A five-minute mile requires a combination of endurance and speed. It’s a respectable time for any recreational runner, and especially for someone who’s over 60. Last week, at a masters meet in Dublin, Anne Gilshinan set a new world record for the indoor mile in the 60+ age category, clocking an impressive five minutes and 27 seconds.
Gilshinan, hailing from Wexford, Ireland, shaved three seconds off the existing record of 5:30.73, set earlier this year by American masters runner Sue McDonald. To put Gilshinan’s new record-setting time in perspective, it’s an average speed of about 18 km/h, and a pace of 3:23/km.
Having just moved into the women’s 60-64 age category in April, Gilshinan has been on a tear ever since, setting two masters world records in the last six months. She set her first record at the 2024 World Masters Championships in August, where she won gold in the W60 1,500m race over her American rival, in a world record time of 4:59.45. This achievement made her the first woman over 60 to run under five minutes for 1,500m.
After the World Masters, Gilshinan took time off to shift her focus to target more records for the 2024-2025 indoor season. Before moving into the W60-64 category, she held six W55-59 records, including the mile world record for W55+ (5:08.47).
Gilshinan’s achievements haven’t gone unnoticed. In 2023, Gilshinan was named Masters Athlete of the Year by European Athletics; she also received national honours in Ireland.
According to the Irish Independent, Gilshinan was a runner in her youth, but took a long hiatus from the sport before returning to it in her 50s.
The new world record is pending ratification by World Masters Athletics (WMA), but her remarkable time is an inspiration to many female athletes.
