The Running Training Plan time standards allow runners to compare their performances over different distances and with other runners. Age-grading means that the standards apply regardless of age, e.g. you can compare your performance for a half marathon you ran last week to a 5k you ran 5 years ago.
The standards are based on globally recognised age-grading factors approved by World Masters Athletics. These factors relate to world best times at each distance and for every age. They are adjusted to account for any outlying performances ensuring a smooth correction factor is used.
The RTP time standards are split into 9 levels rather than the more typical 4 or 5; thus, there are smaller steps between each level. Each level is incremented by a 5% improvement in age-grading.
Standards are provided below for 7 commonly run distances: 1m, 5k, 5m, 10k, 10m, half marathon and marathon.
