Age is Just a Number
I’ve lost track of the number of conversations I’ve had with runners who call themselves “old.” People often feel the need to “warn me” about their age. Many wonder aloud if they can still improve, or if they are destined to get slower and slower.
Running and Age
Many people who do not consider themselves an old person do consider themselves an old runner. Why is that?
While there’s no denying that running is hard on the body, there’s also no reason to believe that our bodies can’t run well into our 80’s or older.
When Age Matters
When someone I’m working with does not offer their age, I ask them. The main reason age does matter in training is that age affects our ability to recovery quickly.
My Dad is 64 and running faster and further than he ever has.
For example, college age runners can reliably handle a couple intense speed workouts and a quality long run in one week, but I would not recommend this schedule for older runners. I would plan several days of easy running and some rest days in between each hard workout or long run.
Older runners can certainly handle hard workouts, high volume and speed work but I am extremely cautious in the way I schedule this training order to avoid injury. The programming of this work should look different and allow for more recovery time between hard sessions as age increases.
Injury and Comeback
Injury is common in all ages of running, but because recovery takes longer for older runners, an injury is often assumed to be career ending even when it doesn’t have to be.
My own mother has been a recreational runner for decades but a few years ago she suffered a knee injury. At 63 years of age she assumed she would not run again…. EVER! And her peers were telling her the same. That is far too early in life to give up on running!
shared from @michellerial instagram account
Sadly there is often a sense that it’s “too late” to get started again. I love this graphic by Michelle Rial illustrating how to know when it’s actually too late.
Fight for the Future
Runners may need to fight long and hard to get back to healthy running. Full recovery might require treatment through PT, massage, and disciplined self-therapy, and it may be expensive. In these situations I encourage runners to invest in their future and think of the years ahead. A healthy runner in their 60’s could realistically continue running for 2 DECADES (or more…. why limit ourselves?).
Luckily, my mom chose to believe me instead of the people who told her she was done running. Her recovery and return to running was slow, but she is now back to running and doing workouts.
Lifelong Running
Eventually, no matter how we train, we will get slower. And factors related to aging often do force runners to stop running, but this happens at a much later age than most assume. And some runners …they’re able to make this beautiful sport a truly LIFELONG journey. I hope to be one of them, what about you?
Nicole Sifuentes is a full-time Running Coach for adults of all ages and abilities. She is a former professional runner and 2-time Olympian, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Read more about her services, and schedule your free coaching consultation.