What It Takes to Make the Grade.

id you ever wonder how fast you would have to run to be one of those select

few who bring home a trophy at the end of a marathon? With an analysis of 16 marathons, we were able to get some idea of the answer. The marathons were grouped into four groups, according to size.

THE MARATHONS

The marathons chosen for this analysis had these things in common:

¢ They were all road races.

¢ They were geographically diverse; that is, they were selected from all regions of the country.

¢ Their age-group awards were easily researched through the Internet.

¢ Results were from 2002 except for Houston, which was 2003.

Table One shows the selected group, segmented by size.

TABLE ONE Class Size Marathons Mega 10,000+ Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City Large 4000-9999 Houston, Philadelphia, Portland (OR), Twin Cities

Medium 1000-3999 Baltimore, Dallas White Rock, Detroit, Tucson

Small 400-999 Atlanta, Classic City (Olympia, WA), Lincoln (NE), Rocket City (Huntsville)

THE RESULTS

It is clear from tables two through fifteen (see pages xx-xx) that the larger marathons attract the faster runners. The elite runners, usually in the 25- to 40-year-old classes, invariably go where prize money is offered. Thus, we have the remarkable average of 2:08 for the first-place winners in the 30-34 year age class and 2:24 in the women’s 25-29 category. Beyond these runners, we have the relatively mortal age-group winners.

It is also noticeable that the other age-group winners are faster at the largest marathons. This phenomenon is probably due to a combination of factors. More fast runners are available for pacing, and winning a megamarathon age group is more prestigious. It is probably easier to run a faster time in the “large” marathons, where congestion is not quite so severe after the first mile, but the fastest runners are attracted to the crowds.

Notes

Since these tables are averages for four marathons per class, they can be influenced by one particularly slow race. The weather during the Los Angeles Marathon, for example, was very warm and resulted in times that slowed the averages of the other races in the megamarathon class.

Who Are the Age-Group Winners?

If you were to study the names of the age-group winners (excluding the elite marathon classes) in major marathons, you would not remember them as former Olympians. Some winners labored in the shadows of the elites and emerged when the Olympian-caliber athletes retired. The elites seem to hang up their competitive shoes rather than be happy with a 2:25 age-group win. Other winners were introduced to running later in life and found they had a natural talent that quickly surfaced.

Those who win age groups run more, train harder, and are more genetically gifted than those who don’t. Elements of sacrifice are involved. In some cases, work, family, or relationships take a back seat to running. In other cases, these runners manage to balance professional and family successes with running.

How You Can Win an Age-Group Award

The easiest way to win an age-group award is to select a smaller race, maybe one that is scheduled close to the same time as a major race. Study the results from the years before and determine whether it is within your reach. For example, take a talented 50-year-old man who typically runs around 3:10 and a talented 40-year-old woman who runs around 3:40.

Rather than run year in, year out in megamarathons without placing in the age groups, either of these runners could take a break from the Bostons and New Yorks by attempting a smaller race that might yield an age-group award.

Two April marathons that would be good targets are the Kentucky Derby Marathon in Louisville, Kentucky, and the New Jersey Shore Marathon. Since Boston corners the market and the faster age-group runners, these marathons would tend to require slower times to place.

In October, the Lakefront Marathon in Milwaukee is a good choice because of its proximity to Chicago and the Twin Cities. The Baltimore Marathon also is scheduled close to both the New York City Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon, offering an easier chance to medal. According to the results in 2002 (2003 for the Kentucky Derby, since it did not have a 2002 marathon), a 3:10 finishing time for the 50-year-old male and a 3:40 for the 40-year-old female would result in the following places:

50-year-old male 3:10 40-year-old female 3:40

Kentucky Derby 3rd place Ist place New Jersey Shore Ist place 2nd place Lakefront 2nd place 2nd place Baltimore 3rd place 3rd place

It is helpful for the smaller races to have enough runners to help with pacing. Marathons with 100 runners make it very difficult to maintain an even pace when the marathoner is running alone in the later miles.

Of course, winning a medal is not the reason we run marathons, but if you want to feel more like a hero, a break from the megamarathons is a good idea. As far as your ancestors will know, you were a winner at a significant event. And a midrace tip: don’t assume the runner you are stalking in the marathon is in your age group because of their male-pattern baldness, gray and thinning hair, or wrinkled appearance. Some runners look 10 years younger than they are, but just as many look 10 years older, and we’re not a breed prone to face-lifts, either. Assume that guy or woman you are trying to beat in the last 200 yards is definitely in your age—and go for it!

