This is actually more common than you think. Age groups 40-55 are often more competitive than others. This is the age when people suddenly realize they are agin

This is actually more common than you think. Age groups 40-55 are often more competitive than others. This is the age when people suddenly realize they are aging and start training like maniacs. When I run road races, my overall ranking (among men) is always better than my age-group ranking.