Where are all the young folks?

Run Run Away » women's running » Where are all the young folks?

Categories: women's running

Question:

Scary stats- 50% of all Americans ore overweight to some degree.. Another scary thought is the 1/2 the world is starving to death and 1/2 the world is eating themselves to death.. Junk food is cheap! Hey, 3.99 for a Big Extra meal (1500 calories or so) or 13.00 per pound for skinless boneless chicken breasts at the grocery store. (canadian dollars) Plus the time it takes to make it. There has been talk of taxing fatty foods, but that brings up a whole other argument. Can you tax whole milk because it is high in fat? Kids need more fat than adults, but we certainly all can live without a "little McDonalds"in all of us.. My parents were good role models- Mom is pretty slim and Dad swam master’s for many years. Now he runs and does the stepper- not bad for a 60 year old. BUT, I was overweight, still am, but I am getting there despite all of the good influence. Even when I was fat, I still played soccer. My inner thinner self made me try fad diets until I woke up one day and decided to run again. I am now 31 and am trying to undo years of bad eating. I think it really appeals to me because it gives me time alone to *not* think, or think if I want. 30-40 year olds are probably pretty stressed, and running is a good way to de-stress. Is for me anyway.. Maybe some of us just get really good at it and can finally win against younger guys- I think I have heard that marathon runners are not generally in their 20s.. I also have way more self disipline than I did when I was 20. jenn

Response:

Although runnng had a media popularity boom in the 1970s, as far as I can tell from USA sports marketing studies, the overall participation has remained constant in the past 25 years at about 3-4% of the US population. And marathon completions have tripled over the past 20 years according to TAC. Most other sports have had booms and busts in this period.

Response:

What Jenn wrote makes perfect sense to me (see below), but she’s really only got one end of the story. Right now, I’m a 19 year old college junior. I have yet to experience this "wild monkey sex", but I would like to know where to get some. In college, all the wild monkey sex is happening to the guys who aren’t training 20 hours a week. My roommate, for example… Me: Hey look! I have 5% body fat, smooth legs and 2 hours of endurance is an easy day. Chick: Wow! Let’s hop in the sack for some "wild monkey sex" Yeah, right… more like… Roommate: Hi, I watched Alex race once, it looks hard… anyway, I have 23 body piercing, only 10 of them are above my neck…. Chick: You. Me. Here. Now. (loud animal noises) No, I am not bitter… I am kidding. I wrote this at 2:30 AM because I was too busy making love like a crazed weasel (again, not bitter… kidding) The point that I am trying to make is that young guys have no reason to run. We can sit around, watch TV, drink beer, eat 12 hot dogs a day and still have ripped abs. Cheers! Alex www.geocities.com/milktrout – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This answers the question of the original question of the thread: Why are there so many old dudes placing real well in the races? Answer: Compensation. To illustrate. Guy: Hey look! I’m 40 and fat! Chick: Cool. Let’s hop in the sack for some wild monkey sex. This conversation will never exist. At 40, the search begins to replace the testosterone and revisit the debauchery of youth (which also didn’t exist), or perhaps recreate those athletic accomplish of youth (which, yes, you guessed it, didn’t exist.) What to do? Buy red convertible (too expensive). Buy young blonde (too expensive and don’t forget that testosterone thing). Take up running. Guy: Hey look! I’m 40, thin and run the same times as those teenagers. Chick: Cool. Why? Guy: Er…to prove I’m as good as I was 20 years ago? Oh! Did I mention that I’ve worked for 20 years and have a lot more money than those teenagers. Want some? Chick: Cool. Let’s hop in the sack for some wild monkey sex. Jennifer

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As an "American Kid" I’d like to comment. I’m a 17 year-old high school junior, and more and more as I continue my education, I notice that less and less are we (students) educated about how important it is to exercise & eat healthy. I for one, take my own lunch to school because all we are offered is fast food or anything else fried in lard. Almost all of my close friends are athletes, but most of my classmates are not. They do stay home and play video games rather than say, going for a run. A sad side note is the fact that Americas’ youth is getting fatter, but my male counterparts in high school still like a tall, pretty, blond, size 0 girlfriend. I’m not bashing guys, don’t get me wrong. But the propaganda that we are fed through television is that pretty girls come in one size (^), but are still able to eat junk food and not exercise. That makes a hard act to follow from a brunette, size 5. If you want to see "American Kids Losing Weight," in the headlines anytime soon, somebody needs to educate the youth of America. -Ashley

