What does getting old "feel" like?

I think it's fairly subtle at first. The first thing I really noticed was recovery taking a bit longer and generally more aches and pains, mostly when not running (e.g. a bit tighter in the morning). After kids, things change more dramatically. No problems when they were babies and even toddlers (people are always worried that once they have kids, running becomes secondary). This wasn't true for me. It happened more when they got old enough to have their own activities. You will be attending all of their things. For me, it wasn't so much that I didn't have as much time, it's that I didn't always feel like getting out the door. My wife and I are supportive of each other's needs to run/bike, etc, so this is never a problem. Sometimes that cup of coffee at 5 in the morning is more inviting that a run. Once I hit 40, knee surgeries have really slowed it down more. Never really injured before that. Having said all that, every person's personal situation is different and their running is impacted in different ways. Just do all you can and embrace change.

My qualifications - I'm 50, still run some, try for 4 - 5 days per week. I've put on a few since college days (160 - > 185), coach HS so I get to compare myself to HS aged kids fitness / training everyday.

Quick summary-

My joints ache, mostly knees.

It is often hard to get loose, the feeling you have after a good set of hill repeats or a mountain run comes far more often, even after only medium-hard workouts.

My range of motion is gone, especially moving outside of a linear plane (straight ahead)

Little aches, strains, tightness just seem to pop up. You'll be running fine and all of a sudden some little muscle will let you know it there

A good day off rejuvenates me and I most always have a good run/practice the next day.

I'm in bed the same amount of time but seem to sleep much lighter and wake far more often than ever before.

Thank you guys for sharing your experiences. You make it sound like it's really not all that bad.

Besides the usual stuff about flexibility, recovery time, etc., the main difference is that your VO2max decreases with age. There will come a day (and you won't know it at the time) when you'll run a PR for a 5K, and that will be the last time you ever run that fast. And if you decide to take a few years off from running in your 40s, and then start up again, you will be shocked at just how slow you've become. So keep running!

And don't worry about it. It's part of life. If you enjoy running, and you make an effort to do core exercises and stay fit, you can run for a long time. At my last 5K, there was an 80-year-old who ran 8:15 pace. I'll take that in a heartbeat if I'm still running at 80.

I'm also in my 50s, and you totally nailed it. I want to run every day, and sometimes I try, but I find that if I only run every other day I feel so much better and suffer fewer injuries. As my 85-year-old dad says, "Getting old sucks, but it beats the alternative. I still enjoy running, just a lot slower than my mind still says I can.

I noticed more injuries from about 37 on. Now at 50, I have had a sore achilles for almost 2 years and am unable to do my usual 70 miles or so per week, nor race. This sucks the most! I figure I'll beat it eventually and just keep at it. If anything the brain still thinks it's 17 and forgets that the body isn't anymore.

At 67, here's what I've found.

Injuries are a constant problem. They come more often and leave slower.

Healing takes longer, whether it's a paper cut or a hamstring pull.

Warm ups are a pain. I warm up like an old man... 12 minute mile pace and even that hurts with every step... not exaggerating... it hurts with every freaking step!!!@ It goes away after 15 minutes and some dynamic drills.

The above problems make it harder to stay motivated.

The emotional ups and downs of life are less pronounced. You don't laugh as much or cry as much. It's hormone related, but somewhat within your control. You just have to fight the urge to just zombie out at times and force yourself to do fun things.

Sleep seems about the same. I still need 8 hours.

Cold weather hurts... as in physical pain. I ran all winter in Omaha in 10-20 degree weather in my youth, but now when the temp drops below 40, I'm miserable. I'm even cold indoors in winter!

One bright side. Largely due to being a lifetime runner, I never noticed aging until after age 58. Sure, my times were slower, but I didn't notice anything else being different due to my age.

I have been a runner for over 30 years and hit my middle distance peak at 33 and my longer distance peak at 37. I then had a few years where a non running ankle injury limited my running.

I just worked at it and didn't give up and I'm pretty much back to my best again.

I never noticed any decreased recovery time or lack of energy. In fact I recently did some workouts that I have never done before.

Not good for running , but my Golf game is good again. Hard workouts are rejected by my mid 40's body. I still enjoy a run, every other day , golf 5 days a week through the summer. What does it feel like... my brain will not allow speedwork or racing where you have to dig deep.

In short, it's terrible.

I'm 48, and yes you have a noticeable drop in energy, you lose mobility in your joints, and your muscles take longer to recover. There's really no good to come from it. Enjoy your 20's, compared to yourself in your 40's you are now a virtual superman.

There's a reason you see so many old guys running marathons and ultras. We can't do anything else. The older guys that can still run a quality 1500 or 5000, man I am jealous of them.

I can't jump at all, running down hill takes a real toll, if I do a hard workout I'm taking it down a few notches for 3 days min. If I race anything over a 10K, then the entire week afterwards will have to be easy.

As far as sleep, I require more sleep. When I was younger I could go on 6 hrs no problem, now I need 8 at least.

