), which are maintained by Alan Jones.
What exactly do the percentage age grade results mean?
An example is the best way to explain running percentage age grade results.
If you are a 62 year old female, let’s say you plug in your 5K time of 26:18. Your percentage age grade is 72.05% (super fast!).
Thus, you rank in the regional class level. You are about 28% off the fastest 5K run by a 62 year old female.
The calculator also shows you the age-graded result of 20:26, which would be your ‘time’ at your prime.
How are the running age grades created?
The process of developing these running age grades is very complex and has changed over time.
For example, as women’s distance running times have improved, the charts required updating. New records resulted in performance grading scores over 100%….crazy!
Like most technology and athletic related endeavors, the age graded calculator options for runners evolve.
What is a ‘good’ running age grade?
Well, the fact that you are running at ANY pace is a good thing!!! Keep it up. However, to answer the specific question, what is a good age grade for running…
The higher the percentage, the higher you rank and the better the performance is..
Standards developed by the World Association of Veteran Athletes for athletes ages 5-100:
100% – World Record Level
Over 90% – World Class
Over 80% – National Class
Over 70% – Regional Class
Over 60% – Local Class
Want to view an age graded running chart?
A running chart by age can give you a better understanding of your fitness level taking into account normal aging.
If you want to view a chart with times for various distances, we recommend this site.
http://misweb.cbi.msstate.edu/~rpearson/wom.html
Simply plug in your current age and you can view distances (including mile, 5k, 10k, ½ marathon, etc) and see what your age-adjusted time would be.
What about the proposed 2022 Age Factors from World Masters Athletics?
Recent updates are available! Visit the World Masters Athletics site and scroll to “download the Excel spreadsheet’. You can then access the most recent calculator with new factors taken into account.
As noted on their site, more athletes are competing at older ages than ever before.
Because record performances continue to occur at a faster rate, the latest proposed age graded calculator are updated.
What is the history behind the Running Age Graded Tables?
The initial booklet, Masters Age Graded Tables, was created by National Masters News and the World Association of Veteran Athletes back in 1989.
Looking back, the first tables did include all track and field, long distance events, and race-walking events, but they only covered ages 30 and up.
Alan Jones and other running experts created updated tables using a method that fit curves to data. You can access the Masters Running Age Graded Tables and Age Grade Running Charts (multiple versions available showing how the charts evolved over time) below.
Where can you access more information about running, including being an amazing over 40 runner?
Be sure to listen to our podcast, Running After Age 40, for stories and inspiration for real runners putting in the work!
Share our gift guide for runners with your friends and family just in time for the holidays!
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