I would rather be able to train mostly injury free well past 50. It doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen for me, unfortunately. Even if I could have a nice 3:59 mile PR, I’m sure I’d get used to it and sort of adjust my standards watching 70+ college kids run sub-4 in 2-3 months. It wouldn’t give me continued motivation, satisfaction, or help me sleep at night like lifelong running can.
That’s like saying a long, successful career of playing softball, is better than having played MLB for a few years.
I don’t quite get this thread as doing both competitive running during school,and continuing afterwards, is an option for most people.
The thread is a hypothetical.
Your baseball analogy would be better if you stipulated:
-You have an intrinsic love for just getting out and playing baseball
-You were an MLB player who practically nobody’s ever heard of
I disagree but obviously everyone is entitled to opinions. Staying competitive and passionate about a sport is completely fine into an older age. Otherwise, what? You'll just become a boring old guy who likes to travel, golf birdwatch and do a general doctor advised fitness routines. That's fine, if that's for you but you shouldn't look down on someone still out there giving it their all.
I agree with Milethon. Vecec, how old are you?
I'm 64. When I was 25 I never thought I'd still be racing (MUCH slower) at this point in my life.
I race and train with a little less passion but I still love them both.
As far as the OP- I would pick a longer career.
Well the deal is I sort of gave it everything I had when young although I started running late in high school. Many times All-American in college, and then a few years later I lost interest in competing. I have never been injured. I can go for runs any time. So I really didn’t have to make a choice but the fire that burns when young burns brightest. For those who want to do it later in life that is fine.
With fewer and fewer competitors in my advancing age groups every year, I'm still holding up hope to be the the last man standing, if I can't be the fastest.
There were a number of years in which my times would be improving on an ongoing basis, but that ended in my early sixties, a few years ago.
And I really remember seeing runners at my current age, how they seemed out of the competition and falling off their game, so it seemed to me. I thought I would never let that happen.
Well, it happened.
I don't let it bother me.
And I should add, cardio workouts like running at this age pay enormous dividends for one's health. That would not be something I would want to wish away.
This post was edited 3 minutes after it was posted.
Are you the type of runner who values their PRs more than being a life-long runner, or the other way around?
If you could have much faster PRs would you give up all the years of running you had since your college days?
I have a friend who was 3rd in the Pac-10 (it was the Pac-10 back then), but he never really ran after college. I set all my PRs after college, though they were all pretty sucky (I am slow). But I have continued to run, mostly injury free, for the 30 years since then.
Personally, I would not trade these 30 years of running (slowly) for one really good year back in 1995. Would you be willing to stop running forever if you could have one really, really fast PR?
Definitely longevity. I gave it my all in college, broke a few school records, and now almost 10 years later, the records are gone. No one remembers my name. I wouldn't have finished in the top 100 at any of the BU races from this last weekend in prime. Running faster would've meant a little longer until the records were broken, but eventually everyone will forget your name.
I've really fallen in love with ultra trail running because so often the overall goal is simply to finish. After years of being addicted to the watch and calculating splits down the tenth of a second, the simple freedom of making goal to cross the finish line is so much fun. I like doing local road races too from time to time, but I've only just begun getting into my 30s and I already see the relative unimportance of exact times on a results spreadsheet. Do what makes you happy. For me, it used to be chasing times and beating people, but now it's all about being able to run for a long time in a beautiful place.
