Originally Posted by baribari
Every human on the face of the earth has their physical peak at 18. You might be in better shape at 24, or a better racer at 32, but you will never physically be better than you were at 18, assuming you maintain the same level of fitness.
Where do you get these things? Are you just making them up or reading some crackhead blog?
First of all, women reach their peak before men, so picking a single age for both is already wrong.
Since 1950, the average age of world champion distance runners in the 3-mi (5,000 m) races through to the 26-mi marathons (42.2 km) ranges between 28 and 32 years of age.
Not a ton of strategy or skill or mental pressure in a marathon. Just run a steady fast pace for 26 miles. (I realize this is probably insulting to runners, but I'm trying to make it simple here)
28-32 is widely reported as the peak age of cardiovascular performance. If it was 18 there would be a lot of 18 year olds in Olympic sports, or the pro peloton, or any number of other sports. In most sports 18 is the top end of the junior range. When was the last time you saw a high school swimmer beat a 25 year old Olympian?