When is a PR no longer a PR?

[gscho]

I'm pretty sure I can no longer claim my 3:08:52 from 1991 as my marathon PR.  What is the rule of thumb for claiming a PR?  Is it a race in your current age group?

As always thanks for your advice!

[Paul Petersen]

It will always be your "all-time PR". You can't change the past! But I know many people that separate "under 40" PR's from "masters" PRs, and others that do it by 5 year age group intervals. I think whatever keeps you motivated is a good thing. You can get a lot of satisfaction by getting different "types" of PRs.

For me, I'm still pretty young, so age isn't an issue, but I have "Utah PRs" and "Non-Utah PRs", due to the altitude I current race at. And also "aided" vs. "non-aided", so that I can separate out the downhill courses, while still acknowledging them.

[Bob]

Most of the runners I know do the pre-40 and post-40 thing just as Paul mentioned.  Regardless, if you are still capable of getting back into the swing of things health wise, you might surprise yourself and still crush that old PR.

[JD]

Pre 40 PR: 4:21.
Post 40 PR: 3:51, and dropping.
Thanks to FRB.

[Cheryl Keith]

Pre 40 PR:  4:09
Pre 50 PR:  3:37
Post 50 PR: 3:34
(all at the St. George marathon)

I guess it depends when you start running and if you get smarter in your training and racing methods.  I still hope to bring down my times every year.  This blog does help quite a bit.

[Sasha Pachev]

There will eventually come a time (e.g when you are 90 years old) when beating your  PR from a younger age is not possible. But it does not have to come at 48 especially if your young age PR was achieved off inconsistent training and thus is weak. What can you do in a 5 K right now? What about 1 mile? Run time trials in those distances, post the results, and we can get an idea if your 3:08 from 1991 can be assaulted.