In the day "the best" in the SE lined up for Cooper River. I guess "the best" still do. I was not among the best but lined up a dozen times after age 40 and came in with times in the 36's and a couple times after 45 in the 35's as I reached "peak" late. I never made top 3 in my age group, but challenged the best.
The race is much bigger now. The times this year are pathetic. BOOMERS get a lot of undeserved bad press, we are different.