Over 60 and losing interest in running. Help.

It's called aging. It's ok.

Start lifting!

No one says you gotta only run your whole life! Mix it up, swim, bike, lift - just have fun and keep moving

Become a sprinter and smash all of your rivals into the ground.

Would you, or do you, put some work into total body fitness (multi-plane, multi-level, big range of motion, etc.)?

I am going to a fitness class four to five mornings a week with younger people (I'm 50) that is organized (you work through stations in small groups), challenging, and fun. I work hard, develop the total body and sweat my arse off.

Then I can run a little less and still be fit and prepared to handle aging better than just from my normal swim, bike run stuff.

Then, have you considered trail racing or something that challenges you without even knowing whether your time is good, bad or indifferent?

I'm over 60, yep the speed isn't there anymore but I do variety so it doesn't get boring for me. Distance runs are 6-8 miles. Intervals 1/4 or 1/2 miles 1 to 2 days a week. Elliptical at the gym if I feel tired. Light weights twice a week.

Like others have said, mix it up so that you are adapting your program to what's happening to you now. For me, that means giving a bit more importance to conditioning because i know I can't take that for granted like I used to. Gym and cross-training have a little more purpose for me these days.

For running, finding places you like to run helps. Enjoy it, and if paces are not happening like they once did and like you would hope, it really doesn't matter. Don't let your expectations be your enemy. It's better that you just do it, for your health, and because you still can.

I think that mostly it was a re-aligning of my purpose and motivation that has changed. I used to run to be competitive, to hit certain paces, and to always be improving in my PRs. But now I run to stay in shape, to enjoy the benefits of running, to see my running group once a week, and to enjoy my good health in a time of life when I simply cannot take it for granted anymore.

I started using the Easy Interval method and my runs are a lot more enjoyable. I need to lift more too but that’s usually the first thing I cut out if I’m tired or busy.

If you have grandkids you can get them into running. Act as coach and run with them

Running on “Pure Hate” doesn’t matter what age you are.

I like starting my days with about 30 min walk.

I appreciate everyone's comments and suggestions. Thanks. All great points. I hike and practice yoga at least 3 times a week, so that is definitely helpful to maintain cardio and strength (advanced vinyasa and core yoga classes). I know I need to lift too - something I haven't gotten into a habit of doing. Just need to stop beating myself up for not running farther than my brain wants me too.

Are you spending enough time watching youtube videos of the great (both now and then)? I ask simply as whether I watch a video of the 1974 Commonwealth Games 1500, or the last Olympic final I immediately feel the urge to get out there. For reference I'm 67 and well past my expiry date, but still feel that burning passion inside for the sport. If I could run my PRs now you would all know who I was, but alas my current 1500 ability is over 1 1/2 minutes slower than my best! Anyway, I hope you find passion were ever you are headed.

I sometimes watch videos of Bedford and Puttemans...looks sooooo easy and I want to do that!

I'm not much into the videos, but I have gained a lot of insight and direction from watching some of the more competitive (faster, younger, stronger) running groups locally, and have even gone over to their practices a couple of times to watch a little bit.

And what becomes apparent is the mechanics that are so integral to being able to run like that. Longer strides and really good leg extension and an full heel-to-butt kick are clearly there.

With that in mind, I have found it useful to work on the conditioning necessary to be capable of some of that. In particular, range of motion exercises, lower body weight lifting, box jumps, bounding, jump rope, stairs (one legged and two legged hops), switchbacks, to name a few. Yeah, the body doesn't work quite like it used to, but it sure would work a whole lot worse if we didn't push it to keep from losing those capabilities.

Time to shift gears and recalibrate. Run because, unlike most others in your age cohort, you still can. Hit a trail, feel the earth under your feet, be grateful you are running on the earth and not resting in it.

58 now. Ran 5:42 mile at 54 - now 6:30 is about my limit.

I look at each new older age group as new PRs. Father Time is undefeated - but this at least gives me something to aim for without being overly depressed.

Stop this low mileage/high intensity crap young'en and build back up.

Or take up golf.

There is zero value other than fun to doing more than ~3 hours/week of cardio, so why do you need to keep doing it when you acknowledge it’s not even fun?

yes, at our age, it gets harder to find motivation. I know some days i ask why I do it.

I was into strength most last few decades after doing aths in my early 20s and early 30s with some weight training years in between.

Now I am more motivated to do better in running.

If motivation stays away, try and pick a new sport or event to focus on.