See, this is me, too. 90% of my motivation to keep training is that I am worried that if I stop for any period of time, I won't be able to come back. Nobody in my family is a gifted athlete, to put it mildly, and I have to scratch and claw to attain just "average" running fitness levels, it seems. I'm too scared to stop at our age. So it's, keep on keepin' on!
See, this is me, too. 90% of my motivation to keep training is that I am worried that if I stop for any period of time, I won't be able to come back. Nobody in my family is a gifted athlete, to put it mildly, and I have to scratch and claw to attain just "average" running fitness levels, it seems. I'm too scared to stop at our age. So it's, keep on keepin' on!
Me too!! If I take two days off, I worry that it is the beginning of the end. Like the Expert, my family is not particularly physical and I just want to delay any infirmities as long as possible.
ATTQOD: uff I am 51 and not to be repetitive but knee issue went full force last year. I am still comparing myself to my past self, which I just need to stop. Prior to 50, occasional strength training and 5 days a week running, about 35 miles a week. Now I strength training 3 days a week and cut running to 3 days a week, about 15 miles a week. It sucks but the option is that or quickly it will be nothing.
I also have an insane amount of life stress. I am not the person or runner I want to be but it’s the best I got right now.
@garneska I understand every word of this - the struggle is so real. I don’t have answers, but wanted to say that you are not alone and maybe it helps a little to know that? Thinking of you right now and hoping we both get a break and some better days!
ATTQOTD: I didn't start running until I was 45 and my training has been all over the place. When I did focus and really try to get faster, I got overuse injuries and backed off. Things generally went okay for someone who really doesn't LOVE running until I hit the perimenopause wall a few years ago (I just turned 54 last month). Now I'm finding my endurance really tanks if I slack off on strength training. I build in more rest after super long runs and hard workouts. I also am sure to do dynamic stretching warmups and static stretching after cooling down from every run. I'll add rolling and theragun late in a training cycle or after a particularly long run.
I've resolved I'm just not going to get much better at this running thing, but would rather do it and stay active than the alternative. My mom is my cautionary tale. She was never an active person and has had both knees replaced yet still relies on a scooter to get just about anywhere. If she has to walk more than 50 feet or take any stairs, it's out of the question. So many things she'd like to do are just off the table now. It is sad, and I don't ever want to be in that position.
DM was never particularly active but always thin. Then she quit smoking and put on about 150 extra pounds. She went on every fad diet under the sun but always gained everything back. I got her to sign up for a Disney 5K in 2017, which I hoped would be motivation to move. She did lightly train by walking her neighborhood a few times a week, which wasn't a ton but way more than she'd ever done. She finished in about 90 minutes, had a great time, and I thought maybe that was a turnaround. But she reverted right back to doing nothing and then had her first knee replacement. She felt good enough afterward to commit to another 5K, but then didn't train at all. She nearly didn't show up, but my aunt (her sister) and I convinced her to at least start and we walked it with her. She finished DFL after a golf cart assist, but it was a huge struggle. She hated it and basically stopped even trying after that. It's super sad and frustrating knowing she had the power to prevent a lot of her issues and just did not.
Use it or lose it, as they say. And I'm going to keep using it as best I can until I physically can't.
ATTQOTD: I haven't really changed my approach as I reached "masters" age, since I only started running at 37, but basically my whole goal with running is the same as @The Expert --I know what my future looks like if I don't stay active and I don't like it
Attqotd- I started running at 45, and was beat up at the time. Not from being out of shape, but because I have used and abused every part of my body at work and play my whole life. I always had a physical job, a house to maintain and hobbies like skiing, hiking, hunting, racing off-road vehicles, and would generally function on a few hours of sleep to get it all in without sacrificing family time. Now at 53 I’m running 5/week for a minimum of 30 miles/week and am in some form of pain that I’m used to 24/7, but I’m still improving. When I start to get different pains I guess is when I’ll slow down. Hopefully that isn’t any time soon but you never know so for now I’ll keep pushing myself.
Have to enjoy whatever life we’re given.
