5 year age categories please

Here is a plea to race organisers (from a race organiser) to please show your results in 5 year age splits. 10 year age groupings are far too wide, I want to compare myself with someone who may be 5 years younger than me not 10. I can understand race organisers not wanting to provide prizes for all of the 5 year groupings and I am not asking for that, only for results purposes, after all it means little more work, just an extra tick on the registration form. Come all of you race organisers out there, in the age of the computer its simple.

I have been wanting that for the last 5 years but I have turned 60 so it doesn't matter now!:)

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Originally Posted by Lefty

...... Come all of you race organisers out there, in the age of the computer its simple.

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...but someone has to type in the data :)
ydt

Does it take longer to type v40 than v45?

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Originally Posted by johnmc

Does it take longer to type v40 than v45?

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No, 5 is next to 4 so 45 is quicker!

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Originally Posted by johnmc

Does it take longer to type v40 than v45?

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No, but it takes twice as long to type V40 AND V45 than V40:p.
ydt

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Originally Posted by ydt

No, but it takes twice as long to type V40 AND V45 than V40:p.
ydt

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why would you want to type "V40 AND V45" ? :confused:

ah but that would mean more prize categories!!
more outlay.. less to charity or high race fees

The North East Series around the North York Moors has had 5 year categories for donkey’s years.

indeed but i am tighter than dave parry so only do 10 yr age groups!

Significant birthday in two weeks time means I jump a five year category.... so yes please!


All I then need to do is start racing again!!

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Originally Posted by philgreen1968

ah but that would mean more prize categories!!
more outlay.. less to charity or high race fees

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Lefty was only asking for results to be displayed in categories - not for prizes to be awarded for that - in fact he made it clear it was for results purposes only.

Results often show U23 / U20 / U18 or MJ / FJ etc for juniors but without prizes for juniors.

It can be done, and takes no more time or logistical effort.

you'd just have to put the extra boxes to tick on the entry form, along with an indication as to which were prize categories.

Yes please. What I could do five years ago I find more difficult now. It would be good to have some recognition of the fact that half a decade can take a toll on you.

Lets hope that some of the race organisers out there are reading this and take note............please

I dont care whether or anyone divides my age category in to V50 and V55 - I'm more worried about staying ahead of more than a few V60s......

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Originally Posted by ydt

No, but it takes twice as long to type V40 AND V45 than V40:p.
ydt

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Understand your point, but I reckon prizes could still be worked out simply, by looking for V4, V5, V6 etc. That is, ignore the trailing 0 or 5.
Still don't trust computers for calculating results on the day though, despite or because of 35 years in IT. :confused:

Manage 5 year age categories in triathlons with little bother....

Don't know anything about organising races but it would seem to me that as you get older the 10 year gap doesn't give you a fair chance of being competitive. I know some are competitive but i am on about the everyday fell runner. So i do think a five year gap would mean more people with a chance of finishing near the top of the age group. I would be for it.

At my age, I'm just happy to be able to compete in a sport which still welcomes ancient has-beens like me. Whether I'm the sixth sexagenarian with two left feet or not pales into insignificance alongside the sheer pleasure of being able to run in beautiful settings alongside (or even well behind!!) some of fell running's greatest athletes.

If the folk who put all the effort into making these events happen can be bothered to cater for all the age categories we have these days, well that's very generous of them. If not ... please don't worry on my account. You're doing more than enough as it is!

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Originally Posted by biara

Manage 5 year age categories in triathlons with little bother....

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Most Triathlons - entry fee £35 plus?
Most fell races - entry fee from £1, usually less than £5

I think I'm happy to stick with fell races and 10 year age categories.

i will do 5 year age cats at simonside show FR if you all come and run or help ;-)

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Originally Posted by COUGAR

Most Triathlons - entry fee £35 plus?
Most fell races - entry fee from £1, usually less than £5

I think I'm happy to stick with fell races and 10 year age categories.

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wonder if you'll still think that when your 49 and racing vets who've just made up 40...........saying that in me first few months in the vet 50's it's been more competitive than the vet 45's...... :eek:

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Originally Posted by COUGAR

Most Triathlons - entry fee £35 plus?
Most fell races - entry fee from £1, usually less than £5

I think I'm happy to stick with fell races and 10 year age categories.

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I'm happy with 10 year categories, I've got no chance of winning a prize, I'm nowhere near the sharp end, I just do it for fun and to beat myself!! Same with triathlons, they manage 5 year categories there and good for them, I've no chance of winning a prize there either but it doesn't stop me trying!!

