Over 60 and losing interest in running. Help.

I'm 59 and rarely race any more. What has helped me is the run walk method. I run 2-3 minutes and walk for 30 seconds. I recover so much faster doing this. Plus, I can go for longer. It means checking your ego at the door and just forgetting pace. It's kind of liberating, actually. I see guys my age with pot bellies and that's all the motivation I need.

I've had three running careers: 5K to marathon in high school and college, 800 to 3000 in 40s, and now 200 to 800 ( and hurdles ) in my 60s. I have evolved with life changes and still in the top 0.01% in terms of overall fitness and.having a freaking great time doing it. It is my play time each day.

Curiosity leads to learning leads to insight which leads to wisdom. And my crazy wisdom is that when you master the fundamentals, it is all just cosmic dance and play.

Contact your local middle schools. Apply for jobs coaching track. Share your knowledge and experience. There's more to running than just your own miles.

1) run faster.

2) if you can’t do (1), F it. There are plenty of other things in life!!

That's not the way it works.

You start with something that wasn't all that much fun to start with, frankly, and then you beat it to death until the bitter end.

Sad, but I can live with it.

I was a mid-D guy from 8th grade up to age 56. I felt stale, uninspired.

Then I became friends with a marathoner, started doing long runs in the mountains with him. I was bored with running 5k and 10k races; I'd been doing them from my early 20s to mid-50s.

I got into running half and full marathons. It was different and made running fun again. They were new events, so I could run PRs. The point is, mix it up. Find a new way to run. Who knows, maybe running barefoot intervals on the beach would be your thing?

Also, look at your diet... look out for inflammatory foods. Good luck. Happy running!

How would a 62 year old distance guy do this? Ive been thinking of dropping down and trying to train for shorter distances (which I've never done). Not sprinting but maybe 1500 down to 400.

Early 50s and stopped racing/training a while ago. Big running week for me these days is 3 runs and 10-15 miles. Some weeks are zero/zero. There's plenty of other things to do for exercise, but you're right, nothing quite like running. I've got road and mountain bikes and am on them as much or more than I run. I enjoy riding and it does not kick the $hit out of me like running does sometimes. I surf a lot and play a bit of golf as time permits, always walking when I can (may sound funny, but walking a hilly course is a beating for an old guy like me). Lifting not my thing and I'm not into gyms, but some people are. Running ain't the end all be all, find what works for you and get after it. Consider yourself fortunate to be upright and moving!

Here’s the real question - have you lost interest in sex?

WTF does this post even mean? Maybe I’m missing something, but in my world “it works” however you decide it will work.

I can’t imagine the emotional lives some of you must lead. Here we have a self-indulgent OP feeling sorry for himself, and another poster a seeming self-loathing masochist.

Really, you guys should try doing what makes you happy, or makes you feel satisfied, worthwhile, or worthy. It’s better than a lifelong rut! I’m 56-1/2 now, going maybe 12s for 100m—that is, slow as F…BUT Saturday’s workout still felt great to wind it up and hit a gear, and I was satisfied afterward.

If I felt differently, I’d do something else with my time!

it takes effort but getting the mind accepting that a 4 mile walk is still something to feel good about. I was completive into my 60's but then a torn patellar tendon and new metal hip socket slowed me down.

Now I just feel good about still being active whether a slow jog or a nice distance walk or mountain climb. Won't ever be as fast as my younger self but happy I can still get in 50+ mile weeks in run/hike/walk fashion. 69 and not ready for the old folks home yet.

A 66-yer-old here. Agree it's tough. Possibly worst part is the extra time it takes to train same distances - talking about a steady 10 mile run being an extra 20 mins or so.

What keeps me going is picking a few target races - I only race three or four times years - and try and be as competitive as possible in my age group.

If it wasn't for competing, I don't think I could keep going (having been training and racing for 50+ years, and now doing all my running alone).

I always loved running intervals, so I've switched to EIM which means I can do three or four interval sessions a week.

WHAT is tough about it?? To accept that you are aging?

WTH is going on here? This thread reminds me of the bizarro world that was the old masterstrack.

Hey, I'm glad you feel so enthusiastic about running. Really, I am.

But for me, I expect very little out of it except that it's going to be an as uncomfortable as I choose to make it. But it will be uncomfortable.

And with low expectations, I often find some small measure of fulfillment and satisfaction out of it, maybe a little surprise that I was able to muscle through it, and often some glimmer of hope and pride. And after doing that as long as I have, I know that I just need to get out the door and start, letting the run come to me, and it'll be worth it.

That's what has worked for me for a really long time and through a pretty rough injury.

EDIT: re-reading my original post, I have to admit that it was meant to be a little snarky in the hope of striking a little humor.

Hahahahahahhahahahaha!! Oh you sad sacks of $hit! Hahahahahhahahhaa! You old prunes suck and look stupid doing a kids sport. Give up the running and stop that damn shuffle walk thing you do. Try pickle ball , you lame turds 💩. Nobody cares that you’re getting fatter with limp diks and have zero game with the ladies. Beat it ! Hahahhahahaha! 🖕

Signed,

Ripped with gorgeous hair

Were you the guy pounding on the table at the awards banquet?

I'm 64 and I know exactly what how you feel.

I used to wake up excited about going out for my run. I would literally run down the front steps, out my driveway and onto the roads and I would look for hills to run up and I loved flying down them.

Now, I force myself out the door and start by walking. After about 1 mile or so it starts to feel ok. I go about 3- 4 miles and I've had it.

I've been running for 52 years. Maybe it's just the time I put in. My testosterone is 3 times higher than it should be for a man my age, so it's not that.

I used to wake up race morning ready to go and pumped. Now, I have to force myself to drive to the race and even then, I've had times when I just bagged it and went home.

I have to say, I miss the motivation. I wish there was a way for me to get it back.

Nahhhh, he's the young guy who thinks being 60 is going to be the same as being 30.

Not quite 60 here, but getting closer every day.
We are each unique with our own reasons, or not, to run. I’ve run all my life and trained pretty hard as an enthusiastic competitive amateur for a number of years, but those days are long gone as I haven’t attempted a serious race in about a dozen years. But I still love running, and try to get out several times a week. For me, I’ve always found joy in the moving of running.
If this is about extrinsic rewards via recognition from others, I’ve got bad news, you will get slower and slower over time, that ship has sailed and is not coming (all the way) back to port. But running doesn’t have to be only about achievement and competition. You can reset your relationship with running and enjoy different aspects. If you want.