Sean Wade’s M50 goals for outdoors: WRs in four track events
How brave is Sean Wade? So brave he answers my questions. That’s my feeling after he boldly laid out his 2016 outdoor track goals in his first season as a 50-year-old. If he achieves them, he’ll have set seven world records by the end of the year — in the 800, mile, 3000 and 5000 added to his indoor 1500, mile and 3000. He tells his time goals in a quickie Q&A below. But first I asked whether Boston University noted his 1500 WR. He graciously replied: “My mile and 3000m records the announcer was pumping it up during the race and I could hear the crowd yelling for me. They did a great job announcing the record attempts and record setting. Too bad I didn’t have enough oxygen in my brain to enjoy it more.” His next major race is an outdoor 5K in California in a few weeks. “Then I would also like to run 1500/mile/3000m outdoors in March / April,” he says. “Eventually turning to 800 training in May and June, with possibility of running the [masters exhibition] 1500 at the Olympic Trials on July 2.”
Sean Wade (9) runs with young guns in his 3000 WR. Photo by levelrenner.com
I asked Sean his time goals, and he shared these (with me inserting listed WRs in bold):
- Sub 14:53 5K (14:53.2 by David Martin Rees)
- Sub 8:40 3K (8:41.2 by Christian Geffrey)
- Sub 4:20 mile (4:25.04 by Nolan Shaheed)
- Sub 4:00 1500 (3:58.26 by David Heath)
- Sub 1:58 800 (1:58.65 by Nolan Shaheed)
- Sub 30:50 10K (30:55.16 by Peter De Vocht)
(I don’t wear spikes, so I am hoping in the summer to bust a pair as I do some 800M training.)
Masterstrack.com: Is Kenyan Way your main job, or do you have other gigs?
Sean Wade: Kenyan Way is my main job, so I have plenty of time to do the things needed to compete at this level.
Where do you live, and what is your support system — coaches, trainers, family, club?
I live and train in Houston. I Have the sports doctors at Spine and Sports Therapy working on me constantly (this include balance, stability and core exercises three times per week). I get acupressure treatments after every hard workout or race. I train with a young guy here in Houston (Carlos Arias) who helps push me. I think it’s safe to say my workouts are harder than my races.
Why do you still run?
I run because I am a very competitive person and I need a challenge. Training and competing also keep me focused on a lifestyle which I need.
What should USATF and WMA do to support elite masters like yourself?
Possibly have more masters events like the mile or 800M at major championships would be good. I’m not sure USATF can do much more as they need to focus on the open athletes and getting that right.
Did your M50 indoor season live up to your expectations?
I can not be disappointed with three WR results. But I thought I could go faster than I did. I ran a 4:22 road mile the week before I turned 50, and I thought I would get faster with more races, but it didn’t quite work out that way.
What are your all-time bests in track races?
Mile 4:02
3000M 8:04
5K 13:40
10K 28:02
How long will you continue running at a high age-group level?
Probably until I kick the bucket. Use it or lose it.
4 Responses
Incredible – this will be fun to follow.
I think the toughest challenge may be a sub 1:58 800
I’d pay to see that!
Sean has the talent, drive & most importantly the support around him, to repeat his incredible feats outdoors.
Press on Sean!
A supreme effort, Sean !
Sean you are an incredible athlete talk about age being only a number. The man has got range.800-5000m
awesome.I don’t think he be able to run these kinds of times without the support system around him. The therapy treatments,the massages etc. All the things that you need to maintain the caliber of performance. I’d pay to see him run sub 1:58 I’ve been competing against Nolan Shaheed since the 1994 masters Outdoor Nationals in Oregon.GODSPEED!!!!
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