Certainly not! I never ran a race until age 47 because I was busy with career and 4 kids. PR'd at 56 and at 70 still loving it. And learning new things all the time.
You know what really sucks about being in your 40s? Seeing your IRA near or over the 1 million mark for the first time...but knowing you can't touch it so you really aren't "currently" financially set!
It’s not over but early-mid 40s are a turning point for a lot of people. The last few years it has slowly dawned on me that I don’t have unlimited time on earth- I’ve already lived half of my life or more. Also my physical peak has passed. That leads to a perspective shift that a lot of people can find difficult I think, especially if they haven’t achieved what they wanted to by now.
I’ve just been trying to roll with it. Nothing I do will slow down time or make it go back. I love the fact that I have enough money now that I don’t sweat everything, I have old friends I can talk to, and I know myself better than even 10 years ago.
Life is not over but I’ve had to shift goals. I’ll never run a sub 1:50 800 again, and I’ll never run a 4 minute mile. Now it’s all about learning new things, traveling, staying fit (even if it’s not running) and spending time with family and friends. There are seasons of life, you can either fight it and be miserable, or accept it, roll with the tide and make the best of it.
I am only 21 now so certainly not wise but I have some insight (may not be wise but it is mine lol)
I think what I have some to realize in my very early adult years is that I cannot optimize every single thing in my life. My research interests changed, my ideal job/schooling focuses shifted, the type of training I did for running changed (and for the better!). It is easy to be a hotshot coming out of highschool thinking your going to run XYZ time in college and get some cool prestigious job.
But what I have come to really realize in 2025 is that I cannot predict as much as when the sun will come up tomorrow. I have no idea if something I read about tomorrow will be what I find as a focus for the rest of my life. A lot of stuff just comes down to dumb luck, and finding enjoyment out of the opportunities you are given. I am incredibly privileged and it is privilege to have the struggles I have.
Basically what I think I am trying to say that is that I feel it is stupid to define an age that you are going to "slow down" and have it be "so over". I know a lot of you are incredibly dense and you will read this and it will fly so far over your head you'd think its a chemtrail. But I digress. It is much more important I feel now to just stay driven and be passionate about something in your life. Not to take a passive role in being alive. I am not going to be young and spry forever. One day I will not able to rip 4:40s like it is nothing. But that is okay. I will still enjoy running.
Hope this makes sense. I know I am young and dumb, and I am trying to figure out my life still
Astrologers talk about the Uranus return, when that planet is at the point is was at your birth -- symbolic of individuality, doing things your own way, non-conformity. It last until 43 often. It's a time to reflect on where all you've been doing has gotten you. What do you want for your life? If you ignore it, you get bitten on the ass I'm your early 60s (called Uranus opposition). Whether you put stock in the symbols of astrology or not, the ages speak to these themes. So, tune in, and your life is just beginning (again).
Don't you know about life? How it only disappoints? Gets worse and worse until it ends in a catastrophe.
Oh.... You mean this. Yeah, that's one way of looking at.
"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury Signifying nothing."
At 40, my fastest running times were behind me, but my greatest earning years were still ahead. Goals shifted from athletic to career and family and I found them, once achieved, far more rewarding.
It’s not over but early-mid 40s are a turning point for a lot of people. The last few years it has slowly dawned on me that I don’t have unlimited time on earth- I’ve already lived half of my life or more. Also my physical peak has passed. That leads to a perspective shift that a lot of people can find difficult I think, especially if they haven’t achieved what they wanted to by now.
I’ve just been trying to roll with it. Nothing I do will slow down time or make it go back. I love the fact that I have enough money now that I don’t sweat everything, I have old friends I can talk to, and I know myself better than even 10 years ago.
Life is not over but I’ve had to shift goals. I’ll never run a sub 1:50 800 again, and I’ll never run a 4 minute mile. Now it’s all about learning new things, traveling, staying fit (even if it’s not running) and spending time with family and friends. There are seasons of life, you can either fight it and be miserable, or accept it, roll with the tide and make the best of it.
