Older runners: When did you start feeling old?

I am in the lower-intensity-in-my-twenties camp. I never ran more than 40 mpw until now. So while I never stopped running, I wasn't beating myself up either. When I hit 39 I decided to see what I can do, and bumped up my peak mileage to 50.

Yesterday after being faced with one injury for a few months I tried an alternate form of training which didn't bother my original injury but caused a new one. Over 50, feeling old but still searching for the fountain of youth.

In college, I ran 60-90mpw in one of the top 5 most notoriously insane programs for overtraining. Luckily I skipped the morning runs and knew when run the recovery runs slowly (always). After college, had a kid right away and have only run 20-45mpw ever since, only doing minimal workouts for specific races. I keep telling myself I'll increase mileage sometime, but another year passes, and another, plus another kid, and still sitting in the cubicle every day. I'd really like to test myself again but I'm wondering what I'll find.

knowsers snausers wrote:

I'm 32 and I'm noticing that I can't recover from a hard workout like I used to. But then again, I'm not training as much as I used to, so perhaps I'm just outta shape. At what age were you certain that your age, and not just your lack of shape or training, had started catching up with you? How did you know?

Late 30s and I was done as even a halfway decent runner. Now at 44, I've not run a sub 20-minute 5k now in several years, and my body (mainly calves and Achilles) doesn't really allow for as much running as would be necessary to get down there again. I'll have a month or so of decent training and then something happens that sets me back a couple weeks. So, I lift and use the Orbitrek and do some kicking and punching, but it's just not the same as running.

Remains to be seen. I am 36 and putting in 100mpw with a fair amount of quality. I can still run 55-56min 10milers and sub 5 mile repeats in workouts. Not much different than what I was doing in college but emphasizing longer stuff. But I'm thin 135 and 5'10" with no real propensity to gain weight when not exercising. Although I don't plan to train at this level into my 40s.

Mentally - I don't feel old. Phsyically - 40s, I started slowing and had to lessen the work load. 50s, my wheels really started to slow down. But, I still hack-away at it.

For me things went downhill from 26 / 7. Up until this point I felt indestructable and could train at a very high intensity regularly and be ready for more within a couple of days. However, the world of full time work and more responsibilities did for me. Despite the change in lifestyle and (a long commute) I tried to maintain previous training loads but it just destroyed me - eventually I had to just back off as everything was suffering due to the fact I was just knackered all of the time. This was actually a tough decision as previously I had been on the fringe of national teams and was deperate to just get that little 'breathrough' I wanted.

However, with a more settled lifestyle and a job closer to home I've made a mini comeback at a much lower level, and dont feel as 'old' as I did a few years back (I'm now 35). Its still possible to run and race hard and it doesnt feel any different. The only thing I have noticed is that its necessary to slightly change the focus of the training and to allow much more recovery time between hard sessions or races. Any more than one hard session a week and pretty soon I'll be falling asleep at the desk again. Having said that, there isnt really the same fire in the belly anymore and I'm quite happy just running at a lower level and enjoying it. I guess you should never really feel old if you can be content to just get out there and enjoy your running.

I think I know you, not really personally, but your name and times and sometimes we share the same age bracket. (I'm a little older) I was told about your diagnosis (you had a slower run earlier in the year that seemed uncharacteristic) and am inspired how fast you bounced back. You kind of serve as a benchmark for guys in their 50's. If we can get close to you (or beat you) we feel we had a good race. I love to see guys in the 50's doing well. You are lucky you found out about the prostate cancer early. At our age that is a big concern.

it's all relative wrote:

53 y.o. it's all relative....

in the last few years i've been able to compete at a pretty high level.. all american status in olympic -- ironman triathlon w/ overall top 10 times in swimming and biking; a 1:30 1/2 marathon last october; etc....

50 is the new 30!!! not....

prostate cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery 3 months ago put the whole aging thing into a very different perspective -- a tectonic shift to say the least

appreciate every day...

Flagpole, I think cross training for runners generally lacks something. I think most runners are motivated by competition, training for an event, and numbers(times). Try triathlons. The cross training feels more like it has purpose, you can still chart and evaluate progress, and if you start to feel a nagging injury coming on you just switch to the training for a different event. I have never been healthier since I switched to tri's in addition to doing the running events.