ATTQOTD: This is very similar to my story. I started distance running at 45 with a beat up body from playing Ultimate Frisbee at a competitive level my entire adult life at elevated weights. I had knee surgery in 2019 before I lost a lot of the excess weight and the surgeon told me I was missing the cartilage from around half my right kneecap and shouldn't even walk up stairs in the future.
My running escalated from 4 days/week on a Higdon half plan to 5 days/week on a @DopeyBadger plan. I've found that, on average, I have fewer niggling injuries creep in during training if I keep my base around 5days/week in the 35-40 mile/week range. Most of the significant issues that I've had can be traced back to either residual wear and tear from my Ultimate days or a structural abnormality we found in the shape of my tibia. My current hamstring issue is likely due not taking enough recovery time after my fall ultra. Sometimes my aggressive approach to recovery and avoidance of downtime can come back to bite me. I think, as I cross 55 this year, I'm going to have to moderate a bit and give my body a bit more recovery time to avoid these longer "if you won’t rest me, I'll make you rest me" incidents.
I'm in the same boat as @The Expert and @Naomeri - I've seen my mom and aunt suffer physical and mental ailments because they're not active. My mom can barely walk now without getting out of breath and my aunt never achieved her dream of seeing the pyramids because she developed dementia. My grandmother lived until 89 but needed a walker in her later years, and couldn't get hip replacements because of her heart. I was an "old" mom (born the month before I turned 39) and I need to stay active to keep up with him. I also want to do as much as I can to see as much of his life as possible.
ATTQOTD: I can relate to a lot of the answers. Probably the biggest thing for me after hitting 50 was that I really need to ramp up the strength training. I've learned that when I'm running 5 days a week and strength training 2 - 3 x per week, if I need a day off, I'm much better off skipping a running day than a strength day. In the past I used to always prioritize the mileage.
Attqotd- I started running at 45, and was beat up at the time. Not from being out of shape, but because I have used and abused every part of my body at work and play my whole life. I always had a physical job, a house to maintain and hobbies like skiing, hiking, hunting, racing off-road vehicles, and would generally function on a few hours of sleep to get it all in without sacrificing family time. Now at 53 I’m running 5/week for a minimum of 30 miles/week and am in some form of pain that I’m used to 24/7, but I’m still improving. When I start to get different pains I guess is when I’ll slow down. Hopefully that isn’t any time soon but you never know so for now I’ll keep pushing myself.
Have to enjoy whatever life we’re given.
Love it! Similar path also. I have always ran in some form for most of my life due to playing baseball for a majority of my life. But really got serious about running in 2019, when I was 41. Now I am really starting to feel the stiffness and aches each day. Tore my achilles back in 2012, and 13 years later and it feels like everyday it hurts even more when getting out of bed in the morning. Approaching 47 in a few months and I think I am pushing myself even more. On top of work, coaching baseball for 3 to 4 hours every day, running 5 times a week, now starting to get back to swimming after baseball, and riding my bike when I can during the week and going for long rides on weekends. It helps that both of the kids are out of the house and it's just my wife and I at home. But all this means going to bed around 12:30am/1am to get up at 6am and do it all over each day. But like others have said, I am just grateful that I am still capable of doing it. It can all go down hill pretty quickly, or with one mis-step, so I will keep pushing my physical limits as long as I can.
ATTQOTD: missed a few days, was great reading to get caught up! I’m 55 and I have been running almost all my life. I was a track athlete running in age group events from age 8 and was very competitive through college. I then spent many years running on and off never having any issues if I got serious for a while. Simply put running always came easy to me.
In my early 40’s after gaining weight and having shelved my running shoes for several years I started running again. Large improvements came fast and I felt just the same as I ever did. Then I got truly injured and it took two years to recover. Now in my 50’s I have had to recognize that my body is changing and my goals need to change too. I am working hard to let go of comparison to who I was. Honestly, that is hard for me!
