Old Dudes: At what age did you start feeling old?

I first started feeling "old" in a running sense at age 46 - - - but my decline could have been due to a car accident. I feel I'm training smarter than ever at 50, but my times don't reflect it. I'm a good 3 minutes slower than my PB for 5K, so roughly 6:25 per mile, versus 5:25 per mile. I seriously doubt I could run just ONE 5:25 mile on the track now. I just broke 20:00 last week in a local 5K, and was amazed at how much push it took over the last 3/4 of a mile or so to maintain that pace, when ten years ago that would have simply been the pace of a good strong effort on a training run! Still, when I look at my non-running peers, I have NOTHING to complain about! And I do love the age-graded tables!

Mr. Erniebomb great question. I am now 30 and I am pondering the same question myself. Currently I do not feel old and feel that I never will. Friends of mine and even my own brother are starting to look old I guess you can say. In my opinion, I look the same as I did in my early 20's. This question of yours inquires on how others feel about their own self image I believe. Others relate this question to there sexual activities but I feel that is the wrong approach and maybe a bit devious on their part.

If you have caught on to the inference I have suggested. My only hope in plain text is that you should consider the practice of self reflection. You obviously have a great concern within this issue of feeling old and it is quite possible that you are not getting "old" at all.

Age 63 has been my biggest challenge having run 49 years and about 96K miles.

It was all going great until about age 59 and then the wheels fell off. Could still break 5:00 and 17:00 at 55. At 60 It's a fight to stay under 6:00 and 20:00.

I think "feeling old" is as much an attitude as a physical thing, but, there is no denying that the physical adaptations over time are real. I turned 50 earlier this year, and though I've always done a fair amount of stretching and core, in addition to whatever exercise I'm doing, my body feels like it just decided that I'm "old now." More back pain, less stamina, just a lot of little niggles. My 50-year old cousin said the same thing.

This probably all started in my mid-late 40s, but it's gotten really bad this year. So I am ramping up my routine to include more core, stretching, resistance bands, kettle bell, rowing, and more light exercise. I wish I would've started this at age 40, and I highly recommend it to defray the effects of aging. On the plus side, I am still excited to get out and do things, just not partying, drinking, or staying out late.

17 due to chronic conditions that run in the family.

I'm 44 and this is DEFINITELY the oldest I've ever been

Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age.

-Victor Hugo

Early 50s. Around 52. Between 45, when I returned to racing after 19 years off, and 51, my times consistently dropped. Around 52, in 2010, things began to break down. My cardiovascular system was fine and my will (including my will to train) was still very strong. But various things--hamstrings, achilles, patellar tendon, and then, in the past two years, back/discs--began to go bad. I'd miss a month, or two, or four.

I felt strong as hell into my early 50s.

Next year. Watch out!

AK-52 wrote:

Goes in phases

Agree with this, and poster who concurred. My experiences/perceptions, distilled...

early 30s-- hyper little neighborhood boys now graduated college and in early careers, some with kids

late 30s-- takes actual increased effort, training, and attention to maintain fitness

early 40s-- get first major injuries (achilles that laid me up for 5 months, intermittent back nerve pain) that took recovery time and started pattern of being laid up, coming back, and comeback race times never get near old PRs or recent bests

late 40s-- feeling truly beat and needing recovery time for hard workouts and or things like marathon long runs combined with 2+ hr of physical labor the same day

early 50s-- surgeries for appendix and hernia; for the latter, deconditioned and took 4 months to full running. Result continues the pattern mentioned in early 40s.

mid-50s (current age); 20-30 sec/mile loss in speed for anything over 10k races. Am now looking at age-graded times and convincing myself that finishing behind those in 20s and 30s is OK; seeing children, nieces, and nephews hitting graduation/athletic/career milestones. And, going to funerals of people 80+, realizing those of my parents' age are ever fewer and I'm now one of the Old Guard.

Yet, I've outlived my dad (heart attack @ 52), I remain active and not physically disabled, and my doctor praises my weight and biostatistics.

I noticed this year, at age 38, looking older and rougher in the face. Some of you guys know what I'm talking about when you see a candid photo of yourself on social media or on someone's camera phone and you don't look nearly as good as you used to. About 75% of the photos I see of myself I look like shit.

Some of the clothing I own definitely looks strange on me and I can't wear more "youthful" clothing - as I look like an older guy who is trying to so hard to look and act young. So, I've had to change up the wardrobe so people take me more seriously. Skinny jeans, converse all-stars or vans, and hipster haircuts look stupid on me know.

I'm still getting enough sleep, eating OK, running is going well at 40-50 miles per week....so I'm healthy....which is probably the most important thing.

Well , I'm in my 40s right now, still setting PRs and still banging hotties on their early 20s at will. Make of that what you will.

67. All my times have been going down precipitously since then. In my mind I was 30, but my body feels its 73 years.

The key is to never stop training. Of course take the volume down and find things that you enjoy training wise. Include short quick lifts to gain a pump of blood into the muscles to gain a small bit of size and strength. This gets your cns stimulated and gives you energy and confidence. Just make training much shorter and more enjoyable. If you stop training - life will be tough. 50 years old and never stopped training. Good energy and positive outlooks on life and future. Best of luck

Someone said it, I think. Think you're old at 43, then you're 53, and realize you weren't old.

But yeah, after maybe 25, EVERY single day is a bit worse than the day before. That's an inescapable fact. That said, it's what you do with your remaining time. Like a lot of you, I pissed away a lot of years and possibly potential with poor lifestyle decisions. Because of that, at around 50 I'm now overall fitter than I was even in my late-20s. I have compromises, sure, but accumulated endurance means I don't have to go at it every day, it sticks around.

And now, this fit lifestyle means I'll hang onto it all far longer than the average guy. All's good!

started running at 39. Felt like superman for years running 35-50mpw week after week, year after year. Until this year.

At 47, I cannot get left butt pain to go away. Tried everything but running irritates it to the point I can't sleep and always have pain.

I hope it somehow goes away. But now I'm walking 70 min a day but it's not the same. I still have high energy and don't feel old at all. But it would be better if I was hammering out my 7 mile daily runs again.

Around 55, I started feeling old and retired permanently from running. I just wasn't enjoying it anymore. 60 now and feeling pretty good. My parents think I'm still young, though, and I admit to feeling pretty young when around them. They're 88 and 86.

48 vegan 15s for 5K bmi 19.5 I feel 23