What does it feel like to turn 30?

When I turned 30, I took a hard look at my contemporaries and myself, and also decided to really search for a partner in life. I had never been particularly popular in the traditional sense, and had always compared myself to the physical and social ideal that I had in my head growing up (lots of friends, tan, buff, etc).

I suddenly realized that while I still didn't fit that ideal and never would, I had a ton to offer in that I was fit (didn't have the beer gut and double chin that a lot of 30-year-olds are rocking), financially stable (I had a career-type job), and my subtle sense of humor was much better appreciated as people around me matured. I needed to get glasses, so I got a pair that made me look like I belonged in mission control from Apollo 13.

All told, I took a hard look at myself and those around me, and my belief in myself skyrocketed. That confidence led to a lot of opportunities with women, and I ended up marrying a great one and having 2 kids.

Turning 30 feels like a chance to check in on yourself. Make it a chance that emphasizes your strengths and helps you become the best version of yourself, and your 30's will be a great decade!

30s are the bomb. Got the hot wife, 6 fig salary, 2 kids, sub 16 5k pb.

But its more tiring. You stop caring about most of life's shi.t. Kids may be the real culprit or running. I'd rather go to bed at 9 and up in the 5s to go train. I don't need to go out with work people (pre covid) to get drunk mid week when I can have some more high end whiskey or beers at home, have sex and hit the hey.

There are basically like two body types in your late 30s: skinny/fit or heavily overweight.

In your 30s you basically make the choice and devote yourself or you give up and let yourself go. Every time I see my age peers / friends I'm either seeing people who look 20 (like myself) or 45. I've had more 20 year olds think I was their age than vice versa.

Major crossroads year for me, stressful and exhausting as hell. I was in my 4th year of med school knowing I was going to graduate 1st in my class which was awesome, but took on a lot of extra work from the opportunities that presented themselves, including EIC of the school medical journal, president of the student chapter of the national surgical society, co-authoring several research articles, giving tons of presentations, traveling all over the country for externships and interviewing for the most sought after and competitive residencies, studying my ass off, all while trying to hold my marriage together(thankfully no kids yet). My diet sucked,. I gained about 20 lb that year (heaviest I've ever been). Looking back, I honestly don't know how I did it all, but it did take its toll on me, big time.

I was never injuried in my 20s but once I hit my 30s (35 now) injuries kept adding up and it's constant maintenance so I can get out the door and run the next day. Haven't slowed down much though, and when I can get string together 3 or 4 months of solid training, I can get to the point where i can at least think a PR in something over 5k isn't out of the question.

Forget all of the above. 30’s can be the best decade of your life. It’s up to you. In all aspects—physical and mental—you should be peaking. Enjoy.

jamin wrote:

Daily struggle for meaning

Isn't that more common in your 20s?

"you should be peaking"

One does not have the experience in their 30's to peak. I believe "peaking" can happen as early 40 and as late as into the 80's. One needs a lot of time to peak and the 30's are no enough. There is also a biological process that makes people "hard" as they go into older age. A young man of 30 can be a "wimp" but not a man of 70/

Look at the Rolling Stones performing about 2005 and compare that to the late 70's. Look at the absolute control they have in their 60's compared to their 30's.

I hit peak crazy at 27.

you should be in a relationship? LMFAO.

SummerSlogger wrote:

It's certainly one of those birthdays that makes you reflect and start to look forward.

By 30 you should be in a career. You shouldn't be jumping from entry level to entry level jobs, you should be into some field and making some head way.

You should be in a relationship, a long term committed relationship.

You should be saving for retirement.

You should be looking at buying rather than renting.

In short: It's really time to be a grown up.

Hahaha good one

Almost as funny as Pryor wrote:

you should be in a relationship? LMFAO.

LOL have fun raising someone else's kids!

You wait around you will be left with psychos, fatties, and women on to their second husband with a baby or two back home (maybe a combo of all three!) Have fun with that.

live and learn.

high school xc coach wrote:

physically, it's fine.

mentally, it sucks.

Agreed. 35 was the opposite.

Physically, it sucked (injuries and hard workouts take noticeably longer to recover from). Mentally, it's fine (not a big milestone birthday like 30 or 40).

Middle aged for sure. Takes a bit longer than I'd like to recover.. but that happens when you sit at a desk all day. Fit though.