I accept what anyone wants to classify in their organised race, more power to the organisers, without them we're well and truely stuffed

I've won M55 twice in NEHRA races on the NYMoors. Categories are strict so even a chancer like me has shot on a lucky day ie when nobody else turns up:o But it's very encouraging in a sporting sense. There's usually up to 10 prizes in the open category too. Makes you think doesn't it? All you lot over on the Pennines.

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Originally Posted by john doe

wonder if you'll still think that when your 49 and racing vets who've just made up 40...........saying that in me first few months in the vet 50's it's been more competitive than the vet 45's...... :eek:

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Didn't bother me unduly at 49, I wasn't winning anything much when I was 41! I agree with you about the V50s, some fast guys out there. Maybe I'll have to wait until I'm 60.

The same buggers who beat you this year move up with you and beat you again next season :D

When I was a senior there were few Veterans around, this winter I have come up against 31 other 50 – 55 year olds in the five races

Sounds like the three of us (you me and John Doe) are all grumbling being beaten by each other!

Some people are missing the point from the original thread. I am not asking race organisers to provide prizes for all of the age categories, just provide results in 5 year age groupings. I have organised many many fell races myself and I can safely say it doesnt mean more work at all, its just as simple as another tick box on the entry/registration form. Pretty soon I will be moving up into the over 60 cat so it wont really matter to me as I will be at the bottom end of my age grouping again but the last couple of years have been frustrating at some races.

Lefty, I know exactly what you mean. I'm 77 and a month ago, in a race with around 2,500 entries, I finished 45th MV60. That's as high as categories went for both men and women in an International ½ marathon! Yet, last January in my local 10K race with only 250 runners, I was amazed, and grateful, to be awarded a prize for 1st MV75. In six other races last year I'd to strain my guts out to beat a fine selection of MV70's - which left me totally knackered!
Quite honestly I've got to the stage now when I think it's a waste of time competing and am seriously considering hanging up my racing shoes in favour of the proverbial pipe and slippers. But I'm a competitive animal, there's still life in the old dog fox and I'd welcome the idea of 5 year categories. Even if there were no prizes it would be far more satisfying to officially finish first MV75 in a race rather than 45th MV60.
Also, I know it doesn't apply to fell racing, but in road and track racing, which I'm also involved with, there's the annual Rankings list to think about. How do statisticians pick out an MV75 if he's officially listed in the results as an MV60?
So yes, I'm all for 5 year age categories, with or without prizes. It would be all the incentive needed to carry on racing well into my old age.

In the forthcoming World Vets Orienteering Championships to be held in Switzerland in August they've had to introduce a M95 category!
I'm in M70 and at present there's exactly 200 in that age group
94 in M75, 27 in M80 and 10 in M85 and women are represented up to and including W90

Three peaks entry fees £16-£20 and no 5 year categories...........disappointing.

I'm with you there John. In an ideal world there ought to be 5 year categories for all pre-paid/pre-entries.

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Originally Posted by john doe

Three peaks entry fees £16-£20 and no 5 year categories...........disappointing.

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There are many other races of similar distance you can choose from with much better value for money but without the fanfare of the Three Peaks race (for which, I assume, you pay the high fee).
ydt

I enjoyed the PPP the year I did it.
But then I enjoyed it even more when I did with eldest son on our own last summer.
Seems pricey to me- LDWA - same distance, food all the way round, meal at end....

For a race with the stature of the 3 Peaks age cats only in 10 year groupings is more than dissapointing its downright disgusting !

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Originally Posted by Lefty

For a race with the stature of the 3 Peaks age cats only in 10 year groupings is more than disappointing its downright disgusting !

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hear, hear!!!!!!!

5 year age categories?what next star sign categories:confused:
if your not good enough to win a prize within the present set up,then train harder so youre able too;)
most of the races are low key events which make no profit and reley on local sponsors to fill the prize funds

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Originally Posted by rocksteady

5 year age categories?what next star sign categories:confused:
if your not good enough to win a prize within the present set up,then train harder so youre able too;)
most of the races are low key events which make no profit and reley on local sponsors to fill the prize funds

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Suggest you read posts 1, 12, and 29 on this thread, which explicitly has nothing to do with prizes, but the facility to compare performances with similar runners for little extra effort from organisers.

apologies,have not read the whole of the thread.
but still dont think that any more age categories should be introduced