M.O.R.E.: Older Women are Better?

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Older Women are Better?

I found this interesting NY Times article that discusses why women run better and faster in the older age groups. My friends and I have made the same observations. What we've noticed in many of the races that we've participated in is that the first place female is often in her 40's and that the toughest age group actually happens to be in the 45-50 age group. Sure, there are those few young runners that do win the races, but as a whole the older age groups seem to have the most fastest runners. Why is it that women get faster as they age up to a point, while men get slower? I always attributed it to the fact that many women in the younger age groups are busy finishing their education, having babies, or raising young children and therefore generally lacked the time to put into the running. Looking back at my own life, I really don't think I would have had the time or energy to run regularly while I was in my 30's. The article in the Times suggest that the improvement is due to the fact that we tend to take it more "seriously" as we become older. We appreciate the running more because we didn't have the opportunity to compete as young women and feel a new sense of accomplishment. I'm not sure I completely agree with that. Anyhow, read for yourself. And even if you're not in your 40's yet, trust me you'll be there sooner than you realize. At least there's hope and it's not all downhill after your 30's. Maybe there's something to look forward to?

"SEE JANE RUN: SEE HER RUN FASTER AND FASTER"
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/health/nutrition/30Fitness.html

5 comments:

Patty said...: Hmm, I guess I don't know what I am capable of. I feel good when I run, but when I am in a group or in a race I realize how "average" I am. I don't aspire for a 1st place in my age group, just a better time than the last one. I find that running with others makes me run faster, when you run by yourself, you just find a comfortable pace and stick with it.; May 28, 2009 at 10:49 PM
justme said...: i just moved into the 40 rage and i was like, hell these ladies are fast. i always thought it was due to the fact that as we age the women who run average DON"T want to run races anymore, so the only 40 and older running are the serious atheletes ????; May 29, 2009 at 5:12 AM
Claire said...: Well, I guess that gives me hope! I'll be joining the 30's in about 6 months, so I am on my way to being with the fast women.

And I do hope that as I get a bit older, that I will have more time to devote to running. Right now it seems like there is never any time!; May 29, 2009 at 6:52 AM
marathon mom said...: Claire, just like you said, that's why I think there's more of us in the 40's that are running faster than their younger groups. We just have more time to dedicate to it. Also for those of us that run with a lot of talented runners routinely, we need a reality check. My friends and I gripe about our times and pace, but when thrown into a race with the "average" population, we're not so bad. And there's just as many, if not more, women running in the 40's age group than the younger ones so maybe you increase your odds of having faster runners?; May 29, 2009 at 7:29 AM
Claire said...: Well I continue to be in awe of your paces/times, so in my mind, your group is anything but average!!

I got a Garmin for Mother's Day, and I haven't used it yet since I'm fighting yet another cold. I am nervous to find out for sure just how slow I am!; May 29, 2009 at 5:54 PM

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Favorite Trails

South Fork 3.1: Start from dirt parking lot on Magic Mtn Pkway and run to the loop at Wiley Bridge and return the same way.

Tesoro 3.25: Start in Albertson parking lot and take sidewalk/trail until it ends and then enter the water tower road to the top two towers where the ends. Return the same way.

Chesebrough 3.25/4.60: From Chesebrough Park, N. to Copperhill, So. on Bike Trail, turn around at Decoro, back up trail to power lines to bridge at park. Turn around at Heritage will give you 4.6 miles.

Chesebrough 3.5: Chesebrough Park down to McBean, south to Northpark Dr., the paseo trailhead. Take the paseo to Helmers and back. Very hilly.

Bridgeport 4.0: Fairly flat, run toward Lowes and under Bouquet bridge to RiverPark community until you reach the closed gates and return. For a hilly run, go north into Helmers and run up the paseo switchbacks into Northpark where the paseo ends and return the same way.

Chesebrough 4.0: N. to Copperhill to west side of river trail, run S. on Bike Trail past Decoro bridge, across Decoro to the east side of river trail, up back to power lines trail, back to park.

Chesebrough 4.0: From park down power line trail to Heritage Park and back same way.

Bridgeport 4.0: From School, cross McBean via bridge or street and head into industrial center on Ave. Scott Bridge and enter bike trail going south toward the train bridge. Turn around at train bridge and return same way or cross the bridge and head toward Peet's after crossing train bridge and back onto the Lowes Trail.

Heritage 4.0: From park, run up bike trail to Decoro, over McBean Bridge into Helmers, and into Bridgeport through lake trail back to park. Can be done in reverse. Moderately hilly.

Chesebrough 4.25: Chesebrough north to Copperhill, left to Albertson side of bike trail. Run south on trail to Decoro and cross over bridge and head north all the way to Copperhill on east side of river trail and back to the park the same way as started.

Cheese/Decoro/Helmers 4.25: From the park, down dirt trail to bike path, south to Decoro. Leave bike path at Decoro and cross paseo bridge at McBean. Stay on paseo up hill towards Helmers. Run up water tower trail once then continue on to switchbacks and paseos back to park.

Heritage/Bridgeport 3.3: Heritage Park south to McBean Bridge @ Panera. Cross and head toward Lowes bike trail and head east toward Bridgeport Park. Halfway mark is at park bathroom, head back by entering trail along the lake and back onto the bridge.

Lowes 4.25: Lowe's parking lot to McBean, cross the bridge and to South Fork. At Valencia Bridge, enter trail behind Hart Baseball diamonds. Continue on trail to Bouquet and across the bridge on the east side and back under the bridge again towards Lowes.

Peet's & Decoro 5.2: Peet's Coffee to train bridge path; to Decoro and across bridge; back down McBean side of bike trail back to Peete's.

Peet's & Wiley 6.0: Start at Peet's Coffee and head east toward South Fork trail and past the Wiley Bridge. Keep running another 200 yards to where the trail forks left and right. Turn back same way.

Peet's & Copperhill 6.0: From Peet's to bike trail heading north to Copperhill and back.

Albertson 7.0: From the Albertson parking lot on Copperhill, enter the westside bike trail and head south until the train bridge. Return the same way.

Peet's 8.5: Run to Copperhill on east side of river trail and return via train bridge on other side.

Lowes 10: Start in the Lowes parking lot. Enter the bike trail heading west. At McBean, cross the bridge and head east toward SouthFork trail. Continue on trail until you come to the Wiley bridge and head back the same way.

McBean 14: This route can be done from anywhere along the trail route. Starting from McDonald's across the post office, run to the end of the South Fork trail and return the same way, cross the McBean bridge and run on the Lowes trail until you hit Bridgeport Elementary and then cross Newhall Ranch via the bridge or street and run back towards McBean. Continue north on McBean until you hit Copperhill. At Copperhill, cross McBean and enter San Francisquito bike trail and run south on the trail until you are back at McDonalds.