Wow, a size 5 female. I’d like to see that. Around here it’s either 12+ or, like you said Ashley, size 0-2. Personally these "professional models" are ugly in my eyes because they are so skinny and anorexic looking. Guess it’s the Italian blood in me that like to see some meat on my women (size 5-10 is nice). Am I skinny? Not the least, but given my size/weight, I have a blood pressure of 118/70 and resting heart rate of 50-58 BPM (I’m 6′1", 250#). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "American Kids Are Getting Fatter (AP) – American children are getting fatter at an alarming rate, with the percentage of significantly overweight black and Hispanic youngsters more than doubling over 12 years and climbing 50 percent among whites, … By 1998 … 22 percent … black children … 22 percent of Hispanic youngsters and 12 percent of whites …" And it goes on to explain that the prior doubling in incidence (which covers the now 20-somethings) took over 30 years to happen and that the fattening is basically (A) too much TV/computer/video games, and (B) too much fat food … er I mean … fast food.

Agreed here. Every corner here either has a fast food joint or a pharmacy. It’s no wonder that kids are getting fat. Add to that that there is very few sidewalks with these new subdivisions being built. This makes people not want to walk on the street. GOt to love a country that cares more about what’s on TV than what’s on thier plate. – Steve B

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here are the top 15 results for a 5 mile race this past weekend on Long Island (NY). [...] 7 of the top 10 was 40+! 2 of the top 10 was under 30! And, Tuesday December 11, 2001 on www.yahoo.com: "American Kids Are Getting Fatter (AP) – American children are getting fatter at an alarming rate, with the percentage of significantly overweight black and Hispanic youngsters more than doubling over 12 years and climbing 50 percent among whites, … By 1998 … 22 percent … black children … 22 percent of Hispanic youngsters and 12 percent of whites …" And it goes on to explain that the prior doubling in incidence (which covers the now 20-somethings) took over 30 years to happen and that the fattening is basically (A) too much TV/computer/video games, and (B) too much fat food … er I mean … fast food. There’s half your answer.

I’d like to add the Michigan has the most obese people in the Union. THis is not one statistics I enjoy seeing. – Steve B

Response:

Guy: Hey look! I’m 40, thin and run the same times as those teenagers. Chick: Cool. Why? Guy: Er…to prove I’m as good as I was 20 years ago? Oh! Did I mention that I’ve worked for 20 years and have a lot more money than those teenagers. Want some? Chick: Cool. Let’s hop in the sack for some wild monkey sex.

Are you disparaging monkeys? You’ll hear from their counsel. Have you seen monkey sex? National Geographic TV special fare, not impressive. — Josh Steinberg

Response:

Here are the top 15 results for a 5 mile race this past weekend on Long Island (NY). [...] 7 of the top 10 was 40+! 2 of the top 10 was under 30!

And, Tuesday December 11, 2001 on www.yahoo.com: "American Kids Are Getting Fatter (AP) – American children are getting fatter at an alarming rate, with the percentage of significantly overweight black and Hispanic youngsters more than doubling over 12 years and climbing 50 percent among whites, … By 1998 … 22 percent … black children … 22 percent of Hispanic youngsters and 12 percent of whites …" And it goes on to explain that the prior doubling in incidence (which covers the now 20-somethings) took over 30 years to happen and that the fattening is basically (A) too much TV/computer/video games, and (B) too much fat food … er I mean … fast food. There’s half your answer.

Response:

As an "American Kid" I’d like to comment. I’m a 17 year-old high school junior, and more and more as I continue my education, I notice that less and less are we (students) educated about how important it is to exercise & eat healthy. I for one, take my own lunch to school because all we are offered is fast food or anything else fried in lard. Almost all of my close friends are athletes, but most of my classmates are not. They do stay home and play video games rather than say, going for a run. A sad side note is the fact that Americas’ youth is getting fatter, but my male counterparts in high school still like a tall, pretty, blond, size 0 girlfriend. I’m not bashing guys, don’t get me wrong. But the propaganda that we are fed through television is that pretty girls come in one size (^), but are still able to eat junk food and not exercise. That makes a hard act to follow from a brunette, size 5. If you want to see "American Kids Losing Weight," in the headlines anytime soon, somebody needs to educate the youth of America. -Ashley – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "American Kids Are Getting Fatter (AP) – American children are getting fatter at an alarming rate, with the percentage of significantly overweight black and Hispanic youngsters more than doubling over 12 years and climbing 50 percent among whites, … By 1998 … 22 percent … black children … 22 percent of Hispanic youngsters and 12 percent of whites …" And it goes on to explain that the prior doubling in incidence (which covers the now 20-somethings) took over 30 years to happen and that the fattening is basically (A) too much TV/computer/video games, and (B) too much fat food … er I mean … fast food.

