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Laura Foster
1139 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Apr 2009 : 1:46:41 PM
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Does anyone else thing the Grand Prix should really record WAVA dependent PBs - eg if I hit the same time this year as I did last year, that is really a PB for my age. As the WAVA gradings are being calculated, then it shouldn't be too hard to calculate.
Absolute PBs will always be PBs - since you are always older than the last time you ran the distance. But this way some of us oldies are still in with a chance of a few more points.
Or is it just me?
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fishyweb
2307 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2009 : 6:45:33 PM
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I'd stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you on that one, Laura - I need all the help I can get, as I think PBs are going to be hard to come by (yes, even at my modest level!).
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Steve |
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MarkWillcocks
1275 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2009 : 07:07:23 AM
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yes yes yes......because i go up to V45 this year¬!!!!!
He who dares Rodney, he who dares. |
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preso
476 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2009 : 12:24:05 PM
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Laura, I'm so glad you brought up this issue as we don't all seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet. I have noticed that many members on moving up an age category do not claim or are not given new personal bests.
When I returned to running and joined this club at the age of 55 it soon became obvious that I would never get close to the times I achieved in my thirties (I had a 10k pb of 43 mins 33 secs in 1985). Try as I may, I can now barely hit 55 mins. As far as I know the reason for introducing veteran age categories was to help to keep runners motivated as their performances inevitably get slower. As far as I'm concerned, the young Bill Preston that set those "lifetime bests" back in the 1980's no longer exists and I can only compete against myself as an over 55.
The Grand Prix is great fun and very fair. I would hate to see any of us taking it too seriously but I would like to know what our younger, faster members think - perhaps they already feel frustrated by the heavy handicaps they incur.
Next year I will move into the super sixties  and intend to claim a new pb for every distance that I run. Someone will have to decide if it is right to award me the extra points so let's discuss it now and perhaps we could then have a ballot.
Please be frank, I promise that you won't hurt my feelings.
Bill Preston |
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Heavyweight
1441 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2009 : 12:53:47 PM
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Some valid points there chaps.
As a late starter to running I still feel I can get life-time PBs for a least a couple of years to come. If points were awarded for 'Age Category' PBs or WAVA PB's I think life-time PBs should still be worth a little more 
The other consideration is that it raises the complication factor for calculating GP points & Matts head might explode. |
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Smout
525 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2009 : 6:45:01 PM
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I think it's a good idea - I too will be over 35 one day and think the WAVA stuff is great. Hopefully I'll still be running by then would hate to feel I just getting slower as well as getting older! Your Gran Prix band is still your Gran Prix band - just the WAVA percentages decides on that three extra points - sounds good to me 
I would howver say that we have to make sure we have the up-to-date rules/calculations however it works set up properly then why not!
"To believe with certainty we must begin with doubting." ~Stanislaus I of Poland |
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Mij0
847 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2009 : 8:51:13 PM
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I too am benefitting from NOT having been a road runner before. I am pretty sure I'll never break my 800m PB (2:06 in 1976ish if your interested)or my Discus one! Just as I never expect to play county standard rugby again.
I think the PB bonus is to incentivise runners to do a greater variety of distances when they race and if so then a WAVA based PB bonus makes perfect sense. It's also probably much fairer (but then I'm 48!)
I am finding the GP great fun (obviously ) and will do, for the first time ever, both 5 mile and 10 mile races this year cause I am naturally very competitive, and oddly never thought I'd be in the lead for an athletic competition ever in my life.
Now the BIG issue:
Someone very dear to my heart keeps raising the issue of weight - people who have aways been skinny can't get the bonus of loosing weight (I've lost 3.5 stone and still have 2 more to loose). She is of course right and I do point out that she is well ahead of me in terms of WAVA. That said I point out that performing while still carrying 15 stone should be worth more points when compared to an 11 stone runner - anyway I do expect to keep loosing weight and keep recording PB's for a couple of years so if the club wants to take it's time in coming to the decision then that is fine
Less fat, more fit, but still hedonistic |
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claire1
487 Posts |
Posted - 29 Apr 2009 : 9:42:33 PM
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LOL! Yes we do discuss the fact that anyone will inevitably hit pbs as their weight decreases...but we can hardly add that to the GP calcs in reality! After all as healthy happy people we can enjoy others increasing good health more than we worry about a few GP points.....well this year anyway
But I do agree that some recognition of age related PBs should be considered.
Meanwhile I just delight in the fact that I have one thing about me that is bigger than your equivalent 
God bless the WAVA!!!! |
Edited by - claire1 on 29 Apr 2009 9:57:55 PM |
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Heavyweight
1441 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2009 : 07:23:41 AM
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Good point Mij  - I often wonder when I finish well down the field what the result would be if BMI was taken into account. Are there WAGBA tables? (World Association of Gut-Bucket Athletes)
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MarkWillcocks
1275 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2009 : 07:41:21 AM
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i do well in that one H.....
He who dares Rodney, he who dares. |
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LittleBigMan
1055 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2009 : 07:43:47 AM
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Interesting discussion guys. I will hit 50 in June and it would be nice to have an added incentive.
Digressing a little, I was wondering why after submitting my latest race and opting not to have it included in the Grand Prix (as not a PB etc)I suddenly lose 2 points. It doesn't make sense, as there are better results already submitted, so in theory there shouldn't be any change. It's no big deal, as its group 2 and we are the forgotten ones but hey, come on, where have my points gone?
Incidentally, did Matt say we would be adopting the latest WAVA ratings at some point, as the current one we use is out of date isn't it?
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"The will to win is worthless, without the will to prepare." |
Edited by - LittleBigMan on 30 Apr 2009 07:45:35 AM |
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StephenPrice
2109 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2009 : 08:23:15 AM
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I think WAVA / Grand Prix has been discussed before and it was stated it would be too complicated. Not sure though.
Am not averse to it myself, although as a relative youngster it won't have a significant impact on my own points  |
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vslow
795 Posts |
Posted - 30 Apr 2009 : 10:01:36 AM
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hmmm - interesting ideas... I like the idea of the PB bonus being based on WAVA percentage, rather than absolute PB - it strikes me as fairer
I will need to revisit what data the grand-prix scoring functions use to see how easy it would be.
In other news... oh yes, WAVA upgrade - I'd better sort that out.
In other other news... Ian, can you email me with the details of which result you added - it probably got flagged as "use for grand-prix" but even so, the only time adding a result should be able to make your score go down is when you move from 7 to 8 results, and the race distance rules start to apply. |
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Laura Foster
1139 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2009 : 07:00:18 AM
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WAGBA tables made me laugh
Looking forward to seeing what you can do vslow - I don't enter enough races to be likely to win the Grand Prix anyway, but it is nice to get a PB after putting in all the training |
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Topic |
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Age dependent PBS?
