Over 60 runners what is your best 5k time after age 60 (Read 131 times)

I was on a non running forum (this is a weight lifting and general fitness Forum.

So this one poster thought that any 60 year old could run a 21 minute 5k.

In my opinion this time would be better than most could run.

I'm not even 60 and I haven't managed a 21 minute 5k.  (I ran a 21:03 downhill once.)

 

So this one poster thought that any 60 year old could run a 21 minute 5k.

 

He probably thinks anyone could BQ as well. Actually I think that may be more likely than a 60 yo running a 21:00 5K.

21:22 at age 60.  All downhill from there, into the 22s.

Well it's pretty ridiculous to say "any 60 yo could run a sub-21", since obviously most can't. I think it takes a tremendous amount of talent. I started running later in life, managed my PR of 20:09 at age 51, and at 53 now I figure it will be downhill from here. I have no expectations of sub-21 in 7 years. (Assuming I ever get back to running at all, since I've been injured the last few months.)

A few weeks ago, a 60yo guy in a local race near me ran an 18:24. I thought that was pretty damn impressive.

My friend (who is on this forum but would never toot his own horn) ran 19:00, 38:35 and 1:24:09 at 63 years old.  Very inspirational.

Wasn't a world-beater in his youth.  I think a 2:40's marathoner and 34ish 10K guy if I remember correctly.

Also two 60+ guys in my club ran about 19:30 give or take 5 seconds on a July 4th 5K two weeks ago.

Now that 18:24 run by the 60 year old...that is seriously impressive!

I don't run many races, but have run 3 three 5ks since turning 60. In 2011 at age 60 I did 27:41, 2012 I ran 27:34 and got 2nd in age group. Not particularly fast, but there was a 100 foot climb from 1/2 a mile to 1 1/2 miles. Last year on my 66th birthday I ran a flat course with a 28:41 time. My Garmin, which I got last year, lists my fastest 5k time as 27:44, achieved as part of a half marathon last September. Now a 21 minute 5k, that pace would be better than 7 minute miles! With enough training and dedication could I run that fast? Maybe. I am currently training to BQ and would like a 4:05:00 marathon to do so (4:10:00 is the qualifying for my age, but need to be faster to avoid the cutoff). A race equivalency chart says I would need to be able to do a like a 7:15 mile and a 25 minute 5k. Working on it! But even racing at a 7:15 pace would be a 22 :30 5k. To return to the stated premise, could any 60 year old attain a 21 minute 5k? Well, only a small fraction would be willing to try. However, my guess is that any 60 year old, if in good heath and having no disabilities, trains hard and long enough they just might!