Response:

The good young guys are in either in college and coming off a hard cross season or they have just finished a hard season of fall running and taking a break. If you look at the results, the top two finishers were under 30. Overall this doesn’t appear to be that competitive of a race if the winner was 27:03. Maybe there was another race that attracted the better runners somewhere else. -jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Here are the top 15 results for a 5 mile race this past weekend on Long Island (NY). Pl. Age Time 1 27 27:03 2 19 3 44 4 48 5 36 6 52 7 46 8 45 9 46 10 44 11 52 12 32 13 32 14 35 15 35 28:57 7 of the top 10 was 40+! 2 of the top 10 was under 30! If you were in your 40’s and slower than 30 minutes you didn’t get any hardware. In fact most of the 20’s runners would have been shut out of the 40’s age group places. Maybe there should be reverse age grading. With those in the 30’s getting a time bonus over those in the 40’s. Andy

Response:

Hi, Jenn e fir, Thanks! Http://www.ucop.edu/sciencetoday/pages/archive/transcripts/1997/sci475.html#B Under the category of "we get paid for writing this stuff?!" Scientists have concluded that men over 40 get fat!

Now, if they could only discover we get dumber (or at least don’t think that we know as much as we used to). Maybe that’s a testosterone thing (see below). Furthermore, you should run more to keep from getting fat. But read closer. Even athletic old guys are getting fat, and it’s not because they’re eating more. It’s because the testosterone’s dropping–nature’s way of saying "and you thought baldness was funny?"

Hey! "baldness is funny"??? Actually, I have a theory that male baldness is not a loss of hair but a migration of hair southward due to prolonged exposure to gravity. If we live long enough, we’ll have hobbit feet. Should make running interesting. The testosterone thing is pretty interesting. There have been a few studies that suggest the "fear of injury" syndrome in older males may be due to a reduction in testosterone. This would imply (my read) that, in this scenario omitting the other reasons for running, older guys are either trying to regain the recklessness of the past (real or imagined) or trying to run fast but are held back by the lack testosterone (ignoring the physical aging issues like lack of tissue elasticity, decreased tissue regeneration ability, increased hard tissue accumulation, the collection long-term injuries to cardio and repiratory systems, etc. many due to a decrease in testosterone – maybe). Here are a few information sources. I left out anything from a company that makes money off of their research. Distance running (over 30 miles a week) produces fewer male offspring by lowering testosterone http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0076.htm Flawed study about exercise reducing testosterone http://www.e-caps.com/oncall/enews07.cfm#ARTICLE5 Overtraining reduces testosterone http://extremesp.com/tresearch/overtrain.html Running increases levels of testosterone http://lifelong.learningnetwork.com/Health_Fitness/Step_By_Step/Runni… g_intro1.htm Male equivelant to menopause due to falling testosterone levels (newspaper article) http://www.lef.org/newsarchive/aging/2001/03/09/CINP/0000-3605-KEYWOR… .html Testosterone levels in women and men during running (journal article) http://www.keratin.com/ac/baldnessbiology/baldnesscauses/511baldnessc… rence.shtml News Flash: Sex is good for the production of testosterone (no science here but some cute quotes) http://www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/2001-1/issue6/sp-sexercise.html Interview with the author of The Andropause Mystery – cute but not scientific Weight gain in men is inevitable – women, too but for different reasons http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/spare-tire.html Drop in testosterone may lead to Altheimer’s (this isn’t directly related to running but …) http://www.am-i-pregnant.com/aip.data/article/show/further/0/140956.s… Testosterone and competition in men and women http://cogprints.soton.ac.uk/documents/disk0/00/00/06/30/cog00000630-… tml Curious article about testosterone and crime http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/301/301lect05.htm Sports injuries and the agin athlete http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/articles/senior_living/oldrath_9/ Debunking boron and testosterone http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/09/19/02.html Now shall we discuss post-menopausal women and running? This answers the question of the original question of the thread: Why are there so many old dudes placing real well in the races? Answer: Compensation. To illustrate. Guy: Hey look! I’m 40 and fat! Chick: Cool. Let’s hop in the sack for some wild monkey sex. This conversation will never exist.

Damn, are you saying that line was never supposed to work? I thought it was my personality. Are you saying that men over 40 never get laid so they might as well run? At 40, the search begins to replace the testosterone and revisit the debauchery of youth (which also didn’t exist), or perhaps recreate those athletic accomplish of youth (which, yes, you guessed it, didn’t exist.) What to do? Buy red convertible (too expensive). Buy young blonde (too expensive and don’t forget that testosterone thing). Take up running.

