What I notice is that rest doesn't fix injuries anymore. So now I just run through them and grin and bear it.
What I notice is that rest doesn't fix injuries anymore. So now I just run through them and grin and bear it.
Running still provides the mental & physical benefits it always does. I'm in my late 50s and have more energy than my contemporaries. It enhances quality of life for real, across the board.
That being said, it's funny being slow! In college, an easy 10 miler was run a bit under 7:00 pace. Today, that is my race pace range over 10K on a good day.
The feeling of peeling off 5 minute miles in my 20s, well today running a 6:50 pace feels about the same. It's all relative. Good to have a sense of humor about it.
It's amusing to see how many on these boards have contempt for runners who are not "fast", or near-elite. Wait a few years kids, see what you think when you grow up a bit.
Oh, here's one more bonus -- I never ran a half marathon before this year at age 58 (being a college miler, and a 5/10K guy after).... so boom, automatic PR!
So if you're a geezer like me, just try a new event and there's your PR. Then you can set off to improve on it...
I'm 57 and didn't start running until I was 50, but had done alot of bike racing in the 1970's and stayed physically active afterwards.
Like a previous poster stated, I went into running pretty aggressively and by the 3rd year was racking up 60 to 70 mile weeks all on single runs. That led to a nagging injury which forced me to scale back but I still try to run 3-7 miles on weekdays and longer runs on Sat and Sun. I haven't done a track workout in awhile but hated those anyways.
Whats been the key for me to fighting off (somewhat) the ravages of age:
-a healthy diet--I was mostly vegetarian for decades, and am always experimenting with new things; the latest is Matcha,
-running on trails,
-quality sleep and rest,
-attitude--believing you're a teenager trapped in a 55 year old's body and refusing to age gracefully can be a blessing and a curse, but has for me mostly worked out; the times when it hasn't are when I've tried to run through injuries.
The aging process slows us all down, (getting chicked more often comes with the territory), and everyday a new symptom arises to help pierce the illusion of invincibility, but on the plus side I look and feel better than I would have had I not begun running.
Recovery takes longer. Definitely can't go hard-easy-hard anymore. It's more like 1-2 hard days per week at 41. I found cycling a few years ago and got good pretty quickly. This helped my running too. Spending 2-5 hours with HR in aerobic zone replaced my long runs and it improved my cadence and footfall. I was fortunate to find a good group of cyclists. It's amazing how some of these guys ride hard well into their 60s. They can maintain 22 mph avg. on century rides. Some of them were once runners and gradually phased out running to be full cyclists. Definitely recommend it if you are looking for something new and fast.
50 yr/old wrote:
Little aches, strains, tightness just seem to pop up.
I'm in bed the same amount of time but seem to sleep much lighter and wake far more often than ever before.
^ This for sure. I'm 45 and still feel like I can run fast. Ran a 4:17 1500 @ age 43. Play flag football with 20 and 30 somethings and can keep up (that's what I'm telling myself at least). Still surf, cycle and run a bit. But I ache, every day (morning) without exception. I drop things a lot - jars or something I would normally be sure-handed with. Dexterity has taken a hit. I don't sleep well and drag through the day until I get a workout in.
Difference between 20 and 30 is miniscule. 30 and 40 - significant. 40 and beyond = sharp decline but all good. Just keep lacing them up. None of us are getting any younger.
I found a big difference at age 75. I am age daily now that I am in my 80th year. A lot of sleep and walking help a lot.
When I got home from the office this evening I did a 45 minute tempo run. Perfect weather: 53, calm. It's almost peak foliage here in Western MA, so the trees were an explosion of orange, red and yellow.
It was one of those magical runs that we all know well: legs weightless, breathing easy. I'm 58, so these runs are increasingly rare events. My tempo pace today was my warm-up pace 30 years ago. And because the effort felt fairly hard, and because I recover more slowly, and because I'm more and more paranoid about injuries that could lead to long layoffs, I may not run tomorrow.
Do I wish I were still running PRs? Sure. But the important thing is that the magical runs are still a joy—in fact, they're even more to be treasured. And the same satisfaction is still gained from a race that's a fair measure of the training that preceded it, no matter the ridiculously slow finishing time. And training partners are more interesting and enjoyable company than when we were all in our twenties.
Good on ya, Billy.
It sneaks up on you. There are a couple of insignificant events that for some reason every now and then I remember and find amusing.
