What are good age group results?

As a rough guide, 60% is for solid local level runners, 70% for regional level, 80% for national level and 90% or higher for world class. Most ambitious amateur runners will be between 50% and 70%, while it takes intense training to reach the 80% mark. The results are age and gender adjusted so a result of 70% is just as good whether achieved at 65 years old or 25.

How are age group percentages calculated?

The time achieved is compared to the best possible result for your age, gender and distance. This age standard is calculated by dividing the world standard of a public class with an age-related factor that applies to your age and gender. Your age grade is calculated by dividing the age standard by your achieved time and multiplying it with 100. In other words: It is the result when the standard for a public class is divided by your age grade time.

Why are the age group ratings different for a 5km and a marathon?

Each distance has its own standards and age factors so the rating can vary from discipline to discipline even if the effort is equal. It's common for runners to see a much higher age grade on longer distances as they get older because endurance is more preserved than pure speed. If there are large differences, it can give you an idea of which aspects of your fitness have room for improvement.

Does age grading also apply at parkrun?

Yes it does. As a parkrun is a 5km run in the style of a public road race you can select the 5km distance and enter your age, gender and time achieved to get the same age grade percentage that will be shown on your parkrun results. This is the normal way for runners of different ages to compare themselves at parkruns.

What is an age group time?

If a runner aged 55 runs the 5km in 21:45, their age graded time would be approximately 18:22. This gives them an ability rating of about 70%.

Age-Graded Running Calculator

Your race

Sex

Age-grading standards are sex-specific: men and women are compared against different world-best times, so the age-factor and open-class standard are read from a male or female table.

Male

Female

Race distance

Age-grading is distance-specific, so your percentage differs from event to event. These are the six most-run road distances; parkrun uses the 5 km row.

Age on race day

years

Finish time

hrs

min

sec

Work out the time for a target age grade

Enter a target percentage and see the finish time you would need at the selected distance to hit it.

Results

Your age-grade score

Open-age equivalent time

min

At 67.6601% this is a local-class performance (60% to 70%). That is a solid, committed recreational runner.

Your age-grade score

Open-age equivalent time
Age standard (100% for your age)
Open-class world best

Age factor

Equivalent performances

Times at other distances that would earn the same age-grade score
Distance	Equivalent time (same age grade)
5 km (your race)	20:00
10 km	40:30
15 km	1:02:04
10 mile	1:06:50
Half Marathon	1:28:26
Marathon	3:05:26

Comparison chart

Show the comparison chart

Plot your finish time against its open-age equivalent and the open-class world best.

The age grading calculates the performance in a race as a percentage taking into account the effects of age and gender. This answers questions that cannot be answered from actual running time alone. It shows how good your performance was compared to other people of similar age.

This value allows the performance of people of different ages (for example 15, 40 and 68 years) to be compared under similar conditions. It can be used to compare a 5 km run with a marathon or to compare results from this year with those from ten years ago.

What does the percentage of age bracket mean?

Your age grading percentage is a comparison of your performance to the best result that is considered achievable for your age and gender over the same distance.

The calculation takes into account age and gender to produce a score, with higher percentages indicating better performance. 100% is the age/gender standard for that distance, usually at or very close to world record level.

Standards vary by discipline so your age group results will differ depending on the distance. It is normal for 5km and marathon results to be different and this can even help you determine whether you are a speed or endurance athlete.

The age classification system

Each age group score is made up of two reference values and your performance.

The Open Class Standard is a value that indicates the fastest time at this distance that can be achieved by runners of the same sex in their prime competitive age and which is close to the world record. The Age Factor is a number less than or equal to 1, reflecting how much performance runners of the same age and gender are expected to lose compared to their optimum.

These two values can be divided by the age factor to determine your age standard for the Open Class.

\text{age standard} = \frac{\text{open-class standard}}{\text{age factor}}

Your age grade time - the equivalent of your actual time for a runner of your age - is calculated by multiplying your actual running time by the age grading factor.

\text{age-graded time} = \text{your time} \times \text{age factor}

Your grade percentage is calculated by dividing the standard for that age by your actual run time.

\text{age grade} = \frac{\text{age standard}}{\text{your time}} \times 100

Example calculation:

For example, a man aged 55 has completed the 5km in 21:45 which is 1305 seconds. Based on his age and gender, the Age Factor for 5km is approximately 0.8446 while the benchmark time for open competition over 5km is 771 seconds.

His age-corrected time is the product of 1,305 and 0.8446 which is approximately 1,102 seconds, or 18:22. His age-corrected performance is calculated by dividing his open competition time by this age-corrected time.

\text{age grade} = \frac{771}{1{,}305 \times 0.8446}\times 100 \approx 70\%

So a time of 21:45 which looks normal on paper for a 55 year old is a regional performance and equates to the time that someone at their peak would have run in 18:22.

