Why do distance runners typically look older than non runners their age?

I think it’s exactly the opposite most runners look way younger than their age! Unlike other athletes that tend to quit cold Turkey after college a lot of runners keep fit and look great I’m their 40s and 50s.

A 41 year old woman should not look like this.

You're picking and choosing. One incident doesn't make it valid. Most 41 year olds that workout by running do not look like this.

I assume you mean someone like Joan Benoit Samuelson, seen here at about 64:

Two reasons come to mind:

1) excessive sun exposure

2) excessive exposure to the chronic, catabolic stress of distance running itself

I'm not sure #1 is a factor in the case of JBS; she doesn't look tan and I believe she does most of her training in Maine. Certainly there are plenty of people in the fitness community who get regular sun exposure, who are tan, and who looked younger at comparable ages--Clarence Bass, Mark Sisson, etc.

I disagree with the OP.

In most cases a regular distance runner will look younger, and healthier, than non runners their age.

there will be exceptions of course, but in general running will keep you young(er) looking.

At least someone posted a pic.

But it begs the question, what should a 41 year old look like? If this looks bad to you in comparison to the average 41 year old woman it makes me question how many 41 year old women you know or have ever seen in your lifetime.

Often times when elite runners retire from competitive running/racing, they tend to put on a few pounds. Shalane Flanagan will not look like the above photo after she retires.

Aren't you talking about the non-competitive, seasonal, recreational-type runner vs the competitive, hardcore, year-round runner/racer?

I've met plenty of non-competitive, recreational type runners at my gym over the years. They do low mileage, run indoors on a treadmill if it's too hot or too cold outside, take long breaks from running at the first sign of an injury or fatigue, cross-train with non-weightbearing cardio & strength train with the weights. These types of runners might throw in local 5k or two every summer just for the heck of it & to show off their "participation medal" to their colleagues at work. Lol. These fitness "runners" look very good for their age - especially the women, some looking 10-15 yrs younger than their age.

Contrast that with the lifelong, obsessive, highly-competitive, year-round runner who will train outdoors in any weather imaginable, train through injuries & fatigue, run high-mileage until their feet fall off & balk at the thought of substituting some run days with strength training with the weights.

I belonged to a local masters running club years ago. Most of the hardcore men & women over 50 in the club looked a lot older than their age. I, myself, looked a lot older. As I posted in my earlier comment, I'm 61 & I'm often mistaken for being 70+ Lol. I have a nice, fit, trim body but look like hell in the face with so many wrinkles & bad/saggy skin (it's no wonder that on my dating apps I get so many "likes" & seductive messages from old bags 10 to 20 yrs older than me!).

Decades of hardcore, competitive running will age the snot out of you. 😬

I think there is some confusion about aging and looking older. They aren't one and the same.

Spend a lot of time in the sun without sunscreen, and you are going to look older (look at lifelong famers), but that has no correlation with effective age.

I'm 65 and a lifetime competitive runner. Fortunate to still have good head of hair (genetic lottery, nothing to do with running) which is still fairly dark. I'm inside most of the time other than when I run, so don't have massive sun damage, but fair-share of wrinkles.

So, neck up, I probably look my age or maybe a bit older. On the other hand, I don't really care that much - I'm not up for any modeling jobs!

On the plus side, however, I weigh pretty much what I weighed 40 years ago. Actually when I get fully race fit for a 3000m/5000m race, I'm a little lighter than when I ran my fastest 800m. So, no aging gut.

My Garmin tells me that my fitness age is 20-years-old (although that would be a pretty slow 20-year-old), and it's no big deal to run 10 miles.

Overall, I'd trade looking a few years older facially for not being overweight and being as aerobically fit as a typically 20-year-old.

I'm just as fit as you. No aging gut or poor muscle development - I actually lift regularly & have a muscular, aesthetic physique. People have told me if I were to cover up my face & be judged only on body - they say my physique looks awesome & more in tune with a much younger man.

Starting the last couple years due to chronic injuries, I'm only running a few miles twice a week & no more racing. It's lifting now & non-weightbearing cardio & I already feel much better. And it's not just sun damage but wrinkles, eye bags, saggy neck skin, etc. I don't think I can unwind all that accumulated damage. And yeah...I'm not up for any modeling jobs either but being a widower, I'd like to do some dating. And I get tired of my friends & acquaintances always telling me that I look like hell & they're surprised as much older I look for being so in-shape & a fitness enthusiast. Lol

I will agree with this reply. Me thinks a lot depends on Genetics . I often notice Runners from the East Coast have more grey hair, or is it just? Is it the Water? The environment? I'm 66, and been running over 50+ and still have black hair, and not many wrinkles. I thank my Parents for that. So, I believe a lot is Genetics. Who know for sure, but nice discussion. FYI, Runner's what's more important is that 'Ticker.' Remain fit and check out on YouTube, Cardiologist James O'Keefe. 'Run For Your Life/Ted Talks' This can and may save a life. Many of us are afflicted with Atrial Fibrillation and not aware. If you've raced hard, as most have, you might be affected. Be safe, get a check up & watch yourself. Dr. O'keefe is one the Nations best Cardiologist. P.S. Dr. James is a Runner himself.

Which one is older? Anyone not familiar with the sport would guess wrong. One of them looks old af and she's only 30 in this picture.

Open image

SFH

/thread

I am 68 and honestly look much younger than my age. I stopped racing in my late 50's. I have to say a couple things about whether people look young or not. The same person can sometimes look old and at others times look young. If I let my skin get dry, I look old. If I keep my skin moisturized I look young. When I was racing at the end of a race, I looked old. When training at the end of a hard run, I would look old.

I cross train now with regular lifting and some aerobic stuff. Muscle development for older people is critical to both health and appearance.

When training when I was younger I would often run in the shade, I hated running in the sun. Maybe that helped.

Older people need to look in the mirror and take some pride in how they dress and look. Its not that hard, but many don't seem to care. Appearance is a point of pride and self concept for me.

Shalene could well be an anecdotal data point that fits the narrative. It’s exacerbated by her large forehead and naturally recessed hairline. How do you know the Shalenes outnumber the Karas?

High mileage depletes testosterone and has a heavy toll on the whole body.

Same. But I think a lot of runners are ectomorphs.

It's all the beer drinking.

You can thank the Beer mile and the runner's addictive personality for that.

And I'll thank you here and now, for pleasuring me with this discussion.

-David Christ