As others said, it's whatever makes you happy, there are no guidelines on this. I'm in my 40's and took up road marathons 10 years ago after originally being a D1 Swimmer. My swimming career was basically "sub elite" and always pushing all out. I never really nailed a conference meet or reached full potential there, and that career ended in injury and burnout, so once I was done (hard as the parting process was), my world really opened up: Education, Travel, adventure, career, volunteering, dating, other endurance and athletic pursuits. I couldn't imagine trying to stay in the competitive swimming scene to chase personal bests (especially since PR's were likely over), but i don't knock those who did stay in the sport for their many reasons. Then I found running as exercise, stress relief, exploration, challenge, social connection, and then eventually chasing Boston and sub3 and PR's. Maybe because i came to this sport later, i had the appetite for multiple intense marathon blocks each year, but encountered some injuries and burnout (work and life) in this sport too! This requiring a step back into balancing priorities and away from strict running. Chasing sporting goals is awesome, but at certain ages I do wonder if this time/energy/resource/passion can be better spent on others or other life goals? So now running serves many purposes, including but not limited to escapism, wildlife spotting, and general health. It is a constant prioritization of balance.
That doesn't really answer your question on Fast PR vs. Longevity in sport. I guess I'd have to go with longevity, which means one is healthful enough to keep going, whatever their continuing motivation.
i respect the notion of lifelong soccer or runner but only so many athletes come through the washing machine of serious sports in the right physical condition to just keep rolling forever. to me it's usually a particular body type who if they played a contact sport were not the ones who got "stuck in." often enough you've picked up an ankle that gets tendonitis if you pound too much, or worse, where you have to manage workload. or you may just flat hurt every time you try. and to me having to be attentive to biofeedback that way is a distraction from this pure affection you're talking about.
Yes. I have a very good friend who cannot train anymore. He was a good collegiate runner (a lot better than me) but he can't even run a 5km without getting hurt. It is chronic. I suck but I can still run 50 miles a week at 50... Just lucky.
That’s like saying a long, successful career of playing softball, is better than having played MLB for a few years.
I don’t quite get this thread as doing both competitive running during school,and continuing afterwards, is an option for most people.
I agree. I did run in college and am still running 30 years later (though to be clear, I am/was slower than most Letsrun posters).
My question was which one do people value more? Which one is more important to you? Your PRs and your "all in" years of youth or the decades of running since then?
As much fun as I have had running and racing 30+ years after college, I would take the fast year or two.
I would rather have a really fast PR or a few big wins in prestigious races in my 20's than winning the Masters division at "Road Race X" at 40+.
Would you take this deal even if you could never run again? Or would have never run these last 30 years?
I assume that I would still do something, it just wouldnt be running. So I would get into golf, or cycling, or whatever..
Also if I'm making this deal with the devil, I would want details. Do I get to run "fast" and win big races and make the Olympic finals, or "fast" enough to win the local road race?
I assume that I would still do something, it just wouldn't be running. So I would get into golf, or cycling, or whatever..
Also if I'm making this deal with the devil, I would want details. Do I get to run "fast" and win big races and make the Olympic finals, or "fast" enough to win the local road race?
It's not an easy choice but it is a fun debate.
Yes, that is the crux of the problem. What level of success would make giving up running for life "worth it" for you?
Olympic Gold - yes. I would obviously take the gold and just become a cyclist or mountain biker or whatever.
WC Gold - yes. Same reason.
USA National Champion - yes. Take the title and become a really, really good surfer (or avid hiker).
Four year NCAA Cross Country All-American - maybe. See the above reasons
3:45 1500 & 13:59 5000m PRs instead of my current PRs? - no
I assume that I would still do something, it just wouldn't be running. So I would get into golf, or cycling, or whatever..
Also if I'm making this deal with the devil, I would want details. Do I get to run "fast" and win big races and make the Olympic finals, or "fast" enough to win the local road race?
It's not an easy choice but it is a fun debate.
Yes, that is the crux of the problem. What level of success would make giving up running for life "worth it" for you?
Olympic Gold - yes. I would obviously take the gold and just become a cyclist or mountain biker or whatever.
WC Gold - yes. Same reason.
USA National Champion - yes. Take the title and become a really, really good surfer (or avid hiker).
Four year NCAA Cross Country All-American - maybe. See the above reasons
3:45 1500 & 13:59 5000m PRs instead of my current PRs? - no
Where would you draw the line?
Pretty close to what you stated would be my cut off point I guess.
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