Age grade targets give you a goal that’s meaningful, measurable, and age-appropriate — whatever your event and wherever you’re starting from.
Contents
Why time targets often fail for masters athletes
A time-based goal takes no account of your age, your event, or the physiological reality of masters athletics. The same target might be highly achievable for a 42-year-old and virtually impossible for a 65-year-old.
How to set an age grade target
Start by calculating your current age grade using your best performance from the last 12 months. Then set a target for the end of your next competitive season. A realistic improvement is 3–8 percentage points per year.
The goal-setting framework that works
- Know your current age grade — this is your baseline
- Set a target grade that’s stretching but achievable in one season
- Convert that target grade to the equivalent time or distance
- Build your training plan around closing that gap
- Review and reset each season
➡ Set your age grade target and get a training plan at themasterathlete.com/
