And the returns revealed some potent facts. Age has dimmed their basic speed, but increased their staying power to the point where they are often better than much, younger runners. Unfortunately, age makes one more susceptible to injuries but not as much as those who start running at an early age. A runner who has 25 years experience has developed certain muscle groups, while the novice has not. However, when injured, they take longer to heal.
Recent research suggests that the main cause of injury is training too many days in succession.
Unlike many of their younger counterparts, vets have stabilised their occupational and financial position, and can roam the world competing in all types of races. Age has taken from the vets, but time also has provided compensations. Well, they started running at 14 and never stopped. World vet records favour this group on the track. But this is not always the case with longer distances.