I agree with you completely about the motivation for runners. Still today I AM motivated by races...just can't train enough to do well; I'm convinced that I could still run a sub 17 5k if only I could get my body to accept enough training...too many setbacks though has extinguished the desire. I appreciate the triathlon idea, but I completely suck as a fast swimmer, and I even did back when I was young and super fit.I do the cross training to try to stay in shape, and upper body strengthwise, I'm way more fit than when I was in college. So for now I go for short runs and then Orbitrek when my calves are killing me and lift every other day.

I began cross training for the first time 4 years ago to recover from a bad fall and have continued spending 3 90 minute sessions in the gym each week to counteract chronic achilles and back problems.

This is a good thread. One of the truths that is obvious is that we are all different. I am a 74 who has run all of his life. Here are some random thoughts. I did not concede that I was old until the last couple of years. Many in my Sunday running group are in their 80s. The group came together about 40 years ago and currently numbers 35. I have seen them all continue to try to race, run, jog or walk unless some unknown genetic problem came along and struck them a blow that knocked them out temporarily (and then they continue to try).

I was a stamina type long distance runner with mostly slow-twitch muscles. I found that intervals were a good way to go until my 30's and then I gave intervals up completely and just ran as I felt each day. I raced for my speed work. It was all great fun!

I had my best year on the roads at age 36. By age 39, my goals, priorities and the need to compete all changed I still continued to run because I enjoyed and continued my long run for many years more. I love to run so I just do it. My phylosophy is to enjoy it and to never give up. After age 40 I continued to run in occassional races but did not give much thought to the results.

You will find that as each decade speeds by you will look back and see that back a decade before you had not really aged as much as you thought you had, The rate of deterioration increases as the years whizz by. Why worry about what you can't control? Just work to control what you can alter. Remember to enjoy your running no matter what the purpose is and never, never, never give up.

Another thought I just had is that sharing ideas and experiences on threads like this helps the learning process and, hopefully, makes the aging process a little easier.

I first felt old when the centerfolds could be my daughters. Then, when Joe Strummer died, that was another seminal moment.

OK, to the point - when did feel old as regards to running. In my youth, I was decent enough to train with a group that put four guys on Olympic teams. Mid 14s for 5K for me was my best at age 25. Very intense training - lot of speed, little mileage. Ran for a shoe company and all that, then I went out to the real world.

I was still running upper 15's for 5K into my work life until age 33 - then low 16s until 36. At 37 I started to slow & retired for 4 years.

Got back into it at age 41 4 years ago - was able to shed 40 pounds, but am 26 pounds over youth racing weight of 146. Might get to about 165, but not that important anymore.

I can train injury free with moderate intensity about 40-50 miles per week. I've had gusts to 17:26 as a master, but I'm consistently low to mid 18s for 5K. Running over 50 miles per week tends to get me hurt - sadly most of my running is on roads due to where I live, I think I could run more on softer surfaces. I've been fortunate to be consistent over the last 3 years - not getting faster, but not that much slower.

Main differences in getting older have been well documented by other posters - delay in recovery is the most notable - particularly from nagging injuries. Little things can take you out for a week, instead of an afternoon. Ice is a big friend. Stetching has to be done after every run or I feel it the next day.

Top end speed goes away quickly, I do a lot of 30 30/30 sessions to try to get some of that speed back while not letting the mileage suffer. I'm now in my fall buildup - every four days I go to run halves or so (done on the road since the local track is an absolute brick and wearing spikes hurts my calves). Can still do 6 halfs at 2:35 - but now I take a full 3:00 recovery (in youth I was doing 2:05-10 halfs on a 4:30 cycle at the beginning of the year, getting down to a 3:30 cycle at top form). So, it's an adjustment, but not unacceptable.

Frustration is the biggest thing. I'll go to a local 5K and know in my prime I could beat anyone there - and in my head I still know how to race. It's just the body which can't do what it used to. The guys who used to run away from me could run 13s for 5K, not 16s. Hard to wrap the head around, but you keep going.

