I think it becomes survival of the lightest. Only runners still left at that age are pencil thin ones. Maybe they had a better luck with injuries due to lighter weight.
I am in my late 60's and have been racing rather seriously from age 40 through 59. I raced and trained hard. (Did intervals, detailed training logs, long runs, tempo runs, etc.) Raced 5k's through half marathons.
OP you never raced a marathon? It's not too late -- give it a shot! Qualifying for Boston shouldn't be hard and you can have a great new experience.
Agree with everything else you say about the benefits of running. I do particularly love, though, still at 67, cycling up and down for the marathon.
I was a competitive age-group runner until three years ago at age 61, when I developed rheumatoid arthritis and then, a year later, runner's dystonia. I haven't been able to run more than 50-100 yards at a time (on my good days) in a year or so, and I'm starting to give up on the idea of ever being a runner again. However, I've substituted cycling, which I always did as cross-training when injured, fast walking, hiking and backpacking in the summertime, and resistance training in the gym. I've also started swimming again after doing almost no swimming since childhood. I'm rather enjoying taking up something "new" and getting better at it (although I'm still a really poor swimmer), as my running had only gone downhill since my early 30s.
Like you, I am well aware that my ability to do anything "active" could disappear at any minute. For now I'm enjoying doing what I can do and hoping that being active will help me maintain my overall health.
Questions for you: When did you start running? How much was your avg weekly mileage? What surfaces did you run on?Were you cross training all along? Gym bike etc Besides your meniscus surgery, did you have any other serious injuries?
I think the key to running well into your 50s, 60s and beyond are based on the above and of course genetics, weight diet etc
Thanks for asking.
I started running in my early thirties but didn't start racing till my 40's. And there is a world of difference between racing and just running.
My weekly mileage was 25 to 30 with a day of intervals for speed. In my 50's I gradually did more and more trails. In my later 50's all trail running.
I had a number of minor temporary injuries some of which I needed PT. The meniscus injury was actually due to stupidity. I redlined excessively on my training because I was psyched about moving into the 50's age bracket that I was planning to destroy (locally anyway).
Yes I cross trained but more extensively after I turned 50. I did a number of tri's.
Progressively my diet has improved but it was never bad. I eat what I want but basically I seem to like healthy food.
If they made money then you retire to bike, swim, golf, tennis… You know low impact and fun activities unlike running.
I do all those with the exception of golf. I did golf a number of times and it can be addictive but when I finished golfing I was felt I still needed a workout. Also, and this is strange, I always felt I got hotter golfing than I did running. Walking around in that bright sun just killed me. With running you can always find shady spots to run.
I was a competitive age-group runner until three years ago at age 61, when I developed rheumatoid arthritis and then, a year later, runner's dystonia. I haven't been able to run more than 50-100 yards at a time (on my good days) in a year or so, and I'm starting to give up on the idea of ever being a runner again. However, I've substituted cycling, which I always did as cross-training when injured, fast walking, hiking and backpacking in the summertime, and resistance training in the gym. I've also started swimming again after doing almost no swimming since childhood. I'm rather enjoying taking up something "new" and getting better at it (although I'm still a really poor swimmer), as my running had only gone downhill since my early 30s.
Like you, I am well aware that my ability to do anything "active" could disappear at any minute. For now I'm enjoying doing what I can do and hoping that being active will help me maintain my overall health.
My advice to anyone over 55 is to do more cross training than running, particularly weight training. I left my running group who were about my age and some younger a number of years ago and they are still doing races.
When you get older your muscle mass continues to decline. Weight training is critically important. I don't want to insult anyone but the guys I know who are in the 60's still doing primarily just races look skinny and frail to me. My running group now seems less fit than me and I am very glad I gave it up.
I still do short runs, and on the treadmill I still like to run intervals. In never wanted to get the old man short stride so I felt it important to do some tempered speed work not to lose extension and flexibility and cadence (yes I still did develop the old man stride, couldn't avoid it, but I did delay it).
I still sometimes glance at the race times for my age and think I could do well, but for me at this point racing would probably do more damage than good. I don't miss it at all.
My advice to anyone over 55 is to do more cross training than running, particularly weight training. I left my running group who were about my age and some younger a number of years ago and they are still doing races.
When you get older your muscle mass continues to decline. Weight training is critically important. I don't want to insult anyone but the guys I know who are in the 60's still doing primarily just races look skinny and frail to me. My running group now seems less fit than me and I am very glad I gave it up.
I still do short runs, and on the treadmill I still like to run intervals. In never wanted to get the old man short stride so I felt it important to do some tempered speed work not to lose extension and flexibility and cadence (yes I still did develop the old man stride, couldn't avoid it, but I did delay it).
I still sometimes glance at the race times for my age and think I could do well, but for me at this point racing would probably do more damage than good. I don't miss it at all.
Those of us still in the game "look skinny and frail"? We don't care what another old fart thinks about how we "look", and by any reasonable definition we are not "frail" if we run faster and farther than men who are decades younger. Yes, speed work is important, keep it up, by why "temper" it and not use it to perform? Cross training for fitness is a bore. Get out and fight as long as you can would be my advice.
