In the last few newsletters we’ve been threatening further information on the Age-Graded Tables published by the World Association of Veteran Athletes. These allow us to compare performances at different ages (by year) and different events (14 different distances between 5k and 100k) by scoring as a percentage of the actual or estimated world best for the event at that age. This way you can set a target each year, which as you get older, means you need not get faster, just that you don’t slow down as much as the world best i.e. you make a relative improvement.
This is now they work. You should have a photocopied sheet with this newsletter. First make sure you’re looking at the correct side — one is for men, the other for women (and can also be used by wimmin)
Take as an example a 40 year old man running a 10k in 36:08.
Look up the standard for a 10k for man age 40 - 27min 52.lsecs
Convert the standard 27:52.1 to seconds = 1672.1.
Convert your time of 36:08 to seconds = 2168.
Multiply 1672.1 by 100, then divide by 2168 = 77.1%
Another example: a 37 year old woman running lOmiles in 63:00. The standard is 50:04 and the calculation is 3004 * 100 / 3780 = 79.4%
The WAVA gives achievement levels of 90% = world class, 80% = national class, 70% = regional class, 60% = local class.
All you have to do is perform these calculations for your own performances. Get your calculator out! First try your PBs at various distances, and see whether the one that you regard as your overall best scores the best percentage. Now try the same with your performances at other ages. Have you managed to score a higher percentage since your PB?