Yesterday I had a tempo run, and I pushed. I do all my running by feel so I do not look at my watch until I am done. Huffing and puffing at the finish and I look at my watch, my tempo pace is the same as my long run pace was just a few years ago…
Leaves me with a few options. Get upset and frustrated, question myself or accept that I just put down an honest effort. I am trying my best to do the latter. I am trying really hard to remember how hard it was to sit out so long with that injury. Slower now, yes; but I am running!
I am not a grand master flash, but at least as a grand master I am running!
ATTQOTD: since I just turned 40 and landed in PT while training for the Princess Challenge this year, this question definitely hits.
I’m a life long athlete and it’s interesting to look back on all of my adjustments. I definitely need a lot of strength work to keep my biomechanics happy, and I’ve worked with strength coaches for a bit. In between coaches I’ve done Peloton strength, and I do Peloton barre to get those side to side muscles. I’ve also needed to incorporate yoga more for stretching because I’ve never been good at stretching. And I could be better at that too.
Since I’ve been active my whole life, it’s what I know. I also look at my family history and see how all the women in my family were held back because of myths and societal expectations. My grandmother played basketball in high school and girls were kept to half court because “they weren’t capable of going full court.” . As my grandmother and great-aunts got older, they developed osteoporosis and weren’t mobile late in life. My mom and my aunt both have osteopenia but my mom’s been active for as long as I can remember, and her bone density numbers got better after prescription calcium and continued heavy strength training. My doctor told me all of activities are great at preventing these issues.
Mostly I’m active for me, to stay healthy and keep going as I get older. When my grandparents retired, they retired to their recliners and didn’t do much outside the house. That’s not for me.
This*100th power. You are not alone. Pace comparison is a killer. How many times do I still say "I ran a marathon at a pace I can now maybe pull off a 10k". Every pace is 60-90 mpm slower. It is not a productive pastime.
OTOH, it was sub-zero feels like temp last week and I was out running in it. So while my pace has decreased over time, my "bad-assery" is increasing. I will learn to take this as a win!
My family heritage is a mixed bag, which conjures all sorts of conflicting feelings…
My father was a lifelong athlete, recruited out of high school for the NFL, even. He was let go after summer training camp, but basketball was his real passion, despite being way too short to ever play professionally. But the man played full and half court pick-up games almost every day of his life against men half his age… until he dropped dead of a heart attack at 53. On the basketball court. I’ve now lived longer than he did, and that’s a special kind of weird.
My mother never exercised in her later years, gained a ton of weight, and refused to see doctors regularly. She had no ailments and then died of a stroke a few years ago at 75.
I’ve been athletic as long as I can remember - I HAVE to move my body to feel good. Ballet, skiing, running, soccer, aerobics, swimming, tennis - I’ve never exercised with an aim for health, only because it feels good. I figure I’ve got a 50/50 shot of dying young-ish on the run or living to 100.
My family heritage is a mixed bag, which conjures all sorts of conflicting feelings…
My father was a lifelong athlete, recruited out of high school for the NFL, even. He was let go after summer training camp, but basketball was his real passion, despite being way too short to ever play professionally. But the man played full and half court pick-up games almost every day of his life against men half his age… until he dropped dead of a heart attack at 53. On the basketball court. I’ve now lived longer than he did, and that’s a special kind of weird.
My mother never exercised in her later years, gained a ton of weight, and refused to see doctors regularly. She had no ailments and then died of a stroke a few years ago at 75.
I’ve been athletic as long as I can remember - I HAVE to move my body to feel good. Ballet, skiing, running, soccer, aerobics, swimming, tennis - I’ve never exercised with an aim for health, only because it feels good. I figure I’ve got a 50/50 shot of dying young-ish on the run or living to 100.
I guess if I had to choose, I'd rather die younger trying to stay healthy than live a longer, but unhealthy, life.
I've got great-grandmas on both sides that made it past 90 in reasonably good health, and grandparents on both sides that are still going at 80, or almost 80, so the genetics to live a long and still-functional life are there for me, I just have to do my part.
I can relate (and get inspired) with so many of the comments here!
Started running just 2 yrs ago (after no regular exercise ever)… and doing it has given me motivation to pursue a healthy longevity..
