FOLEPI RIVER TRAIL CLASSIC-2004-AGE-GRADING

EXPLANATION- by Jerry Crump

The World Association of Veteran’s Athletes (WAVA) compiled and developed tables of factors backed by 30 years of experience and thousands of actual results. The finished product describes the upper limits of performance at every age, sex, and distance. The standards correspond approximately to world-record marks for a person of that age and sex in that event. Given this upper limit, the tables enable a runner to compute two new descriptions of a running performance, as follows:

· Age-adjusted time: Adjusts actual time to what it would have been (or will be) in prime years.

· Performance-level percentage: Provides a percentage value that can be compared to any distance or age.

Achievement Levels: 100%= Approximate World-Record Level

Classes : 90-99%= World, 80-89%=National, 70-79%=Regional, 60-69%=Local

Look for the FOLEPI River Trail Classic age-graded results to be posted at www.ivs.org. the week following the race.

USES AND EXAMPLES

A runner did not start running till age 43. Now at age 48 what would have been his/her times at age 30?

A way of looking at yourself from another perspective. You are competing with the best in the world at your age and gender and are no longer competing with the finish times of others in a race. You are 15 years older than your buddy. Who really performed the best at that last 5K?

You may find yourself improving (or not slowing) even though you are getting older and your times slower.

You can aim for a certain percentage and then figure what time you need to get that percentage. This knowledge let’s you set goals for your workouts and races. A runner was at the 65% level the past 3 years and would like to perform at the 70% level this year.

Compare your performance to people of any age.

Compare your performance level % at different distances to find one’s “best distance”.

Allows for the selection of the best performance (s) in an event among all age groups.

Gives recognition to good performance in the younger and older age groups.

Enable those at the upper end of their age division to compete on an equal level with those at the lower end of the division.

“Full divisions” are virtually assured in every event, because everyone can mathematically compete in the same “division”.

It recognizes the best performances, not just participation. Often some divisions are not filled. With age-grading, recognition results in being good for their age, not for just being the only ones in their division.