So you want to improve as a Masters runner? Here we go, TheEd is going to submerge himself into writing a blog as a Master Runner for Master Runners and anyone foolish enough to read it.
Introductory post to Masters Running
Now to quickly fill in the background story. I have decided to do this blog as further extension of advice given from my coaching background and the fact that I made the commitment to start running training again with short and long-term goals.
Everything written here and discussed will be towards explaining more efficient Masters’ training methods and insights into the different aspects to coaching masters athletes, to that of those who are not Master athletes.
If you are unaware as to who I am, Gavin Doyle is TheEd. I have 40 years plus experience in athletic coaching which covered track, road and cross country. Within the years 2000 to 2025 I have answered more than 9900 questions via the Time-to-Run Forums relating to our 10k training programs as we guided individuals through the steps of training on the running programs.
One major catalyst that occurred this year (2025) was my wife, the masters’ athlete Piia Doyle nearing the new category of 50+. In 2026, Piia will move into this new category. However, be this as it may, in July 2025, I made the decision to lose weight and begin my own running training.
Boy was I in for a roller-coaster discovery of how rotten my running and aerobic capacity had become.
During July, I noted my aerobic vo2 max on my watch had risen from 41 to 42. I mentioned this to Piia who replied that her reading was 61. I was flabbergasted, no wonder everything aerobic based was terrible. I had partaken in swimming 50m freestyle events and I had reasonable success with all my training focused on improving over 50m and certainly it was not aerobic training focused.
When asking others in our training group, I was to discover a female runner over 40 years of age had the closest to my reading. Her VO2max was 47. I was at that time 5 lower than anyone else in the group ‘we’ were coaching.
This provided me with all the answers as to why, my running that was easier previously (when younger 5 years before) was now worse than trudging in mud.
Solutions. What are the solutions?
Well, this is the end of my introductory post and in my next post we shall discuss what occurred putting in the training from here. It shall track my personal journey however there shall be continual comparisons to previous mind-set thoughts about ability, training and running.
The thoughts and solutions, and the definite need for new Masters 10k Training Programs on the site, will all be covered.
Till next time and happy running
Author: TheEd
next article: New Masters Training Forums created
Hi Gavin. Its been good to see you getting back into shape. When I started reading this, I was not sure what “Masters” meant and assumed it meant people who were or are very good runners. Well, that’s certainly not me. On the other hand, it is true that I am not as young as I used to be. But still just a youthful 63! My cheap and not very reliable watch suggests that my VO2 max is 47, but that is probably not right. I mainly run 5-6 kms and while I was aiming for two runs a week I have been missing this target due to other commitments. I normally run 5kms in around 29 mins, but was hoping to get to 25mins. Not sure whether I will (ever) quite make that. I would also hope to do 10km in less than an hour which I think is pretty doable – in fact, I may have done this in the summer. Anyway, I look forward to keeping up with your progress.
Thanks Paul. Master runner can be someone over the age of 40. Previously, in SA we called them the Veteran category, however in Europe it is called Masters category. With regards to the vo2max reading, it was for me useful as it gave me a starting point, and it made me understand how far I had regressed. I shall write a fair amount about how things change as you get older, and particularly how we view our training and what we think works for us, as we have always done it in that way. With your reading of 47, you are in a decent place. I don’t want to write too much here, as what I would like to reply with, is planned for a future article. Do know, I found it tremendously interesting how old habits determine how we still train and that the training in fact is not probably helping us in a constructive manner but instead we are simply becoming more hardy. Hopefully you can gather what I am writing here but as mentioned, I shall make sure to write about this and then you can see where you stand and how you view what you have been doing, and how maybe with a few little tweaks you could maybe get more benefit out of your current running training. On we go, TheEd
Thanks Gavin, as a lifelong now very mediocre runner I look forward to following your story. We are of the same age and once probably similar ability and am also looking for alternative training methods to improve my 5 and 10K time. I am a bit of a stubborn old goat and stick to the tried and tested which clearly no longer works for me. Thanks for all your hard work and advice. Neil.
This is absolutely magnificent as to how you have reached out, I shall also reply personally to your email given so that we can set things up for you. Great Stuff, TheEd