Definitely need to work on my nutrition better, but I see progress on the training.. and somewhat hoping it helps youngest in the family to get inspired to start moving earlier in life…
@PrincessV thank you for that. Without knowing it you have been support for me. While we don't have the exact same physical things going on, we just seem to be in the same place. I am happy every time you post. Even if it is not a happy one it is like, omg i have that too.
I have run and been an athlete all my life. I also have bad genetics with both my parents having both knees replaced. I knew at some point knee or knees would be an issue. i just did not expect it to depress me so much (plus all the other stress). The only answer will be the TKR, but i am not ready for that. I really don't want to do it till absolutely needed. I figure i can still run 3 days a week. My dad was also an athlete and had a hip injury that required hip replacement when he was in his 40s. I watched him power through and i do the same. I also have friends who are having TKR at my age who are not active. I prefer to stay active
Just before MW my left knee did something weird. I finally went to PT on Monday. Good news is she thinks it is acute. Probably caused by offloading from the right knee. She did a lot and it was quite sore after but on Tuesday when i ran it felt a lot better. Am very happy, i think it will get better soon now. I am going back to PT in 2 week though.
So while i am over sharing, though i have shared this. My life stress is dealing with my mom and brother. I have to say my mom is doing incredibly well after the disaster that was 2024. She is at home with my brother and now moves pretty good with her rololator. She is 83. however we have had to pick up all the slack at their house. Taking care of everything. I was handling it fairly well, but it has gotten worse in terms of i know this is going to continue for a while (and really the other option does not make anything better). i think i am struggling with my new normal. It does not leave a lot of time for me to do stuff that needs done.
@PrincessV thank you for that. Without knowing it you have been support for me. While we don't have the exact same physical things going on, we just seem to be in the same place. I am happy every time you post. Even if it is not a happy one it is like, omg i have that too.
One other thing to add to the "changes you make as you age" category....I do not post my monthly totals here for miles/pace, nor do I set any goals about how many miles I want to run. It serves no purpose for me (and only me). I still look at what I did over the month, but it's not about racking up the most miles or fastest pace.
I wish there was a “great, grand masters”category! At age 69 (70 on February 16th), my pace has decreased as aches and pains have increased. In general, I am just grateful that I am still out there with you people! I am inspired every day by your successes and failures, but mostly by your “never give up” attitudes.
Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis wreaked havoc with the health of my mother and maternal grandmother. I have always fought against the possibility of spending 4-8 years in a nursing home. Mama was almost unable to move at my age, and she died before she turned 75. I recognize my diminishing ability, but don’t stress over it.
My Map My Run app is set to report orally every 1/2 mile I run/walk, and during training runs, I make a little hand signal to thank God for every one, no matter how hard, how cold, how windy, how hot, how wet, or otherwise uncomfortable. I CAN move, so all is well.
Attqotd: I don’t know that I have adapted anything to how i train vs my age. I was injured last year but that’s always been a thing since I started playing football at 14. Injuries happen. I may be a little more mature about rehabbing the latest injury, but that’s it. I think anyone who ends up in a ski town has Peter Pan syndrome, so maybe it’s just my desire to not grow up.
I started running again recreationally in my late 20s to be in shape for snowboard season, when I would move out west. Mild Alcoholism, because restaurant life, often puts a damper on that. Currently, at 45, I still think I may have a PR in me vs my 29 year old self, but it’s going to take some more focus and consistency than I had back then, and a little more time to build up, but I don’t think I am horribly off from a pr considering I live ~7000’ higher than where I used to train and race.
The biggest motivator now is becoming a parent at 38. She is now to the point where she is riding chair lifts in her ski lessons and I would like her to understand I used to be okay at snowboarding. And keeping up with her in her busy and loud day to day life. And having a long enjoyable life for and with her and her mother.
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. As my grandmother and great-aunts got older, they developed osteoporosis and weren’t mobile late in life. My mom and my aunt both have osteopenia but my mom’s been active for as long as I can remember, and her bone density numbers got better after prescription calcium and continued heavy strength training. My doctor told me all of activities are great at preventing these issues.
