UNDER-AGEISM IS AN ACTUAL THING

Most of the discussion about the fairness of various age categories has focused on the older age groups, so I'd like to voice an opinion from a young athlete’s perspective. The vast majority of local races, in Cornwall, where I live, at least, award prizes for the first three under-35s, then go up in five-year bands in the vets’ categories. I’m 23, and it seems unfair that I have such a broad spectrum of ages to compete against.

All the best girls are around 30 years old and it’s tough going up against them every weekend. I feel that a lot of runners in my position would feel much better about themselves – and be encouraged to keep competing – if they had more of a chance of taking home a trinket once in a while. Emma Stephens, Bodmin, Cornwall