RE: How do you feel as you get Older? 30's 40's 50s??? Why do you get Slower?

Although it is true that recovery is slower, the main reason that you slow down as you get older is that your maximum heart rate slows down - although this does not happen at 26.

I am 63 and wish I were 26 again although I didn't start running until I was 29. At that point I could run a sub 7 minute mile and could for 5 to 10 years after that and now I am lucky to run sub 9. I don't think I hurt any more when I run than I did then but I just got slower and run as much if not more now than then. I guess as we get older everything just slows down.

Your testosterone also starts to drop. That kills your recovery and your muscle mass as you get into late 40s-50s.

I'm almost 35 and I can tell it takes me a bit longer to recover. I've trained pretty seriously for the last 15 years or so and I'm not very interested in competing anymore. I still run 80-90mpw, but I don't really have any racing planned. I just like running for running's sake. Since I'm running a bit less than I used to, I'm actually much less sore on a day-to-day basis.

I started running at 30 years old and peaked about five years later.

Though not naturally talented I ran sub 6 minute pace for 10 miles and a 6:40 pace for the marathon off of hard work. Now, at 68, I can't run one 6:40 mile.

I use to run 6-7 days a week (50-60/week). Now I run 4 times a week (35-40/week). More recovery days are needed.

I still race occasionally (5-6 times a year) and do speed work.

If I'm running a three mile tempo run at 7:50 pace it feels just like a 6:00 minute pace did 30 years ago! My legs are capable of moving faster it's my heart and lungs that can't keep up.

Someone above mentioned heart rate...I think that's the answer.

When I turned 40 it seemed like I was instantly slower.

And training wasn't different from 39.

But my joints and muscles do not hurt more because I don't seem to have the ability to push them as much. Or I get injured so fast that I can't push it.

When I was 26 it really hurt to get up in the morning because my training was so hard.

At 43, my legs feel much better. I run enough to maintain some fitness but do not train to race.

I started having joint problems in my mid 30s. That may be genetic as my parents and siblings have all had knee issues.

I also suspect that lifetime mileage is a contributor. I ran fairly high miles and raced hard for over 20 years starting in my teens, so I was pretty beat up by my 30s. Someone who starts later will hsve a better chance of making it into their 40s and beyond.

Don't sell the mental part short.

At around 43, I just didn't want to hurt the way you need to hurt (in training) to get better.

At around 46, I was sick of being cold (winter training), just plain sick of it. And sick of foregoing chocolate cake. And good scotch.

I also get the "what are you trying to prove; who are you trying to impress" voice at mile 2 (instead of mile 20).

Also sick of runner's body: working much more on abs & upper body these days. If'n I cain't run good, I'mma look good at the boat club!

Oh yeah, the mental toughness is gone.

I'm not going to dig in deep to still run much slower than before.

It's improving that gave me the rush to push harder.

There's no rush on minimize the amount you are slowing down.

Discipline at every age, the genetics not to break and no

whining.

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=5069381

No doubt, at some point the goal changes from getting faster to slowing the rate of decline. Whether that goal is enough to motivate you to continue training hard is up to you. For many it isn't and they become fitness joggers. Nothing wrong with that.

I am 43. I started late and actually ran some of my best times upon turning 40. I did not really notice much the first two years of master's running. But I have noticed things the past two years.

For me the biggest problem is that I have always been getting faster thanks to my late start. So, putting in the workouts and all the effort was always rewarded. Now, I have leveled off and am not getting rewarded with improved times. I am still motivated to try to knock a few seconds of some PRs, but the idea of age group racing and minimizing loss of speed over time just doesn't interest me at all.

Physically, hard track sessions (200, 400, 800 5k pace and faster) tend to be pretty devastating. The next day I can barely hit 9 min miles. And I can run a marathon @ 2:50.

It takes longer to get warmed up, whether just on easy runs or in the midst of a workout. My first repeat of an interval session always makes me feel like I am not going to make it. If I am not doing a workout with a group, there is a good chance I will bail half the time because it just seems to be too hard an effort.

But you do not really slow that much in your early 40s. 45-50 is the big decline generally. I watched a local elite master go from 15:30 5k in his early 40s to barely breaking 18 in his early 50s. Quite humbling. Some guys resist the decline better than others. But 50 is pretty much the end of the road for feeling anything like you did when you were at your best.

From a 66 yr, old who's been running moreorless since high school; these days with my what my family dr. called disastrous knees I feel blessed to be able to get out to run, even as slow as 9 - 10 mpm pace. 8 min pace feels like stretching it out and 7 1/2 pace is redlining with HR over 160. 10 - 20 mpw these days, tho' I was trying to make it a daily thing. Yes some of my outings are quite short.