Three weeks ago, I turned 40 years old. Two weeks later, I took home my first “masters” award at the Run Jen Run 5k. The masters division is for runners 40 years old and older. In Charlotte, we have a strong group of masters runners. In fact, at Run Jen Run (which is much more of a charity event than a competitive race), 11 of the 15 finishers were over the age of 40. The Top 6 male and Top 4 female finishers were all masters runners. When I chatted with the female masters winner, we found out that we were both new members of the 40 club and we were both younger than the finishers ahead of us.
One race is a small sample size, but masters running is hot right now. Accessible training plans, improvements in shoe technology, and abundance of sources for rehabilitation and physical therapy are just some of the reasons people are running longer and better as they get older. It also can take people a longer time to learn how to race. My marathons at 38 and 39 years old were far better than my marathons in my 20s and early 30s. Learning about my body, how to train properly, and how to put my ego aside and learn from others are the top three reasons why I have improved as I age.
There are physical realities to growing older, but you should still aim for improvement. The running accomplishments of Mike Wardian and Camille Herron in their 40s are beyond impressive, but achievements can be track outside of record books. Look to your friend running five days a week in their 50s. Learn from your friend setting personal records at the age of 45.
You have more resources than ever to build yourself up as a strong runner as you get older. If you are an experienced runner, use your knowledge to set your goals and physical limits as you train. If you are new to running over the age of 40, get into it with a clean slate and an open mind. Running is a great way to stay fit and healthy, if you do it right, you can keep running for as long as your body hold up.
