Which is the most difficult to retain? Strength or Speed?

[Longhorn85]

I was having this discussion at work after PT this morning. Others said that you will should be able to peak as a runner in your late 30s but that strength would wane. My experience has been the opposite, I am stronger at 40 than I've ever been, but my run speed over 2-5 miles has slowed since I joined the army in my early twenties. I don't think my sprint time has suffered though, because I think weight training complements sprinting.

 

[diamonddiceclay]

strength is tougher to retain

 

[Longhorn85]

Interesting. If you are correct I am an aberration.

 

[Jeremy21]

Speed is tougher to retain as one ages

Speed drops considerably as one enters their mid-late 30's (look at Camacho senior) while limit strength & tendon strength can be developed into mid 50's (Louie Simmons) in some cases