men and women in your late 40s to 60 plus do you run to keep healthy or because you are competitive

58 yr old. Although I haven't run any PB for seven years, my age grade percentage is till improving. I am also able to win AG awards in my current bracket (55-59) that I had no business contending for in my 40s.

I don't know how much longer it will last. I may eventually start running just for health benefit. But I hope that day will come rather late than early.

mid-60s. Raced regularly until the pandemic, and still train as if I'd continue racing. I have very little desire to race right now, and I don't think that will ever come back. But I love to run, and I get out there 5-6 days a week. Half my runs are slow 2-3 mile treks. The other ones tend to be 4-5x a 500-meter hill in a nearby cemetery where there is no traffic, winding paths through very scenic woods next to a wetlands with herons, beavers, etc. My wife and I walk there almost every day, too. (This is in New England, so some days -- like today -- are not runnable due to the snow/ice/slush.) I love the feeling of a hard interval workout, and the "feel" of it isn't that much different than when I was running college track. Much slower, but similar psychically. I've been running competitively for 50+ years and have fortunately stayed very healthy. I tend not to overdo things and am very grateful that I can still run. As I get older, exercise for health has become the driving force, but as I said I like to feel competitive with a race-training mindset even if racing is mostly in my past.

Running and racing is what I've always done so why stop now? Coming up on 63. I'd like to think I'm still competitive! Running isn't getting any harder; It's just getting harder to run fast. ie: HM pace from not too long ago is now faster than my current 5k pace! This year I'm hopeful of improving my 2022 times of 5:25 mile, 18:27 5k, 38:18 10K & 1:29+ HM. My only goal is to remain healthy and 'show up' everyday. Then hopefully the race times will take care of themselves! I still work full time in my construction business.

Dave

Yes to all of these reasons. Plus...

Maybe a variation on liking to race, I also like having clear, measurable goals. Running and racing lends itself to that.

I like the flexibility that running allows. I can go nearly anytime, nearly anywhere.

I like seeing new places and having new experiences. There are lots of ways to achieve this but distance running certainly offers a good pathway. From big city marathons to trail runs. Or just going somewhere new on a work or family trip and sightseeing on a morning run.

Mainly to stay fit! I'm 55 years old, and all of my running PRs are from nearly 30 years ago. I still run an occasional 5K, but at most, only 1-2 per year. I typically run 3-4 days per week, and love getting out before 6 AM. Most runs are 4 miles at around 9:30 pace, which feels comfortable, but not easy. The days I don't run, I either swim or bike or both. I try to be active at least 6 days per week. I'm certainly not fast, but still enjoy getting outside and am grateful I'm still able to run, remain uninjured, and keep the weight off. I'm not motivated enough to put in the mileage to be competitive in my age group, and have many other interests outside of running!

69 - run 5/6 days a week, still race. Because I enjoy it.

nearly 64 M. I was competitive up until my mid 50’s. I could lay it down with some much younger dudes and gals and that was a thrill ….but….now I have really slowed to an almost embarrassing shuffle. A hard 10 miler used to make me feel invincible but now a 4 miler makes me grumpy and back sore. 12-14 miles a week but I still love ❤️ running. So I would say it’s both really- I loved competing and follow the studs but I don’t think I will ever “race” again. still I like that my body has retained some shape instead of going to a formless blob . Covid didn’t help either. My calves and hip bonked after 200m. I thought at first it was the muscle but it could have been tendons or lactic acid. Funny thing is I can only run once or twice a week and I don’t loose “fitness “ such as it is. In other words I am not chasing a higher level or better results every time . I think for my personality that it is important to me to put myself through some intentional discomfort for me to feel satisfied.

Hey Not bothered anymore: what about walking? Perhaps while listening to music or a podcast? Might feel good to get outside and move.

Age 65, still competing.

I don't think I'd stick at it without competing, even if it's only four or five times a year. Having a routine and being structured is the best way for me to keep it's going.

Have a 63-year-old sister who's still racing too.

I think, personally, without the performance goal, a skipped day would turn into two or three and then a week or two, and on down the slippery slope.

I'm also full time worker with at home consultancy, and no plans to retire from that either.

Turning 50 in a few weeks.

Was highly competitive up to age 29, and then my final competition was at age 30. Life as as a spectator for the past 20 years.

Now 50, time to do something epic. Hoping to get into competitions and see what I may still have! Exciting!

I love seeing the amazing things that masters athletes are doing! It’s inspirational and fun to see!

I invite you all to my channel to join in the journey of watching what folks like us do!

But your channel is just about age group record holders and not really about "old" folks like us.

It’s just started. It can be about anything Masters-related. Open for suggestions, comments etc. on there to provide the path to create what folks will like to see! Thanks!

I'm 56. I run and race because I enjoy it and it keeps me healthy. I run different types of events to challenge myself. For instance, I just ran the USATF XC Master's Championship 8K. I hadn't run XC since high school 38 years ago. I was rusty and slow, but I didn't care, I had fun and that's all I can ask for. There was no way I wasn't getting lapped by Ben Bruce, I just wanted to get as far as possible before he did it. I got past 4K before he got me.

That’s awesome! How was the experience? That’s funny about the experience of trying not to get lapped! Good job!

I would like to see more of the normal runners who keep running. What changed for them and how they keep themselves motivated to show up for training and races. Of course some of the age group crushing types is okay to sometimes.

I run mainly for my health. My times from 25-30 years ago are largely untouchable. Especially in what I was not horrible at (middle distances). To run a sub 20 5k again would be a big accomplishment. I've always had decent natural speed, and even as a Master's runner am more competitive in the shorter stuff, but I never races anything beyond a 8k when I was a competitive runner. So I am drawn to the longer stuff because it feels good to PR. I could see how if someone was a good 10k/marathoner in their 20s, running Master's 800s would be fun for the same reason. This usually happens with PRs but can happen even without them, running a race well and knowing you did the best you could do is a great runners high. I run for a lot of reasons but that is a big one.

Feel free to contact me via the email on the channel. Maybe we can create something cool!

47yo man.

I modestly run ,dance, keep fit etc to maintain what aging erodes - balance, mobility, physicality, fine motor control.

I also love the mood elevation I get, from a an activity that gets the heart pounding, and I can hear it.

I love compound exercises like burpees, that work alot of muscle groups in one go