Weight And Age Adjustment Factors
Posted by Concept2 News on the 19th of February 2004
Tony Pomatto: I have tried in vain to find any information about handicapping for senior citizens.While I am not bottom of the 2,000m list at my local gym I do not feel that my efforts are rewarded appropriately, or, putting it another way, I do not think that some of the younger members are placed in a sufficiently realistic position above me and are disproportionately encouraged by their results with respect to the performance of us oldies!When I was a runner (not too long ago) until prevented by a back problem, I raced as a veteran and, particularly in big events like London and The Great North Run, although I finished in the bottom half of the field, I was usually in the top 10% of my age group.This being the 21st Century it would surely not tax your system too much to introduce an age ranking system.There are a couple of different solutions to your question, Tony. The first is that an age ranking system does exist. The British Ranking (http://www.therowingcompany.com/ranking/) is divided into ten year age bands, allowing you to see easily how you stack up against your age group. Similarly, most competitions are divided into 10 or five year age groups. As well as the British Ranking, there is also an on-line World Ranking: http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/. This allows you to be more specific with your age criteria, so if you wanted to search for 54 year old Heavyweight Males in the UK you could do so.Alternatively, your letter has inspired us to put up our new super-dooper 2,000m Age and Weight Correction Web Gizmo: http://www.therowingcompany.com/racing/correction.php This incorporates both the Weight Adjustment Factor found in the Training Guide as well as a Veteran's Correction table. You can choose to standardise your time by either weight age or both. Obviously such things are always going to be less than proximate, but as a fun tool and something to help encourage 60kg geriatric lightweights, it might be of some use. If you've got any thoughts on the gizmo, send them to us at editor@therowingcompany.com. Incidentally; the deadline for this year's Ranking is April 30th, with entry forms available from the Ranking section of the website.