okansas.blogspot.com
Occassional thoughts about orienteering


Saturday, June 18, 2005

A look at age and orienteering

 

The graph below shows the distribution of the ages of entrants in the Swedish WOC selecton races. Of the 76 entrants (men and women), I could easily find the ages of 54 of them. That's what is shown in the graph.

The distribution has two peaks -- first at 24 years and then at 29 years.

I think most people peak (phsyically) at about 25. From about 25, you begin a gradual decline. It also becomes less and less attractive to live the life of a top orienteer at about that age. But, the most successful orienteers can continue to improve as orienteers by making the best of their experience and knowledge. And the best orienteers have an easier time living the life of an orienteer even as they get older. The best can put off the decline until around 30. That's my theory.

Earlier today I read a magazine article (might have been in Outside?) that said something like, "athletes peak at 31." I think they're mistaken. What they've done is looked at the absolute best and seen that they are on top at age 31 (think of Lance Armstrong as a good example).

Back to Jukola

Playing around with the age distribution was just a break from following Jukola on the Internet. Time to get back to the race and see how the race at the front goes, if IFK Lidingo 2 will have a top 50 finish, and if Team Attackpoint can manage a top 400 result (they are sitting at 227 right now).

posted by Michael | 6:24 PM

0 comments


Comments: Post a Comment
March 2002April 2002May 2002June 2002July 2002August 2002September 2002October 2002November 2002December 2002January 2003February 2003March 2003April 2003May 2003June 2003July 2003August 2003September 2003October 2003November 2003December 2003January 2004February 2004March 2004April 2004May 2004June 2004July 2004August 2004September 2004October 2004November 2004December 2004January 2005February 2005March 2005April 2005May 2005June 2005July 2005August 2005September 2005October 2005November 2005December 2005January 2006February 2006March 2006April 2006May 2006June 2006July 2006August 2006September 2006October 2006November 2006December 2006January 2007February 2007March 2007April 2007May 2007June 2007July 2007August 2007September 2007October 2007November 2007December 2007January 2008February 2008March 2008April 2008May 2008June 2008July 2008August 2008September 2008October 2008November 2008December 2008January 2009February 2009March 2009April 2009May 2009June 2009July 2009August 2009September 2009October 2009November 2009December 2009January 2010February 2010March 2010April 2010May 2010June 2010July 2010August 2010September 2010October 2010November 2010December 2010January 2011February 2011March 2011April 2011May 2011June 2011July 2011August 2011September 2011October 2011November 2011December 2011January 2012February 2012March 2012April 2012May 2012June 2012July 2012August 2012September 2012October 2012November 2012December 2012January 2013March 2013April 2013May 2013July 2013September 2013
archives
links