Runners in your 60's & 70's - How are you holding up?

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Read the Amy Barrow story, how she survived double hip replacement and recovered after a long down time to once again race well.

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I know this is an old thread but check out mastersrankings.com to give you an idea how folks in their 60's and 70's are doing. Some run faster than most of us youngsters.

wer wrote:

Groucho Mark wrote:

I may be a bit slower, but as long as they make spandex and 20-something women, I'll be out there as long as possible!

Quote of the month!

agreed

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Why are there no women on this thread? I am 72 and began running in 1972 when I was 30. There were no organized girls' sports when I was in school, so never ran as a youngster. Lived in Boulder for 25 years and got serious about running there. Ran ultras when I was 48, 49, and 50. Tapered off by running marathons and decided to run for fitness, not obsession. Am now running about 3-5 miles/day, 5 days/week. Do yoga 3x/wk. Was never fast and am a lot slower now. Had polio as a child, weakened one leg. Only overuse tendinitis when training for ultras, no other injuries, knock on wood. Can still move faster than the walkers and still get the benefit of endorphins. Adopted a vegan diet 7 yrs. ago, don't drink alcohol, still work half time. So far, so good.

I am 68, started running right before turning 30. I have run over 52,000 miles, added cycling at age 40 and have ridden over 42,000 miles. Later on added th e Concept2 rower and currently have done over 11 million meters. I still run a couple of days a week, usually 4 to 5 miles and row an hour almost every day. Also try to hit the weights a couple of days a week. I still run pain free but so much slower. I used to train at 8 and race at 6 m/m. Now I train at 11 and race at about 10:15 to 10:30. My 5k PR is 17:52. Nowadays a good one is 31:00. I had a 3 hour marathon but would not think about even trying on now. I settle for just being able to get out there and run.

Still running after all these years..and loving it. I ran an hour and half everyday last week and this week. Forty minutes today as it's a heavy weights day.

Raced in the Snowshoe 10km Nationals and finished third in my age group. Getting ready for the winter time full of snowshoeing, running, and x/c skiing.

I eat good eats..lots of greens.

limping badger wrote:

I'm nearly 70 and have run regularly for 40 years. I had a total hip replacement in 2006 which has slowed me down but I can still put in reasonable weekly mileage, although slower than before surgery. In my case, surgery slowed me down more than age. I just signed up for s summer half-marathon and plan to up my weekly miles to near 70. My weight has been stable, which has helped me to stay reasonably fit. I can no longer be competitive, so my race goals have shifted to enjoying running while I'm able.

I am just barely in the 60 year group but have battled a hip pain and reduced flexibility/strenght in right hip. Finally afdter 15 months waiting for the muscle problem to heal, had an MRI and diagnosis was advanced osteoarthrits, basically bone on bone. So next Friday,11/21, I go in for a Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedure, a new metal hip socket. it is supposed to allow for a return to running in 9 months or so. I can still slog through 8:00 miles in training buit just can't stride out. I want to have the opportunity to get back to training if I choose. I think it is just normal wear and tear of the 100k+ miles and also weighing 167 lbs. I ran the Pikes Peak Ascent this August, a personal worst time, but want to get back to racing instead of just running. Maybe I never get back there but have been told the new hip socket is good for 20 years so really doubt I will want to push it too hard at 80 years old.

Maintaining decent efforts requires consistency and luck/good fortune/good genes. Who knows why some can avoid the age process better than others.

I think you're onto something with the weight comment. 10-15 pounds doesn't sound like a ton, but when you add in the fact that running magnifies the force on your joints (since you're falling each step) it's easy to see how things could wear faster.

Runners in their 60's and 70's are the runners of the running boom. There are more of them in running in this country than any other age group.

Therefore, it is more likely that there are more runners in good health and bad health. Because there are just more of them.

Bump, good thread.

I'm 63, with 52 years running, and well over 100,000 miles. I've never had a serious injury - only occasional muscle strains. I keep getting older and slower, but am still running 55-60 MPW, doing intervals, and regularly racing. I am competitve in my age group. The older I get, the more I appreciate how much I love training and racing.

Good thread. Me, just a dreamer, thinking someday I can run 100 miles a week and break 17 5k someday.

Reality I ran 12 miles today at 950 pace. Thank you God.

Age 55

Soon to be 55

Took a long break (30 years) from running but been at it again for the last five yrs. joints are okay. Back acts up every once in a while (desk job). Muscles extremely tight. Wish I was twenty again. 5 min mile pr; now struggle to break 7 minutes all out.

Big decline in capability over the last 5 years. Easy runs now 20 to 30 secs per mile slower than at 50. Gonna give the marathon one last shot next year hoping for a BQ. After that will shift to shorter stuff, less racing, and just run for recreation and general health.

Doing 40-60 mpw when in season currently but looking forward to 25-30 after retiring from marathons.

You are living in a fantasy world my 20 yr old runner friend.

The Answer My Friend wrote:

Mileage over the years does NOT wear the body down (I am talking about reasonable mileage, 20 - 50 miles per week). The body is self healing, unlike a machine, it benefits from regular use.

That said, you'll hear plenty of stories about old runners who are broken down. Just remember as you hear them that there are even more stories about old non-runners broken down. It's age that gets to you, not mileage.

I'm in my early 60's and I run a few times a week (including one 10 miler) but I don't race anymore. I've raced for the past 20 years but the rewards are no longer there for me. I still train and do some speed work but going all out for a race for slower results and feeling more beat up after finishing doesn't do it for me.

I do have some minor arthritis but no major issues. I am definitely healthier by not racing. Occasionally I wonder what I could still do in a race but don't test myself anymore.

I used to be pretty competitive and would look up everyone times and set goals and all that stuff.