Oh, you are saying that (see above). Guy: Hey look! I’m 40, thin and run the same times as those teenagers. Chick: Cool. Why? Guy: Er…to prove I’m as good as I was 20 years ago? Oh! Did I mention that I’ve worked for 20 years and have a lot more money than those teenagers. Want some? Chick: Cool. Let’s hop in the sack for some wild monkey sex.

Hmm, slow down, I’m taking notes. m-o-n-k-e-y- s-e-x. Got it. Thanks, Jenn e fir, Layne

Response:

Guy: Hey look! I’m 40 and fat! Chick: Cool. Let’s hop in the sack for some wild monkey sex.

Hmmmmm. What exactly is monkey sex? — Brian Wakem

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Under the category of "we get paid for writing this stuff?!" Scientists have concluded that men over 40 get fat! Furthermore, you should run more to keep from getting fat. But read closer. Even athletic old guys are getting fat, and it’s not because they’re eating more. It’s because the testosterone’s dropping–nature’s way of saying "and you thought baldness was funny?" This answers the question of the original question of the thread: Why are there so many old dudes placing real well in the races? Answer: Compensation. To illustrate. Guy: Hey look! I’m 40 and fat! Chick: Cool. Let’s hop in the sack for some wild monkey sex. This conversation will never exist.

What!? You mean, never ever? I suppose now you’re going to tell me there is no Santa. Guy: Hey look! I’m 40, thin and run the same times as those teenagers. Chick: Cool. Why? Guy: Er…to prove I’m as good as I was 20 years ago? Oh! Did I mention that I’ve worked for 20 years and have a lot more money than those teenagers. Want some? Chick: Cool. Let’s hop in the sack for some wild monkey sex.

Oh, that is wonderful news. Being 42, slow and dirt poor I suppose I should stop looking for wild monkeys. Damn this cruelty! Leo

Response:

<< A few of those 24-30 year old runners will start running again when they look at the scales …or when they look at their profile in a mirror. This applies equally to those in their 40’s. I should know, because it happened to me! Chuck

Response:

The 18-23 year old runners are in college. The 24-30 year old runners have stopped running and they are becoming overweight. A few of those 24-30 year old runners will start running again when they look at the scales. troy, You did a great job at explaining where the younger runners are. I would like to point out, it was looking at my youngest brother, who is actually 4 years older than I am, and seeing how much weight he gained that got me into running. While I haven’t really lost any weight in 2 1/2 years, I haven’t gained any either, so that I’m happy about. Lets see. I had 4 or 7 cups of beer tonight and still ran 3:24 for 840 meters, so I don’t feel too bad. I got off to a flying start, but I was out more for the fun of it than to break a PR, so I did walk a bit. I wonder how easy the hills will be in the morning. Roger – one banana, two banana … –

Response:

Dr. R can fly for a BOF

Big Old Art. Once again Layne, Your humor is really great! Thanks, Roger

Response:

A few of those 24-30 year old runners will start running again when they look at the scales.

Http://www.ucop.edu/sciencetoday/pages/archive/transcripts/1997/sci475.html#B Under the category of "we get paid for writing this stuff?!" Scientists have concluded that men over 40 get fat! Furthermore, you should run more to keep from getting fat. But read closer. Even athletic old guys are getting fat, and it’s not because they’re eating more. It’s because the testosterone’s dropping–nature’s way of saying "and you thought baldness was funny?" This answers the question of the original question of the thread: Why are there so many old dudes placing real well in the races? Answer: Compensation. To illustrate. Guy: Hey look! I’m 40 and fat! Chick: Cool. Let’s hop in the sack for some wild monkey sex. This conversation will never exist. At 40, the search begins to replace the testosterone and revisit the debauchery of youth (which also didn’t exist), or perhaps recreate those athletic accomplish of youth (which, yes, you guessed it, didn’t exist.) What to do? Buy red convertible (too expensive). Buy young blonde (too expensive and don’t forget that testosterone thing). Take up running. Guy: Hey look! I’m 40, thin and run the same times as those teenagers. Chick: Cool. Why? Guy: Er…to prove I’m as good as I was 20 years ago? Oh! Did I mention that I’ve worked for 20 years and have a lot more money than those teenagers. Want some? Chick: Cool. Let’s hop in the sack for some wild monkey sex. Jennifer

Response:

Im in those younger age groups 20-24. What a friend of mine and I noticed at the clarksburg 30K championships was that the guys in our age group win the race but then thats it. The example you show–a 27 year old won and a 19 yr old got 2nd. There seems to be a major dichotomy in the 20-30 age group—-really fast guys and really slow guys. It takes all of the 40 somethings to fill in the middle. I’d place a wager that a man under 35 wins 90% of road races out there. jeremy

