Faster Than You at 60 - by Graham Broyd (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

It's never too late to be world-class.

Faster Than You at 60 shares the inspiring true stories of twenty elite Masters sprinters who became national and world champions decades after their supposed athletic prime.

These athletes did not make the Olympics when they were young. Many faced lack of opportunity, injury, life choices, or financial hardship. Yet in their 60s, 70s, and beyond, they returned to competition--and found speed, purpose, and joy.

Grounded in research on high-intensity training and aging, this narrative nonfiction book reveals the powerful mental and physical rewards of competing later in life.

Inside, you will discover:

• Stories of redemption and second chances
• The mental benefits of disciplined training
• How competition builds purpose and camaraderie
• Why peak performance does not have an expiration date

This book is for former athletes, active adults, and anyone entering a new chapter who wants renewed energy and meaning.

Your best race may still be ahead of you.

Review Quotes

"I ran competitively in high school, stopped for thirty-five years, then started again in my fifties--and I found the experience far better the second time around. Reading the remarkable stories of master's athletes in Graham Broyd's wonderful book makes me realize that I am not alone. When it comes to competition, the second time's a charm."
-- Malcolm Gladwell
#1 New York Times bestselling author, Tipping Point, Outliers, and David and Goliath; host, Revisionist History; Masters runner

"Being THE fastest is not always possible. Being YOUR fastest is. It doesn't matter what age you start, that goal is always achievable.

I have loved track since I was 12 years old, watching John Carlos and Tommie Smith sprint at the Olympics in 1968. I ran through high school--10.3 for 100 yards, and college--10.3 for 100 meters! But it was not until I retired from my NFL career that I realized how much I loved--and needed--the sport. Billy 'White Shoes' Johnson invited me to a Masters meet in Dallas. I was like, 'Wow, what is this?'

I went on to compete for twenty years with and against these incredible athletes. I loved their passion, the camaraderie, and knowing the sacrifices we were all making to be our best. Reading Graham's stories of these remarkable athletes today, is an affirmation of what we do--and a joy."
-- James Lofton
NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver; broadcaster; NCAA college sprinter and long jump champion; Masters track athlete

"For too long, the narrative of aging has been one of slowing down. Graham flips that script, offering compelling case studies of individuals who have found a profound new sense of purpose through competition. It's a powerful reminder that becoming an athlete at sixty or older isn't just about health--it's about adding a vital new layer to who you are.

We need to stop asking what is 'age-appropriate' and start focusing on what is person-appropriate. Graham's stories are a masterclass in breaking through the self-imposed barriers that hold so many back in their sixties and seventies and beyond. This book delivers the visual and literal proof that our most competitive and vibrant days aren't behind us--they are waiting for us on the track."
-- Michael Clinton
Former President of Hearst Magazines; founder & CEO of ROAR Forward, a platform dedicated to the "New Longevity" movement; author of the best-selling book ROAR: Into the Second Half of Your Life (Before It's Too Late); Masters runner

"Graham's writing provides a remarkable testament to what I have practiced my whole life: that a commitment to fitness is about joy and perseverance. Through his gifted storytelling, he shares the incredible journeys of athletes who prove that it's not just about winning, but about having the passion to keep competing and jumping at any age. Faster Than You at 60 gives profound insight into the resilience required to stay fast, and is a must-read for anyone looking to surprise themselves--later-in-life."
-- Willie Banks
Two-time Olympian, Triple Jump World Record Holder; USATF Board member; Masters World Champion

About the Author

GRAHAM BROYD is a British-American businessman, writer, and athlete. Born in Dorking, England, he went to school in Bedford and then Liverpool, before taking two gap years working and hitchhiking around Europe. In 1978, he went to Birmingham University to study International Relations.

After graduation, Graham started a career in international banking, with his primary purposes being to travel and earn some money--in that order of priority. His first assignments were to New York and the Republic of Panama. Graham spent almost forty years in banking, his time mostly split between New York and London, before retiring in 2024. He was a CEO of the North American businesses of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Mr. Fix-It when the bank encountered existential problems after the global financial crisis in 2008. Graham published his first book, The Panama Canal Treaties: The diplomacy and economics behind the treaty that changed the international order, in 2024.

After his retirement, Graham found his writing voice. A lifetime storyteller, Graham wanted to write down the twenty hitchhiking stories he had told for more than forty years from his original trip to America in 1980. On hearing the stories, friends had always encouraged him to write his story. And so he did.