As Steve Cram hits 60 it reminds us why being born in September, October or November can help you as an athlete

Steve Cram is not the only supermiler to celebrate a birthday right now. The Jarrow Arrow hits 60 today (October 14) but he is just one of several top middle-distance runners with an autumnal birthday, writes Jason Henderson.

Steve Ovett and Peter Elliott were both born five days before Cram – on October 10 – whereas Seb Coe was born on September 29.

Other leading British middle-distance runners born in autumn include Tom McKean (1:43.88 for 800m) on October 27, Andy Butchart (13:0621 for 5000m) on October 14 (same day as Cram), Martin Steele (1:43.84 for 800m) on September 30 and current British 800m champion Daniel Rowden (September 9).

Eamonn Martin, the last British man to win the London Marathon, was born on October 10. It does not stop there either. Jack Buckner, John Mayock, Charlie Grice and Anthony Whiteman have autumn birthdays too.

Of course there are exceptions such as Mo Farah (March 23), Dave Moorcroft (April 10), Brendan Foster (January 12), Steve Jones (August 4) and Dave Bedford (December 30). Still, the number of autumn birthdays is eye catching.

The phenomenon is not quite as common on the female side with Kelly Holmes (April 19), Kirsty Wade (August 6), Paula Radcliffe (December 17) and Liz McColgan (May 24), although there are some notable autumnal birthdays like Wendy Sly (November 5), Yvonne Murray (October 4) and Jo Pavey (September 20).

Outside the UK, Cram’s great Moroccan rival from the 1980s, Said Aouita (pictured, above right, with Cram at the 1983 World Champs), was born on November 2, whereas the current world 1500m and mile record-holder Hicham El Guerrouj was born on September 14.

World marathon record-holder Eliud Kipchoge was born on November 5, too, although as with the British scene there are plenty of athletes who buck the trend.

Despite the exceptions, though, there is an unusually large number of leading endurance athletes with autumnal birthdays – and there is an explanation for it.

The theory is that athletes born in autumn will be among the oldest in their year at school. This means they will be more developed than many of their rivals in age-group competitions and, in some cases, almost an entire year older, which is a significant advantage during puberty.

The consequences are that the older and well-developed kids will enjoy more success. They will therefore be more likely to persist with the sport, could end up with more confidence than younger athletes and, crucially, could gain early advantages such as being picked for regional squads and so on.

The benefit of an autumnal birthday is not just in British middle and long distance running either. It has been found to be prominent in football, for example.

A study of English youth academies in 2009, for instance, showed that 57% of players were born in the three-month period from September to December compared to 14% born in the three months from June to August.

Sports scientists have dubbed it the ‘relative age effect’ and it might go a small way to explaining why Cram, Coe, Ovett, Elliott and others rose above their rivals.

Another explanation, of course, relates to astrology, if you believe in it. Cram, Coe, Ovett and Elliott all share the same sign of the zodiac – Libra.

Coincidence? Or are their birthdays related to their success?

(Photograph by Mark Shearman)

» For more on the latest athletics news, athletics events coverage and athletics updates, check out the AW homepage and our social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram