Masters Competition

With masters competition, women and men, from 35 to 95 and even a few over a hundred, run around, chase each other down, jump and throw for fun, fitness and personal glory.

Masters make lasting friendships, keep in shape, stay healthy and meet new challenges. There's no time or age limit for new experiences. 

It's inspiring and reassuring to watch older athletes in action, still battling it out, while their children and even grandchildren cheer them on.

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Definition - What's it all about?
Age-Grading
Organizations

If you look after yourself, and with a bit of luck, there's no need to retire from the sport you love. Masters can continue to compete on the road, track and field and cross country, nationally and around the world.

Since age is often the great equalizer, masters generally compete against others in their same five year age group. There’s no place to hide or be self conscious; instead age is often worn as a bold badge of honor and accomplishment, a triumph over the sedentary life.

You’re gonna get older anyway so why not celebrate it. This competition is one of the few areas where some actually look forward to getting older and starting at the young end of that next five year age group. Celebrate your 40th, 55 or 60th birthday with a new time goal, event or distance.

For many, the focus may be participation or camaraderie but there's also top class competition. You'll find women who've competed all their life, others returning after years off for family or work.

New runners in their 40's or 50's who took it up for fitness and discovered competition. And many women, who weren’t allowed to compete as a girl, when it was “unladylike” to sweat, and shouldn’t run more than 220 yards, now have a chance to run, compete and break records.

Even earn money, as many local road races now reward top masters or age group winners with cash and prizes.

Definition - What’s it all about?

In the US, generally Masters competition is for those 35 and over and takes place in 5-year age divisions. For road racing and long distance events it usually starts at 40. For Seniors, those over 50, the National Senior Games, a multi-sport event modeled after the Olympics has local, state and national competitions.

The WMA includes sub-masters, those in the 30-34 age category. In some countries the over 40's are known as veterans.

Age-grading

Where did you finish? What was your time? How does that compare to your best or to someone older or younger? The Age-grading calculator allows you to plug in your age, event, gender, time or distance and get a percentage and time equivalent to open competition or see how your performance measures up against other aged athletes.

This age performance percentage also classifies 60% as local class, 70% as regional class, 80% as national and 90% as world class.

Click here for the WMA Age-grading calculator (2006) tool.

Organizations

Here's a list of websites that'll give you news from around the world. There's information on events, championships, results, clubs, records and rankings. Although the USA and Canada at their national championships allow non-citizens to compete Europe and many others do not. Check with each governing body.

• WMA - The organization designated to conduct world masters athletic (track and field, road, cross country) events.
• IMGA - This Association runs multi-sport competitions include 30 summer sports and seven winter sports.
• USATF Masters - The USA Masters Track & Field.
• Canada
• EVAA - European Veterans Athletic Association.
• AMA - Australia, with links to the seven State associations.
• BMAF - Britain
• South Africia

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