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Pl. Age Time 1 27 27:03 2 19 3 44 4 48 5 36 6 52 7 46 8 45 9 46 [snip] Er, most of those *are* young folks. Pretty funny Layne, What I’d like to know is why is it that my age group always seems to have the most in the top 9. Almost half of them! Thanks, Roger

It’s a pit, eh? If you get a chance to look at the URLs from some of the local races ( http://www.1stplacesports.com/2001results.htm ), look for a Doctor Radical, age 47 (he’s a local physician). Most of the local runs are won by folks under 25 but Dr. R can fly for a BOF (low 17s for 5K, low 35s for 10K, under 1:20 for a half). Of course, it’s not a concern for me, but for you speedier types, … <cue Marva Wright’s I Was Built For Comfort Layne

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Andy, Hi, Here are the top 15 results for a 5 mile race this past weekend on Long Island (NY). Pl. Age Time 1 27 27:03 2 19 3 44 4 48 5 36 6 52 7 46 8 45 9 46 [snip] Er, most of those *are* young folks.

Pretty funny Layne, What I’d like to know is why is it that my age group always seems to have the most in the top 9. Almost half of them! Thanks, Roger

Response:

Hi, <snip 7 of the top 10 was 40+! 2 of the top 10 was under 30! If you were in your 40’s and slower than 30 minutes you didn’t get any hardware. In fact most of the 20’s runners would have been shut out of the 40’s age group places. Maybe there should be reverse age grading. With those in the 30’s getting a time bonus over those in the 40’s.

I dunno about America, but here in Britain the decline of good distance runners is mainly due to football (soccer). Back in the late 70’s and early 80’s, the sportsmen on the news we people like Steve Cram, Seb Coe, David Moorcroft, Brendan Foster etc. This meant that a lot of young people idolized them, and indeed, started to run themselves. These people are now in their mid 30’s or older. In recent times, the sportsmen in the news have been football players. And it’s been getting even worse. There isn’t a person in Europe that doesn’t know who David Beckham is, but ask anyone in Britain who Rob Denmark is and they’ll ask what team he plays for. Most of them won’t even have heard of Paul Tergat, Haile Gebrselassie, etc. In fact, the only current long distance runner most people in Britain will have heard of is Paula Radcliffe. Young people just aren’t getting into running these days. I’m only 21, so a youngster in modern running terms – but I only got into running 4 months ago. — Brian Wakem

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Andy, Hi, Here are the top 15 results for a 5 mile race this past weekend on Long Island (NY). Pl. Age Time 1 27 27:03 2 19 3 44 4 48 5 36 6 52 7 46 [snip] Er, most of those *are* young folks. Layne

LOL, agreed! Dot

Response:

I know that virtually all of my friends quit running after high school cross country. They’d had enough of being injured constantly, being under pressure. Also, all stimulus to run is gone… no scheduled practices, no belly to fight. I almost quit myself, but fortunately found triathlon. School running teams are hell for a lot of people. Even now, I race for my college team, but virtually never train with them. (#1 on the team, so I get away with it) Alex

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Here are the top 15 results for a 5 mile race this past weekend on Long Island (NY). Pl. Age Time 1 27 27:03 2 19 3 44 4 48 5 36 6 52 7 46 8 45 9 46 10 44 11 52 12 32 13 32 14 35 15 35 28:57 7 of the top 10 was 40+! 2 of the top 10 was under 30! If you were in your 40’s and slower than 30 minutes you didn’t get any hardware. In fact most of the 20’s runners would have been shut out of the 40’s age group places. Maybe there should be reverse age grading. With those in the 30’s getting a time bonus over those in the 40’s. Andy

Response:

Hi, Here are the top 15 results for a 5 mile race this past weekend on Long Island (NY). Pl. Age Time 1 27 27:03 2 19 3 44 4 48 5 36 6 52 7 46 8 45 9 46 10 44 11 52 12 32 13 32 14 35 15 35 28:57 7 of the top 10 was 40+! 2 of the top 10 was under 30! If you were in your 40’s and slower than 30 minutes you didn’t get any hardware. In fact most of the 20’s runners would have been shut out of the 40’s age group places. Maybe there should be reverse age grading. With those in the 30’s getting a time bonus over those in the 40’s. Andy

Response:

Hi, Andy, Hi, Here are the top 15 results for a 5 mile race this past weekend on Long Island (NY). Pl. Age Time 1 27 27:03 2 19 3 44 4 48 5 36 6 52 7 46

[snip] Er, most of those *are* young folks. Layne

Run Run Away