The above graph was compiled from the times at the Quebec
WMC races this year. The top times
for the two long races in both classic and skate were averaged to produce this
single line. The 10km results were not used because of changing conditions that
produced the fastest times in the later groups. One result for the M11 was not
used as it was 100% slower than all others. The results for the M7 and up were
adjusted because these categories skied shorter distances.
The graph shows an excellent correlation for the M4 – M9
range, this slope is at an increasing time of 1% per year.
At the M1, M2 and M3 range results do not show a strong relationship. I
speculate that that is because age has not started to be the determining factor.
By projecting the 1% sloped line to intersect the best time you get an age of
43. The divergence of the line for the M10 and M11 categories could be that a
speed drops off more quickly at these ages but I think it more likely that it
can be accounted for by the fact that the groups were small and that with
greater participation we will see these times closer to the line.
CONCLUSION – for longer distance events you can age
correct your time by the following formula
AGE CORRECTED
TIME = YOUR TIME / (1+( (your age – 43)/100))
Example – your time for a 30km race was 1hr 43 min and you are 53years old
Your age – 43 give you a 10% correction
Corrected time = 103min / 1.1 = 93.7 or 1hr 33.7 min
Hope you can use this to give all those young guys the AGE CORRECTED THRASHING they deserve.
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