How can you enjoy running after you're past your prime?

Switch from long runs with medium or low intensity to short fast runs. It can be fun to just go hammer for 15 minutes each day, and it keeps you in relatively good shape.

As others have said, it comes down to whether you like running or not. I suspect that lots of competitive runners don't really like running; they just like winning. Once the winning stops, they're done.

Glad to say I've found I really like running. I may enjoy it more than when I was setting PRs. I no longer follow a formal training plan. I just go for a run every day, then enter whatever race looks fun each weekend. I no longer bother with peaking, tapering, or any of that. I just go running. Way less self imposed pressure.

And you know what? The racing experience is essentially the same as when I was chasing PRs. I still get butterflies before the start, still run my guts out to pass the guy in front of me, still get that exhausted satisfaction when I cross the finish line. Racing is still the same as it ever was; I'm just further back in the pack now.

Also, I still weigh the same as I did in college. And my doctor raves about my annual physical results. "Keep doing whatever you're doing", he tells me. I plan on it.

That's a very good question.

For me, running was all about seeing how fast i could go, setting new PRs.

So once I stopped training full time, the motivation was gone. Why try hard to run slower?

It was nice to stay in some kind of shape but it is a completely different mind set.

I had to take a few years off in my late 20s.

Then got back into running very out of shape and it was fun again to see my fitness improve.

But of course you hit a wall and the motivation goes away again.

I'm at a point now where I run a few days a week just to enjoy the rhythm of running. So you have to stay in shape for that or else it doesn't feel good to run.

Besides a way to have some fitness or activity, it's nice to just keep that running ability going.

A good question. Here is what I did:

I ran around 15:30 in my 30's, so when I was in my 40's I wanted to break 16 minutes one last time . I did it until I was 47. Then, I made another goal. To be able to break 17:00 min in my 50's I did it at 51. And so on...

Ayahuasca bicycle wrote:

By enjoying the actual act of running, just like I always have. If you don't, take up xbox or something.

It also helps to race against your peers, who are even a little more past their prime.

man video game prime is even younger, why you think i picked up running in the first place?

rghdghdf wrote:

If you can't enjoy it past your prime, you're probably not really enjoying it in your prime.

What kind of crap statement is that? You just make stuff up to look cool? I thouroughly enjoyed racing in my prime. I loved winning. I loved setting PRs. Now I'm 42. I hate being minutes slower than I was and knowing there is nothing I can do about it.

You get old and reassess your priorities.

At that point, you also come to the realization that PRs were never that important... (nothing is, yolo)

goober central wrote:

Honest question. Once you're done setting PRs and winning races, how do you motivate yourself to keep lacing up the rrunning shoes?

It ain't easy. I've hung up racing and most speedwork. Father time and chronic injuries have put this old fart in the "sad sight for sore eyes" category. I shuffle step like an 80 yr old man with gas pains 😄. Daily rehab and icing just to run a pathetic 15 mpw. Running way past your prime is kinda like having sex past your prime...you're motivated as hell, but things just don't function like they use to 😅.

After years of 100 mile weeks, 2 NCAA Finals, 4 years being sponsored and a few top 5 marathon finishes, a strained calf injury ended my competitive "career."

(For the record my training partner who owned a 28 min 10k PR back in the 90s when that was fast, told me "guys like us don't retire, we quit).

My competitive days are done but I still enjoy running. Used to do 7-10 milers, just couldn't do speed work or I would need a few days off. I still run about 5 miles a day now just because I enjoy it.

I miss being fit. The hard work not so much.

goober central wrote:

Honest question. Once you're done setting PRs and winning races, how do you motivate yourself to keep lacing up the rrunning shoes?

Winning races against limited opposition. Face it none of us won the Olympics. You either enjoy going for a run or you don't. When you are past it if it's dark and miserable outside you can skip the run. The main thing spoiling enjoyment is injury

Some people are only interested in running as a competitive sport. Those people hang it up after their prime. Other people enjoy running as an activity. Those people keep running for the rest of their lives. These two categories are not mutually exclusive. It's possible to transition from one to the other. There's some world record holders like Steve Cram and Seb Coe who keep running decades after their prime. Others, like John Walker, stop as soon as their competitive career is over.

Timmy Toes wrote:

rghdghdf wrote:

If you can't enjoy it past your prime, you're probably not really enjoying it in your prime.

What kind of crap statement is that? You just make stuff up to look cool? I thouroughly enjoyed racing in my prime. I loved winning. I loved setting PRs. Now I'm 42. I hate being minutes slower than I was and knowing there is nothing I can do about it.

Are you a complete idiot? You clearly didn´t enjoy running. You just enjoyed winning.

Here's what I did:

Get majorly injured to the point that you can't run at all. Have surgery and spend the next year looking at every jogger you see thinking, "I wish I could do that". Do rehab and make a "comeback", and you'll be THRILLED to jog at even the most pedestrian pace...just because you actually can.

Add1 wrote:

A good question. Here is what I did:

I ran around 15:30 in my 30's, so when I was in my 40's I wanted to break 16 minutes one last time . I did it until I was 47. Then, I made another goal. To be able to break 17:00 min in my 50's I did it at 51. And so on...

Pretty much along these lines. Ran my last PR 25 years ago but have kept at despite many ups and downs. Aiming for sub 18 & sub 3 at 60--jogger level for a 25 year old, while everyone else other than those in my age group +/- 5 years thinks I'm weird. But I enjoy the process, the challenge, and the simple fact that I can run.

Les wrote:

Some people are only interested in running as a competitive sport. Those people hang it up after their prime. Other people enjoy running as an activity. Those people keep running for the rest of their lives. These two categories are not mutually exclusive. It's possible to transition from one to the other. There's some world record holders like Steve Cram and Seb Coe who keep running decades after their prime. Others, like John Walker, stop as soon as their competitive career is over.

How about guys like Shorter, Liquori, Ryan, Salazar - are they still pounding or have they packed it in?

ClitDeep wrote:

swaglord wrote:

Do you guys think you can get girls by joining running events or running clubs? Does it matter if you're fast, or can you just wing it and run once or twice a week and work off the talent from your earlier years?

Yes and yes. If you can't get laid, A LOT-- by folks of whatever gender, marital status and sexual enthusiasms-- in a decent sized running club, you're doing it all wrong.

Our shared carnality is one of the beauties of this lifelong sport.

Teach me.

I had gotten a bit out of shape in my mid 20s, then started running again at 29 and did really well. I set a lot of PRs at 31, but since then I haven't really felt like I did in my prime running years. I'm hopeful that things will pick up again when I hit 37 in a couple of years.

Try something new. If you did 5k/10k try the marathon, if you did the marathon try an ultramarathon, or a trail marathon. Try a other sport even, be that cycling, swimming, rowing, lifiting, triathlon etc. Even past your prime their will still be heaps of untapped potential if you broaden your horizons

Masters track and masters XC!