Interpretation of results:

The following percentile categories are the criteria used for this competition. They not only give an indication of the field but also reflect actual fitness levels. Studies on Masters runners show that a 80% age factor means these runners are generally in the top percentiles of their age group in terms of cardiovascular fitness.

Age grade	Standard
100%	World record
90% and above	World class
80% to 90%	National class
70% to 80%	Regional class
60% to 70%	Local class
Below 60%	Recreational

What are age groups good for?

You can settle family disputes. You can compare the performance of a woman aged 50 in a marathon, a boy aged 15 in a 5km run and a man aged 68 in a 10km run directly with each other.

You can compare your own performance at a younger age. Runners in their 60s can see if they are still improving despite slower times by looking at one number.

You can identify your weaknesses. If the age group results for a half marathon are lower than those for 5k then this usually indicates that there is scope to improve in terms of endurance as it takes years to develop sufficient endurance.

Distances and table

This calculator takes into account the six most common road race distances: 5km, 10km, 15km, 10 miles, half marathon and marathon. If you are participating in a parkrun please use the 5km row.

These factors are based on the Age Group Tables maintained by Alan Jones. These tables are based on actual best performances per age group and are updated as Masters records improve. As these factors reflect actual results in road racing, result values may differ slightly if a similar time is achieved on a track.

Symbols used:

Term	Meaning	Example
Open-class standard	Best time possible for your sex, near the world record	12:51 for 5 km (men)
Age factor	Multiplier of 1 or less for your age and sex	0.8446
Age standard	Best time possible at your age	15:13 for 5 km
Age-graded time	Your time scaled to open-age equivalent	18:22
Age grade	Age standard divided by your time	70%

This calculator is for general interest and training support purposes only. The age grade factors are estimates based on published tables that are updated regularly so results may vary slightly depending on the version of the table used.

Frequently asked questions

What are good age group results?: As a rough guide, 60% is for solid local level runners, 70% for regional level, 80% for national level and 90% or higher for world class. Most ambitious amateur runners will be between 50% and 70%, while it takes intense training to reach the 80% mark. The results are age and gender adjusted so a result of 70% is just as good whether achieved at 65 years old or 25.
How are age group percentages calculated?: The time achieved is compared to the best possible result for your age, gender and distance. This age standard is calculated by dividing the world standard of a public class with an age-related factor that applies to your age and gender. Your age grade is calculated by dividing the age standard by your achieved time and multiplying it with 100. In other words: It is the result when the standard for a public class is divided by your age grade time.
Why are the age group ratings different for a 5km and a marathon?: Each distance has its own standards and age factors so the rating can vary from discipline to discipline even if the effort is equal. It's common for runners to see a much higher age grade on longer distances as they get older because endurance is more preserved than pure speed. If there are large differences, it can give you an idea of which aspects of your fitness have room for improvement.
Does age grading also apply at parkrun?: Yes it does. As a parkrun is a 5km run in the style of a public road race you can select the 5km distance and enter your age, gender and time achieved to get the same age grade percentage that will be shown on your parkrun results. This is the normal way for runners of different ages to compare themselves at parkruns.
What is an age group time?: If a runner aged 55 runs the 5km in 21:45, their age graded time would be approximately 18:22. This gives them an ability rating of about 70%.

Related calculators

Age CalculatorFind your exact age from a date of birth in years, months and days, plus total weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds. Shows the day you were born, days to your next birthday, leap-year facts and your zodiac signs, and can work back from a known age to a date of birth.

Average Triathlon Finish Times CalculatorPredict your triathlon finish time from your swim, bike, and run pace for any distance, and compare it with the average finish time by skill level.

Time CalculatorAdd or subtract time in days, hours, minutes and seconds, or add and subtract time from a date to get a new date and clock time. Handles carrying, negative results, 12/24-hour clocks and unit conversions.

0-60 CalculatorEstimate a car's 0-60 mph acceleration time from engine power, weight, drivetrain, tyres, and road conditions, with 0-100 km/h and quarter-mile figures.

Bike Speed CalculatorTurn cycling power into speed and back, accounting for aerodynamics, rolling resistance, gradient, weight, air density, and wind.

Bike Gear CalculatorWork out a bicycle gear's ratio, gear inches, development (roll-out), gain ratio and speed at any cadence, or plan the gear you need for a target speed.

Disclaimer: This calculator is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. Our calculators are under active development, and results may be inaccurate, incomplete, or unsuitable for your situation. Always verify the figures independently and seek advice from a qualified professional before relying on them. We make no warranties and accept no liability for any loss or decision arising from use of this tool.

References

Alan Jones Age-Grade Tables (2020, road)
The open (CC0) road age-grading factors and open-class standards used by this calculator.
World Masters Athletics age-grading factors
The masters-athletics body that maintains the age-grading (formerly WAVA) system.
USATF Masters Long Distance Running age grading
USATF-approved age-factor data behind US age-grading calculators.