Ha 50s guy I'm just like you, first broke 3 at age 52. Then had a streak of 7 more sub3s. Now I'm 67 and glad to get under 3:20. But unlike you, I did not start running until mid-life. First race at 48 (a 10K), first marathon at age 49.
Now I cannot imagine not running or not racing, and feel sorry for those who do not do these things -- they are really missing out. Racing is essential because it gives purpose to the play.
this gives me hope for the next few years. My thought after celebrating was "I wonder if I can do it again". 3:20 at 67 is pretty incredible too.
as for the why? in my experience, the people that live the longest & best are the people still trying to maximize their abilities for their age, be it running, juggling, reading or whatever. I have a neighbor who is 104. Still able to walk and is just now thinking about moving to assisted living. In his 90s, you would think he was in his 70s. He had some sort of little goal just about every day.
From my 40's to early 60's I ran/trained for the competition. Now at almost 69 years old, I run because I still can. And that is good enough.
51yo here. I run 6-7 days a week, partly to see what I can do, but also, in part to switch off. Started running regularly in my early 40s with aims to break 20 and 40 for the 5/10k. Last year I ran a sub-5 mile on the track and a 2.36 marathon. Hoping not to slow down too quickly.
Do you workout everyday to be a better runner? Working through all you problems that come up with your legs or feet, with the goal of being the best runner you can be or do you just run to stay healthy? Are you like Rocky at 60, working though all your health problems to go another round? Is your goal just to keep the pounds off at 48,52,62,72,82 or whatever age you are?
Still well under the age bracket I am 40 but I run to and workout for fitness I have zero running or racing goals actually glade I don't have to train like a maniac anymore. I actually find competitive poker tournaments much more enjoyable than I ever found racing and I was a decent runner had range from a 3:45 1500m to a 29:05 10,000m.
I hate running, but hate not running more. It a long slow slog. I suppose I’ll keep running as long as I can. Want to quit, but keep qualifying for Boston so I keep running it. Still setting some prs. (Was a mid pack d3 runner) now closer to trailing pack old person. Still curious if I ever could have been or could be fast.
Never really got any tangible benefit from it, but I always assume I’ve avoided negative consequences.
I am 50, so I fit the demographic you are asking...
I like to run. That is the main thing. I think I would still run even if I were alone on a desert island.
I like my training partners, so running with them is also a two-birds-one-stone kind of thing. I get to be with friends and socialize while getting my workout in.
I like being outside and have pretty nice places to run, so it ticks the "get some fresh air, get into the woods" box as well.
I would be a fat pig if I didn't exercise. I like to eat and running helps me stay fit.
I like to race and take on other athletic challenges. I want to be able to run a 5:xx at 50 and a decent marathon (BQ?) at 60, and stuff like that. I don't really race for PRs since I am a former D3 runner and even though my PRs are slow, they are untouchable now. Nonetheless, I like to race and do all-out time trials with my friends (which feel like race level efforts).
Running helps me to be less stressed in life and makes me happy. I am a better dad and husband because of my running.
Those are the seven reasons I run.
This should be the end of the thread, but I would add that I also run to be able to keep up and have a good time with my kids when we go hiking, skiing or biking.
In my early 60’s. I ran track in college and competed in road races into my 40s. Now I run about every other day for fitness and mental well-being. Competitions in age groups is still a possibility if I change my mind
61 years old and much slower than I used to be but I workout everyday (almost all running) because I still enjoy the whole process of training/racing. I'm competitive within my age group but I wouldn't care if I wasn't, I'd still train and 'race', if you can call it that!
Been running in one form or another since HS. I like the health benefits of running and still have competitive urges to do the best I can. Am 51 now, definitely much slower then I used to be but running sub 1:30 halfs and marathons from 3:10 to 3:22 depending on how build ups and other things go. Will keep running marathons until I can no longer break 3:30 or a doctor tells me to quit. Currently run 50-70 miles a week during marathon build ups.
I'm 73 and started running in high school. I have trained and raced almost continuously since college, and now weigh about 2-3 lbs less than my college racing weight. Last year I averaged right at 40mpw and ran about a half dozen road races and 8 XC races. I still love the training process and the energy of racing and the people I do it with. As long as my body continues to hold together I expect to keep doing it.
Even if I was into times, race places and PB’s…who else would be interested in what I could achieve? Heck, even my wife isn’t interested in my training endeavours. I’m not getting paid to race. Therefore why would I risk injury ( and injury potential is far greater in those training to race than those running for relaxation and general health)
Chasing after race times and places isn’t the best fit for MY goal of health and longevity. Is training to race good for health? Maybe, to a point…but after that there is an inverse relationship between improved fitness and health, and that tipping point is different for everyone, and we generally only know that we’ve reached it once it’s too late and we’ve crossed it.