I just turned 65 this month. Last year I ran 6 races and skipped at least 2 that I planned to run. Except for an IT band issue back in 2008, I can't think of any specific running related injury. I have had age related issues that have cost me training time and slowed me down. Two examples are a retina tear and sciatica. In 2021 I was about 4 minutes slower than 2018 in a half marathon due to the sciatica. In 2022 I was another 8 minutes slower due to another flare-up. But I still finished in the top 25% of my age group and top 20% overall in a half marathon in December. My plan is to continue training and racing. I still do track workouts but my longer runs are usually less intense. I plan on doing a marathon and at least two other races before this June. Of course everything could change in an instant but I don't plan on stop participating in races as long as I am not delaying the publishing of the results. I do expect that the number of marathons will decrease in the future.
BTW. My wife and I agree that I'm not in my 50's. We often disagree on which side I'm on.
I'm 49 and hoping to be still running like you, in 20 years. Great post, thank you.
Not me. I'm 61 and I still like showing up at the races and doing my best. It ain't as fast as it used to be but I still get just as much satisfaction out of the training/racing process. I don't plan on stopping that anytime soon.
me too. training is best part. I am also 61, and just as keen as ever.
My advice to anyone over 55 is to do more cross training than running, particularly weight training. I left my running group who were about my age and some younger a number of years ago and they are still doing races.
When you get older your muscle mass continues to decline. Weight training is critically important. I don't want to insult anyone but the guys I know who are in the 60's still doing primarily just races look skinny and frail to me. My running group now seems less fit than me and I am very glad I gave it up.
I still do short runs, and on the treadmill I still like to run intervals. In never wanted to get the old man short stride so I felt it important to do some tempered speed work not to lose extension and flexibility and cadence (yes I still did develop the old man stride, couldn't avoid it, but I did delay it).
I still sometimes glance at the race times for my age and think I could do well, but for me at this point racing would probably do more damage than good. I don't miss it at all.
I follow you up to a point but you arrive at the wrong conclusion, imo.
Yes, cross-training is critical into your 60's. Word.
But do both. I try to run most every day and do a conditioning workout most days as well. And I don't look too skinny, and generally appear much younger than my real age and have stories from interactions with docs that attest to this.
Lastly, in the last year I suffered a debilitating injury that ends many a career. I worked my way back and now run again, race again, and love it. Maybe not 100% pre-injury, but I'm big enough to handle that, too.
Quit finding excuses. Unless you need them, that is.
I am in my late 60's and have been racing rather seriously from age 40 through 59. I raced and trained hard. (Did intervals, detailed training logs, long runs, tempo runs, etc.) Raced 5k's through half marathons. Had one meniscus surgery at age 50.
Now I am 68 and of course I am a case of one and my experience may not be an indication of what happens to you. First let me say that I always though late 60's was an eternity away and was irrelevant to me in the present. This is a cliche, but time does sneak up on you and before you know it you are old. So no matter your current age it does matter.
I think running has been a tremendous advantage to my current health. My knees, back and basically everything is in great shape. (Now at my age this could all change in a minute and who knows what serious illness is around the corner). The exercise discipline (or habits) that I developed I still have. I still do a little running (or really jogging) in my circuit of exercise which includes hiking, weightlifting, cycling, outdoor work, and some other seasonal stuff. This has maintained my good health.
Running doesn't cause you to look old because honestly I look and feel very young. In fact when I go to reunions and stuff so many seem so fat and old.
So my advise is to keep running for a great life. (But know when its time to stop racing, that puts a strain on older bodies)
My dad turns 73 in a few months and just knocked out a 21:54 5km at his local parkrun. He's an absolute weapon! He didn't really start training properly until his late 40s as he was quite undisciplined by himself. However the woman he ended up with after my parents split was crazy disciplined so he got pulled along for the ride! He's had a few injuries along the way, mostly achilles related but no surgeries luckily. I think a big part of the recipe of his success has possibly been starting his running seriously a bit later in life but also knowing when to back off with the training. He now trains around 3-4 days per week which seems to be the perfect amount or training stimulus to keep him running good times but avoiding any injuries which might put him out long term. He's got so many damn masters medals now. He basically needs a room for them!
This post was edited 59 seconds after it was posted.
My advice to anyone over 55 is to do more cross training than running, particularly weight training. I left my running group who were about my age and some younger a number of years ago and they are still doing races.
When you get older your muscle mass continues to decline. Weight training is critically important. I don't want to insult anyone but the guys I know who are in the 60's still doing primarily just races look skinny and frail to me. My running group now seems less fit than me and I am very glad I gave it up.
I still do short runs, and on the treadmill I still like to run intervals. In never wanted to get the old man short stride so I felt it important to do some tempered speed work not to lose extension and flexibility and cadence (yes I still did develop the old man stride, couldn't avoid it, but I did delay it).
I still sometimes glance at the race times for my age and think I could do well, but for me at this point racing would probably do more damage than good. I don't miss it at all.
Those of us still in the game "look skinny and frail"? We don't care what another old fart thinks about how we "look", and by any reasonable definition we are not "frail" if we run faster and farther than men who are decades younger. Yes, speed work is important, keep it up, by why "temper" it and not use it to perform? Cross training for fitness is a bore. Get out and fight as long as you can would be my advice.
Sorry, they were an unfair harsh choice of words I used. However, I did say this about runners well in their 60's who only did racing and no cross training. I do stand by my advice, muscle mass diminishes at an increasing rate as you get older and its extremely important to weight train not just for appearance but for health.