Analyze the entire spectrum of runners, joggers, and walkers through the lenses of population biology and mathematical statistics
In this article I develop a simple (linear) model of the effect of age on long distance running among world record holders. Extant models ( WMA-Grubb-Jones , Fair , Vanderburgh , Dyer ) are often sufficiently complex as to preclude any generalizable insights. However, the simplicity of the current approach will provide a robust basis for future new insights into the relationship between age and running performance.
The data used are from the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (arrs.run) single age world records for the road 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Marathon. The age range is from 30 to 90 years for all four male venues and for the female Marathon. The female 5K and 10K had an age range of 30 to 86 and the half Marathon had and age range of 30 to 85. The data were also adjusted for the effect of differences in the underlying population size associated with each single year of age; see Quantifying the Populatio