TABLE TWO Ages 15-19: Male and Female Average Times for Places 1-3

Class M1 M2 M3 F1 F2 F3 Mega 2:35 2:46 2:54 3:21 3:34 3:41 Large 2:51 2:55 3:02 3:41 3:45 3:46 Medium 3:21 3:37 3:45 3:24 3:50 3:53 Small 3:18 3:53 4:09 4:05 4:32 4:43

TABLE THREE Ages 20-24: Male and Female Average Times for Places 1-3

Class M1 M2 M3 Fi F2 F3 Mega 2:13 2:16 2:19 2:43 2:49 2:59 Large 2:23 2:36 2:42 3:02 3:06 3:12 Medium 2:33 2:49 2:58 3:09 3:24 3:25 Small 2:55 3:04 3:11 3:21 3:38 3:49

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TABLE FOUR Ages 25-29: Male and Female Average Times for Places 1-3

Class M1 M2 M3 F1 F2 F3 Mega 2:10 i. ZEIIS 2:24 2:33 2:39 Large 2:18 2:24 2:28 2:56 3:01 3:03 Medium 2:34 2:43 2:48 2:58 3:08 3:17 Small 2:46 3:02 3:08 3:10 3:30 3:46

TABLE FIVE Ages 30-34: Male and Female Average Times for Places 1-3

Class M1 M2 M3 F1 F2 F3 Mega 2:08 2:11 ZB 2:26 2:29 2-32) Large 2:25 2:28 2:30 2:47 2:49 3:00 Medium 2:24 2:28 2:33 2:58 3:01 3:12 Small 2:40 2:45 2:49 3:15 3:21 3:29

TABLE SIX Ages 35-39: Male and Female Average Times for Places 1-3

Class M1 M2 M3 F1 F2 F3 Mega 2:20 2:25 2:28 2533) 2:37 2:49 Large 2:28 2:33 2:38 2:48 2:54 3:02 Medium 2:39 2:42 2:48 3:01 3:12 3:17 Small 2:38 2:46 D-Ill 3:00 3:25 3:33

TABLE SEVEN Ages 40-44: Male and Female Average Times for Places 1-3

Class M1 M2 M3 F1 F2 F3 Mega 2:24 2:28 2-3) 2:45 2:51 2:56 Large 2:27 2:30 2:35 2:45 2:56 3:01 Medium 2:34 2:48 2:49 2:55 3:15 3:22 Small 2:38 2:48 2:49 3:12 3:22 3:34

TABLE EIGHT Ages 45-49: Male and Female Average Times for Places 1-3

Class M1 M2 M3 Fi F2 F3 Mega 2:33 2:37 2:42 2:45 3:01 3:10 Large 2:42 2:45 2:51 3:09 3:15 3:18 Medium 2:42 2:49 2:55 3:28 3:38 3:40 Small 2:50 2:56 3:04 3:27 3:41 3:47

TABLE NINE Ages 50-54: Male and Female Average Times for Places 1-3

Class M1 M2 M3 Fi F2 F3 Mega 2:39 2:50 2:51 3:15 3:21 3:25 Large 2:56 2:58 2:59 3:17 3:29 3:39 Medium 3:01 3:06 3:09 3:40 3:45 3:49 Small 2:52 3:04 3:09 3:49 4:00 4:08

TABLE TEN Ages 55-59: Male and Female Average Times for Places 1-3

Class M1 M2 M3 Fi F2 F3 Mega 2:54 3:01 3:03 3:19 3:33 3:41 Large 2:56 3:04 3:09 3:28 3:40 3:53 Medium 3:09 3:13 3:19 3:41 3:55 4:09 Small 3:05 3:16 3:22 4:00 4:33 4:29

TABLE ELEVEN Ages 60-64: Male and Female Average Times for Places 1-3

Class M1 M2 M3 FI F2 F3 Mega 3:01 3:06 3:12 3:49 4:00 4:11 Large 3:13 3:23 3:24 3:51 4:28 4:38 Medium 3:16 3:26 3:40 4:06 4:17 4:48 Small 3:30 3:45 3:54 4:26 5:11 =