Is your 10k personal best from last year actually better than the one you set 25 years ago? Judged by age grade — the only fair measure across different stages of life — the answer might be yes.
A worked example
Imagine you ran 38:30 for 10k at age 30, and 46:15 at age 55. Both give an age grade of about 69% — essentially identical. You’ve maintained the same level of athletic excellence relative to your age for 25 years. That’s an extraordinary achievement.
The implication for how you see your own performance
Most masters athletes are significantly better athletes than they give themselves credit for. It’s entirely possible — and more common than you’d think — for a masters athlete to record their best-ever age grade in their 50s or 60s.
Why this matters for motivation
You’re not chasing a shadow of your younger self. You’re building on a lifetime of athletic development.
➡ Compare your times across different ages at themasterathlete.com/
