Turning 40

Turning forty is often a traumatic event for men. I would add women,but they never really reach 40,right? For men, it is the beginning of what is often a midlife crisis.
In most major sports you will rarely find a 40 year old. In some cases I’ve seen 35 year olds referred to as ancient. But turning 40 may actually be an event to celebrate if you’re a runner. After two months as a master, I must admit it’s enhanced my interest in racing.

It didn’t take long to experience master’s racing. The day after I turned 40, I competed in
the Central Jersey Road Runners’ Fall Classic race on Labor Day. The race was the Masters’ 5 mile championship and drew a strong field of over 40 runners. Frank Gousman entered me on the CJRRC Masters team and as I 1kicked past a runner near the finsih, I wondered if that place would be significant. It wasn’t. Still, I began to add masters considerations as another factor in choosing races.

The Harvest 5K in Denville. was an unusual race, an early fall twilight race.
During the pre-race Roger Price was looking to form a Raritan Valley Masters team. Seeing me, Roger asked if I was over 40. I was very pleased that he considered me.
I hoped I wouldn’t drag the team down too much.

The race went very well for me. The weather was perfect, around 60. The course was flat
with few turns. My pacing felt right. After hitting 2 miles in 12:52, I thought I should easily beat my season’s best time of 20:35. I also realized I was the third man on the masters team and hoped a good result might help our team.

https://home.comcast.net/~lazarusd/running/junemoon.jpg
As I came to the last straightaway, with the finish line in sight, there was Roger cheering me on. After waiting through one of the longest award ceremonies , the results of the masters division were announced. Hearing my name announced as a member
of the third. place team made the wait worthwhile.

The East Brunswick 10K on October 20 was a good sampling of how this new division is. While I was 53 of 234 overall, I was only 16th of 33 in my division,barely first 50%, that despite a time I was extremly pleased with.

One thing for certain, turning 40 does not put you in an easier division. The peak years of births of baby boomers were between 1955 and 1957, so the 40-49 will get more and more crowded with good runners.