The only benefit to being an old runner is that you now have the money to buy running shoes and you can travel to cool places.

fisky wrote:

Warm ups are a pain. I warm up like an old man... 12 minute mile pace and even that hurts with every step... not exaggerating... it hurts with every freaking step!!!@ It goes away after 15 minutes and some dynamic drills.

.

THIS! at age 49 especially the early morning runs.

Interesting question, OP.

I am in my late thirties and the only two differences I have noticed are:

- I seem to require a bit longer to warm up.

- In the Summer I put on 2 lb. Only that. And it's taking me a couple of months to make that shift from my waist.

Age 44.

It's getting harder to clip my toenails. Flexibility just isn't there.

Recovery takes a lot longer. I can't seem to build mileage and run two hard workouts per week.

Metabolism is way down. Really hard to lose and keep off 5 pounds.

Pure speed is nearly gone, but all of the years of miles have added up and I can run a long ways without fatigue.

I look forward to bed earlier and strangely I look forward to coffee in the morning. I love getting up earlier.

^ Exactly!

It is a slow process that accelerates late 50s and thereafter. I run every bit as hard as I did when I was younger, but the thing that bothers me most is I know and feel I am moving not much faster than my dead granny. That sucks. But I also know to be running at all is a privilege not many will ever know and many my age have given up on.Keep running as consistently as you can to stave off the gravity of time. At some point - if you aren't a quitter - we will all become the hobby jogger so demeaned here. So be it. I can still run Boston, I can still get up at 4 am to do a workout, I still meet the most awesome athletes on this planet.Runners.(Excepting Mike Rossi of course. Cheaters in our sport are the worst.)

gettingolder wrote:

This is a legitimate question and one I'm surprised more young guys don't ask.

I'm in my 20s, but I've always wondered how I'll feel in every day life and in running when I'm in my 30s, 40s, and 50s. So I'll pose the question to those of you who are in those age ranges - what does getting older "feel" like? Do you notice your energy levels dropping? Does running become that much harder? Do you really require less sleep?

I am about to turn 59. No lapses in training since freshman year of high school except for an occasional Achilles or knee issue that just required rest. I do longer warm-ups now and a fair amount of stretching/yoga. (Which I wish I'd done back in college). I respectfully disagree that a big decline and lots of injuries are inevitable. Listen to the body and take days off when needed. I train hard but sensibly, and I think that approach would have benefitted me back when I had all of my speed. I'm not a vegetarian but I eat a ton of fruit and vegetables and avoid beef and fatty meats. I take fish oil but no other supplements, and use a lot of olive oil. I train hard and feel nearly EXACTLY as I did at ages 15/18/21/30. I am slower (sub-49/1:51 at 400 and 800 in college; it's tough to break 60 now -- but it FEELS the same.) Nutrition is a huge factor throughout life, and a relatively poor diet catches up to you at some point. A positive attitude is huge too. I am lucky to have avoided serious injuries and am grateful that I am still very competitive in masters meets (and if I choose the right section I do fine in all-comers meets, too). I hit top speed in workouts at least twice a week, but rely much more heavily on moderate 300s/600s. A little bit of speedwork goes a long way at this age, and too much does lead to breakdowns. We all age differently, and I recognize that I have fortunate genetics. But so much of aging is about lifestyle and attitude. I don't pretend that I'll never get stiffer and achier and grumpy. But I can honestly say that I feel great as I approach 60.

This is a good summary. I'm 58, and for the most part I "feel" like my early 30's, mentally and physically. Slower? Sure. Sex drive less? Yup. Can I play a rousing game of basketball? Nope. But the wisdom and perspective that come what age have value. The take away for me is that if you stay fit, there's a good chance - a very good chance - that your quality of life will stay high.

It is a very gradual slow down. Recovery slows, pace slows. You don't really notice it as you are continuing to run/train. But after a few years, you notice. Check the Age Grading Tables. They are pretty accurate. You won't lose much until after 40. But even the highly motivated and well trained runner will lose 1min in the 5k each decade from about age 35. Most will lose more than that.

Injuries are the real problem. Getting a serious injury may take 6 months to get over, then fitness and speed are lost and are nearly impossible to recover. You can't just pump the miles and speed work for a few months to get back in shape. You'll just end up injured again.

You have to stretch and roll to (try to) maintain flexibility. You have to do strides and drills to (try to) maintain speed. If you do those things, you slow down the decline, but there is no stopping it.

55 y.o. Former high school and collegiate sprinter (200/400, not quite explosive enough for the 100) Now I run mile and 5K races. Warmups are awful. I feel creaky and uncoordinated but after about 15-20 mins I'm good.

You're constantly on guard against injuries because they come easily and take forever to heal. I need much more recovery time from a hard workout. I am more cautious about my physical self - in my crazy youth I wouldn't think twice about leaping over a low fence or running down a hill. Now I know how easily I could hurt myself. I miss the feeling of being bullet-proof. But I'm also a lot smarter about life in general. I've figured out what's important to me and have left the trivial BS behind. I'm a much happier and more content person. A strong marriage has made my life very very good.

However every so often I'll catch my reflection in a store window and wonder, "Who's the old guy?" Then I'll realize it's me. Ugh.