In 1999 at age 51, I was told by two doctors at the Mayo Clinic that I could never run again.
When the injury finally healed and I was able to return to running in 2001 at age 53, I knew that simply training harder would only get me back to my previous somewhat mediocre level, so I vowed to learn everything I could about the art of running. I read everything I could find. I looked at every aspect of running... form, shoes, orthotics, cadence, nutrition, clothing, training, injuries, and rehab... and changed my approach to everything. As a result, I changed my goal event, drastically changed my running form, and found 3-time Olympian Jim Spivey as a coach.
Yesterday, I was forwarded an email from USATF saying that our 2018 indoor 4x400 and 4x800 relays were approved for age group American Records. The 4x400 was also a new WR. Perhaps even more important is the friendships I've made and the runners I've influenced as an author and a coach. That would not have been possible without the decision I consciously made back in 2001.
The smartest running decision I've ever made was to learn everything I could to make myself and those around me the best runners we can be.