Turning 70 by Jerry LeVasseur

When I was running my fastest at age 48 and 49 I ran in the mid to low 80’s age graded %. Turning 50 I increased the number of races to the 40’s with a goal of over 50% for 1^st places. My age graded dropped somewhat into the 70’s because of the number of races.
I was also racing sled dogs at the time so sometimes trained 2 teams early in the morning after which I went to a race. I raced dogs to age 65. One time I raced the dogs on wheels in Ct and then went to a road race getting there 5 min before the start. With the rushing my time was off.

I averaged 30+ 1^st places in my 50’s running 40-50 races a year. Turning 60 I started to do national and world track events. At the World Masters Games in Eugene I did run a 85% age graded 10K. At age 61 my goal was to get 50 1^st places during the year and did that by Sept so someone suggested doing my age. I exceeded it by having 65 1sts in 90+ races including world and national events. In my 60’s I averaged 41 1^st places a year getting 43 national medals including 28 gold which included relays and team wins which is more than my share. In World Masters Games competition I received 4 medals including a gold.  I am not a world class runner but you have to be there to get rewards.

I do not race every race but find someone to run with and at times have helped him or her get a PR or accomplish their goals. This can be more rewarding than winning an age group. In the Feb 10 mile and Portland trails 10k this year I ran with Howard Spear talking about his upcoming races and the Grand Prix enjoying the talk and run immensely. It is a lot of fun running with a friend and enjoying the efforts of other runners and just the thought that I’m still able to do it.

Someone suggested in May that I set a goal of 1^st places equal to my age this year. I reached 70 Oct 19^th  and 75 by year end..This year I have run the 55 meter hurdles to the half marathon with everything in between including trail races, triple jump, steeplechase and cross country.

Running Maine Corporate Track I set 6 age group records. I was able to win 9 national medals including 6 gold and set a National and World record in the indoors 4X800. I also bettered the All American standard in 6 track events and most road distances.  I have set a few course age group records.

My left ankle due to overuse has been bothering me starting just before the half marathon and hurting all 5k of the National 5k XC championships causing me to run so it didn’t get worse. It is now time to go back to one race a week or two.

I try to do quality training running about 25 miles a week and once in awhile an eight mile run on hills. Being a volunteer coach at Bowdoin I get to use the facilities and do workouts with the team. My greatest satisfaction this year was to help train a senior women to a school record in the steeplechase and one of the XC men to a personal goal..