Should l run a race on my 50th Birthday even if l am not 100 percent and haven't done to much running

What are you worried about? No one cares what time you run unless you win your age group or something. Too many runners are scared to produce a less than stellar result and that's quite frankly, pathetic.

Happy 50th. I turn 50 on Friday. I am running a 2 mile race on Saturday and my back has been super stiff so I say if it makes you happy do it! Just don’t let yourself be upset with your time. Focus on the experience and the fact that you are 50 and fitter than 99% of other 50 year olds.

CCB wrote:

Happy 50th. I turn 50 on Friday. I am running a 2 mile race on Saturday and my back has been super stiff so I say if it makes you happy do it! Just don’t let yourself be upset with your time. Focus on the experience and the fact that you are 50 and fitter than 99% of other 50 year olds.

I am still limping sometimes walking and l have a few other problems. I have only recently started running 5 or maybe 6 miles a day and some light workouts. Nothing besides that and l am still having trouble walking sometimes. There is no way l would think of running this race if it was just some random day. It's a 10k race.

CCB wrote:

Happy 50th. I turn 50 on Friday. I am running a 2 mile race on Saturday and my back has been super stiff so I say if it makes you happy do it! Just don’t let yourself be upset with your time. Focus on the experience and the fact that you are 50 and fitter than 99% of other 50 year olds.

Thanks ! You too.

If I got this straight,.... you are limping, having trouble walking, and want to know if you should do a 10K race?! And you're 50 years old?

kmaclam wrote:

If I got this straight,.... you are limping, having trouble walking, and want to know if you should do a 10K race?! And you're 50 years old?

Yes, that's how I read the situation, too.

Which is why the answer is no, No, NO, N-O, NO. You should not run a 10K when you're injured, especially when you're 50. If you want to be healthy at 50, the only way is to be patient and not do dumb things. And this would be very dumb.

Under the circumstances you laid out...of course you shouldn't. I'm closing in on 65 and want to run my first race in over a decade on my birthday, so I understand the issue. But since I'm not on a team and am not paid to do it, I've always looked at racing as something I want to give a full effort to. Wait until you're in shape or it will just be an added disappointment to the already disappointing aspect of turning 50.

What is the injury and could it be exacerbated or prolonged by running a 10k at a hard pace?

If the answer is "yes," there's absolutely no reason to risk it. Your birthday is frankly an arbitrary date. You'll still be 50 and the race results will still reflect that you're 50 if you wait six months and allow for the injury to heal.

My answer would change if you have terminal cancer and the race is on your bucket list.

Yes run! Go all out the first mile

The Narwhal wrote:

What is the injury and could it be exacerbated or prolonged by running a 10k at a hard pace?

If the answer is "yes," there's absolutely no reason to risk it. Your birthday is frankly an arbitrary date. You'll still be 50 and the race results will still reflect that you're 50 if you wait six months and allow for the injury to heal.

My answer would change if you have terminal cancer and the race is on your bucket list.

It's a nerve issue that my leg has trouble extending in a normal stride walking or running. Sometimes l can get a normal stride, but my leg hurts walking too because of not being able to walk right and putting stress on other parts of my leg and even the good leg. I figure l can still run a 6 something pace per mile, but it just depends on the day and how the leg is feeling. I just wanted something to look forward to.