Age and Sex Grading by Bob Roncker

Age and Sex Grading When Measuring Performances
Submitted by Bob Roncker of Bob Roncker's Running Spot

Go to any local race and it's easy to see who is the fastest person there that day. Just look for the first individual that crosses the finish line. However, was that the best performance of the day? Usually the fastest runners or walkers are in their 20s or 30s. As we age, our oxygen capacity and muscle strength tends to wane. With that recession our running times tend to slide. What results if we take into consideration a person's age and sex?
Every standard distance has a world's best for each individual age and gender. Time is measured by numbers. Numbers attract statisticians. These individuals gather the data and compile them in books and computer software. As noted above, we physically peak in our 20s and 30s. If everything is equal throughout our life, a slide begins in the 30s. It is almost imperceptible at first. Creep enters during the 40s. The trickle becomes a flow in the 50s. The 60s are the rapids and the 70s and beyond just cascades in a free fall.
Mike Fremont submitted an interesting article for The Runner's Spotlite last year articulating the inequities existing among currently used 5-year age groupings when determining who receives awards. From the late 20s to early 40s the disparity among the world's best marathon times for each age within that range is very slight. Hence, the competition between a 30 year old person and a 34 year old (they are in the same age group) is pretty even. However, that difference magnifies as we age. Even though the 64 year old individual is only 4 years older than the youngster who is merely 60 (still in the same age group) their competition for the same age group award is biased because of the dramatically different physical attributes they have. The older person, who physically was the same as the 60 year old when he or she was the same age, is now at a distinct disadvantage because of highly diminished physical capabilities.
Age grading is a way of putting all race participants on a level playing field, regardless of age or gender. Age-graded scores let you compare your race times to those of different runners, as well as to the standard for your age and gender. Your age-graded score is the ratio of the approximate world-record time for your age and gender divided by your actual time. It is expressed as a percentage of the world best for your age and gender.
This year we began adding age-graded scores along with the typical scoring in our Dirt Days Trail Series. Greg McCormick, who has timed these races, has the software to rapidly spit out the results in an age-graded delineation as well as the standard breakdowns. You can see these results by going to: http://tinyurl.com/qgzbk5. I think if other races and directors included this type of information people would find it very interesting.
With it we see how we compare with our age group peers AND with the entire field. Awards could be passed out based upon performance and place. They would not simply be conferred on someone for being the only one in their age group to show up. If a particular age range includes a number of highly skilled individuals, quite a few of them may get awards.
There is another real value with this system. I know I am getting slower with each year. Looking at age-graded tables allows me to compare myself with earlier years. Perhaps I am holding my own or even improving relative to my age. Progress can be very motivating. I believe using this method to evaluate performances has a lot of merit.
For the first time ever I am going to incorporate age-grading in our ranking system in The Runner's Spotlite. I don't know the results yet and it will be interesting to see how the Top 25 Open runners compare when using both time based and age-graded based formulas.