Times and racing are fairly modern concepts. Our hunter gatherer ancestors, if they did run much ( and that is still up for debate) didn’t have the concept of a clock, and merely took as long as was necessary to get the job done, while maximising efficiency of effort…as modern hunter gatherers still do.
I am 50, so I fit the demographic you are asking...
I like to run. That is the main thing. I think I would still run even if I were alone on a desert island.
I like my training partners, so running with them is also a two-birds-one-stone kind of thing. I get to be with friends and socialize while getting my workout in.
I like being outside and have pretty nice places to run, so it ticks the "get some fresh air, get into the woods" box as well.
I would be a fat pig if I didn't exercise. I like to eat and running helps me stay fit.
I like to race and take on other athletic challenges. I want to be able to run a 5:xx at 50 and a decent marathon (BQ?) at 60, and stuff like that. I don't really race for PRs since I am a former D3 runner and even though my PRs are slow, they are untouchable now. Nonetheless, I like to race and do all-out time trials with my friends (which feel like race level efforts).
Running helps me to be less stressed in life and makes me happy. I am a better dad and husband because of my running.
Those are the seven reasons I run.
That says it pretty well I'm 72 and I enjoy it all (mostly) have a few health issues so want to keep going as long as I can. I have always been very competitive but lately I learned to tone that down a little and become a little less focused on hitting a particular pace or time.
I have been a competitive runner going into year 52, consecutively. No breaks, no other hobbies outside of Cycling. 29:30k on track in college. It's definitely more difficult, but would we want it any other way? Still, I run/race because I enjoy it. It's to the point now, where as a retired Senior, I love to travel. Thus, travel to have fun, run races and see old running buddies. I've slowed some, like a 26:50 5k on the roads, but no big deal. Love my Sport and don't plan on quitting anytime soon. They will find me on the running trail like Micah True, as I will not regret a single day of running or racing. Wishing everyone Great Health & Fitness. "Si Se Puede!" 💪🏽
I started running to get healthy a looooong time ago but it quickly turned into something I enjoy and like to do as much as possible. I am competitive with myself and like to see new PRs but I could care less about other people or dumb track events (I am one person who dislikes the attention placed on college athletes on this site - who cares? I'm here for the training advice). I rarely run now and have not done much since Plantar Fasciitis hit me a couple years ago. I cycle several hundred KMs a month now and enjoy it almost as much as running with the exception of the expense of the gear and the maintenance hassles a bike brings.
59 years old, got started in athletics to drop some pounds and discovered that the side effects of endurance sports is far more than physical fitness. These days I run as a self-competitive ultra-distance hobby-jogger, eat what I want and don't worry too much about life (the odds are I'll get hit by a Mack truck anyway), and am far happier because of it.
If the goal were "overall fitness" nearly everyone would be better served by lifting a few days a week, running a few days a week (like 20 mpw), and keeping a healthy diet. Most people are going to have some other reason if they're running harder than that, be it time with friends, providing a good aerobic foundation for other activities, or a love of competition.
Up to about age 47, it was purely competitive. Then, I quit for about a year and a half due to injuries. Since hen, it has solely been to keep from getting very fat. I never had much interest in age group awards and would only get an occasional masters win if the 4-5 faster masters did not show. There really wasn't much in the way of competition as almost all of the masters runners back in my day were on pretty different levels from each other. We all knew who was going to place where at every race. My main motivation was PRs and fast times. As age got in the way, I just lost interest. Too much work to try to keep from getting slower every year and a few chronic issues were getting to be a concern (mostly bone spurs in my feet).
I am 50, so I fit the demographic you are asking...
I like to run. That is the main thing. I think I would still run even if I were alone on a desert island.
I like my training partners, so running with them is also a two-birds-one-stone kind of thing. I get to be with friends and socialize while getting my workout in.
I like being outside and have pretty nice places to run, so it ticks the "get some fresh air, get into the woods" box as well.
I would be a fat pig if I didn't exercise. I like to eat and running helps me stay fit.
I like to race and take on other athletic challenges. I want to be able to run a 5:xx at 50 and a decent marathon (BQ?) at 60, and stuff like that. I don't really race for PRs since I am a former D3 runner and even though my PRs are slow, they are untouchable now. Nonetheless, I like to race and do all-out time trials with my friends (which feel like race level efforts).
Running helps me to be less stressed in life and makes me happy. I am a better dad and husband because of my running.
M60, competitive, but I care more about running as fast as I can in my three goal races than about how I stack up against others. One thing that helps keep me motivated is that a half PR is still not out of the question as a goal (didn't finish one until age 52, & set my PR at 56). Have started paying attention to age-graded scores too, so I guess that's comparing myself to others but also against my past self.
Some of the posters have mentioned the social aspect of running. I run alone, but usually in a park that is full of walkers or joggers I know because I've been there several days a week for nine years. That made a big difference during worst stage of the pandemic, as I would get all the outside social interaction I needed just by saying hi to the people I knew.