Motivation was a big response from other posters. I'm motivated in different ways now - my big race is in November, and I try to be within 1% per year of my best time in my youth. So, now I'm 20 years older - I want to be within 20% of my best time. I've made it the last 3 years and should make it again. The occasional award is nice - the rare win is an event - but mostly, if you enjoy competing and testing yourself, there's a reason to keep training even at a non all-encompassing manner.

You know how when you're in a mile race and you get that lactic buildup in the last 200 - but that's ok because you're all out? I ran one hard mile this year - went out in 75 and had that same buildup - with 1200 to go. That's what it's like getting old.

My father started running in his 40s - was able to run a 3:08 marathon at age 50. At age 66 he started slowing dramatically - from 22:00 5Ks to 24, then 28, then 30, and now 33:00 at age 72. His lesson, don't take time off. Everytime he goes on vacation with my mom (spending my inheritance he calls it) he misses 10 days - and comes back slower & slower.

On the other hand, I went to my 20th college reunion and won the award for looking most like my younger self. To this day the ladies think I'm mid 30s because I'm still trim and have youthful skin from the running. I still have my hair, but running has nothing to do with that. So, yes, you're going to get slower - that's old age. But there are benefits to continuing that don't show up on the clock.

All, thanks for sharing. One of the best threads in the past several months. I'm about to hit 34 and looking forward to running well into the future. Have not started feeling old yet but it does take much longer to get back into interval shape but I attribute that to low mileage in the past coule of years. was hitting 78 seconds for repeat 400s 4 months ago and now am hitting 70s after a focused effort. I think if I had continued 50-70 mpw from age 28-33 I would still be hitting times near my PRs.

I didn't get into exercising until my late 20's (i.e. no abuse) & it was road biking & I was somewhat serious about it (200 miles a week).

In my mid-30's I noticed that I couldn't take "time off" from exercising (such as the cold winters). It simply seemed to take a bit longer to get back into shape than what I was used to.

I started coaching & exercising year round.

Now, I'm in my late 30's & I've noticed a bit of weight gain (only because I was injuried for a few months, but I've always been really skinny & the bit of weight gain seems quite strange to me: 6FT, 160LBS). I've also noticed that my recovery between intervals seems longer than before. For example, doing striders with my student-ahtletes, they can recovery & hit another one & I'm still waiting for my breathing/heart rate to come down.

But, I would still say that I'm in some of the best shape of my life (45+ miles a week, a bit of weightlifting, abs & core work). I know without the coaching though, I'd be in a much diffent place. Thank goodness for coaching!

39. Volume is not an issue. I feel like hard interval sessions below mile pace always give me some sort of soft tissue ache or pain. I run 60-70 mpw without any problem and expect to be in the 80-90 range for marathon training. I find that strength training has become essential (weights and hills) and speedwork is more sustainable when it is aerobic v. anaerobic work. I feel like the best way to stay competitive is to focus on the marathon. The kind of training needed for a super fast 5k just seems to be a greater risk for injury than the volume that is associated with a marathon training schedule.

From the minute I wake up in the morning.

Just hit 45 and can honestly say I have gotten faster and better looking every year. The key is to start with low standards....just started running 3 years ago. You guys that were fast at a young age don't have a chance....finally I win!

I mapped out my "progression" LOL.

Age 5k time MPW

17 16:10 30-40

18 NA 30-70

19 NA 60-90

20 15:10 60-90

21 14:30 60-90

22 14:19 60-90

23 14:52 20-45

24 15:20 20-45

25 15:12 20-45

26 15:28 20-45

27 15:46 20-45

28 15:54 20-45

29 15:42 20-45

30 15:46 20-45

31 15:51 20-45

32 15:47 20-45

Right around 39/40 I started noticing much greater unpredictability in how I feel day to day. Until then it was pretty easy to know within a fairly small range how I would feel based on what I'd done in the few days before. So it was easy to do XYZ and know how I would feel and perform in races.

Now (I'm 46) there's much more variance--sometimes I feel fine the day after going long, other times the same run will have me dragging for two or three days. Same thing with harder efforts. All of that means it's a lot harder to plan things in a way that gets me to the start line of a race feeling ready to go. And that makes it less satisfying to gear up for what seems a logical procession of races.