No one has really mentioned family, but I just had my first two kids at 42. Maybe this will make me age more rapidly due to lack of sleep, or maybe it'll be like a new beginning that will have me feeling relatively young deep into my 40s. Too early to say.
Agree mentality makes a big difference. Obviously you need to be realistic about the physical slow-down and just roll with it. I'm lucky in that I never cared too much about getting slower -- when I decide to race, I'm realistic about my base fitness level and set expectations accordingly.
I think you're the result of either having transcended and dominated but realized to quit before you get tripped up, or you're an example of an exception to a general rule, a person who exhibits different traits and as a result, evades certain evo-psych pitfalls by not engaging or unchaining a different strategy - in other words, a selection bias case.
for example, another selection case - the elderly represented as the happiest - this often gets used to justify optimist and that a brighter future is ahead.
on the other hand, the aliquii are a biased sample of individuals; akin to the pathogens or cockroaches which survive the hellfire storm rained down upon them, to often no action of their own
No one has really mentioned family, but I just had my first two kids at 42. Maybe this will make me age more rapidly due to lack of sleep, or maybe it'll be like a new beginning that will have me feeling relatively young deep into my 40s. Too early to say.
Guessing Twins? Oh man your life is over for a very long time unless you have help.
I'm 66 and I've been mocked by some of the basement dwelling losers on here when I explain the circumstances of my life so I won't bother but if you're healthy and in good physical condition, life can be fulfilling even in your 60's.
As you age you find that women, once they get to about 26-28 start to see the emotional immaturity in many guys their age and look to older more mature gentlemen.
I'm divorced and yes, I do often miss having someone there every night as a companion
But my circumstances are what they are and I make the most of it.
Stay healthy, hopefully have a full head of hair, and stay fit and treat women the way they want to be treated. Have a quiet confidence.
Perfect post, but I just want to say that even if you go see plenty bald, that’s not a bad thing. You can wear a wig, wear hair plugs, or just not give a darn what people think and just be comfortable being bald.
I'll give you that. It's just something I've been complimented on but I see plenty of bald guys in the same position as I'm in.
I think the key, and a younger woman I dated told me this, is confidence but not arrogance.
A quiet confidence, as Eliud Kipchoge says- a lion doesn't have to tell you it's a lion.
Running wise, the extra motivation of being in the "Masters" category has help me get back into the same shape I was in my early 30s.
35-39 were some tough years for me. Mostly dumb injuries. Hoping to gain those years back from 40-45.
Also, a lot more disposable income, where I can travel first class for vacation style races and more money to spend on gear, massage, acupuncture, etc...
I had my youngest child of three at 39, so life has been very kid-focused since I turned 40. That's not a bad thing - I love my kids! - it's just less about me and my achievements, though I still have my hobbies and interests. I injured my knee at 43 and that's been a struggle. Still running and cycling but it's been limiting. I have also been very conscious of losing muscle mass in the last couple years and really need to start actively lifting to reverse that trend. My job pays very well, but I'm just done with doing the same thing and not willing to take a pay cut to do something else. Vesting a bunch of options this summer and hope to be done with it before 50. I had a couple health scares last year (bad mammogram which turned out to be hopefully nothing but requires monitoring (I am a woman) and another significant health issue) that have made me really think about what I want to spend the rest of my life doing. I feel like health really declines after 75, so I'm nearly 2/3 done with the period of my life when my body is in good shape and isn't limiting. With three kids with lots of activities of their own, it's hard to find time when work is done to pursue things I'm interesting in (including running), so I am really thinking about the money / QOL balance in this upcoming year.
But, short answer, no life isn't over at 40. Again, my observation with older relatives is things go downhill very fast and hard at 75 to 80, and really it's over if your spouse descents into major health problems as you'll be caring for them, even if you yourself are healthy. Even if you eat healthy and exercise, chances are pretty good you'll have some kind of major health issue by 75. My dad for example has had devastating hearing and vision loss.