I remember when I turned 10 and thinking I was old and needed to throw away all my little kid toys.
I remember being in my mid 20s and meeting a young women at work who I thought was young. When I found out she was 31, I was shocked she was so old and well past her youth.
At 47 I finished a race ahead of a guy who turned 50 and I was thinking, good for that old guy for hanging in there and I was impressed that that old guy could still race.
When I turned 60, I remembered my mom and my inlaw's when they turned 60 and they seemed so old. (But I wasn't)
There are things I don't want to do anymore. I haven't raced this year but I could start racing again next year.
The weird thing is, certainly I'm not as strong, not as flexible, I get tired more frequently, but really I feel no different. I am less worried about money and more willing to pay for repairs than to do them myself. I have much more free time - but I tend to waste it more than when I was young.
Honestly, its a helluva lot better at this age than I ever dreamed it would be when I was in my 20s and 30s. That's true. (Of course I probably just jinxed myself and a serious illness might be around the corner)
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 47. I started running seriously when I was 34. Right now I am running only two days per week because work took priority. So I decided to take a couple years off. But I am doing easy short bike rides and weight lifting. The best thing you can do to stay in shape is to lift weights. I have not had any serious injuries and I work in a very demading labor job, sometimes seven days per week. And I can make any young high school kids feel "old" at work. Some people think I am an animal. Stay away from driking and go to bed early. Get you your everyday nap if you can.
I'm upper 40s
I can pipe in with some positives here - I have never enjoyed running so much - partly because I have been running for 35 years and enjoy playing around with different training plans - that's one reason I like LRC.
I have barely slowed down - I ran 16 high for 5k in HS and now I can run 17:15 or so. I haven't been seriously hurt for 10 years.
I do some regular resistance work - I think that helps.
I have no complaints at all - I feel springy and bouncy.
I'd say DON'T DO MARATHONS and your chances of feeling good into yoru 50s goes up by a lot. Why rip and tear you muscles like that? It's not necessary.
Lifelong runner here. Age 48. Had major heart attack this year, so went from being fit enough to win age group in small road races to celebrating the fact I am alive and can run at all. Getting older means increased risk of chronic disease which can trump all the other aging issues mentioned in this thread.
A new one wrote:
Lifelong runner here. Age 48. Had major heart attack this year, so went from being fit enough to win age group in small road races to celebrating the fact I am alive and can run at all. Getting older means increased risk of chronic disease which can trump all the other aging issues mentioned in this thread.
Runners are pretty aware of their bodies. Did you have any signs before the heart attack.
60. My experience, confirmed by the many race results I have reviewed over the years, is that it's all good until about 57 or 58 when there is a steep decline in speed and participation. I started at 47, PRd at 54, had a long string of sub3 marathons until 56, but since then have been knocked out of action repeatedly by hamstring tears and hip stress fracture. These injuries are not all bad as they force you to break out of a routine and help you to rediscover the simple joy of running when you start to get better. After several marathon DNSs I am getting very wary of speedwork and losing the motivation to compete; the new priority is staying healthy and just being able to run pain-free.
That said I still plan to run my guts out at Boston.
How do you feel when you have a cold. That's how you feel every day when you're old.
There two types of older runners. Those who started later in life or ran low miles during their younger years and then there's those of us who ran a great many miles back in our best years. The former are often young legged. Relative to their age, they're fast. The old legged runners can't summon those type of performances anymore.
There's a 36:30 lifetime 10k runner who regular beats all of us. At 70-71 he's the best in the area, I ran in the 32's ( no great shakes ) at my best. I can't come within 2 minutes of this guy at 5k.
It's funny. If I raced much I'd be top 5 in the 70-74 age group. But if he's Madbum, Greinke or Kershaw, I'm Tim Hudson ( now ).
To every older person who gave a reply to this topic -- thank you.
OP here, and like the last poster said, thank you to everyone who has honestly shared their opinions. Here are some of the conclusions I've been able to draw:
1) Getting slower with age is inevitable, but your perspective on speed -- and life in general -- changes, making running even more enjoyable.
2) Being a lifelong runner will help you remain fit and energetic, especially compared to your non-runner peers
3) Men and women who run into their 40s, 50s, and 60s tend to be content with life and, judging by the quality of writing on this thread, very intelligent.
Bottom line: Keep lacing up the shoes. We are in the right sport.
51- I have no problems getting older, its been a hell of a ride so far and I ain't done yet.