Injuries stink in middle age! First strained calf muscles took me out. I started running with calf sleeves in the winter and found that I can run in the hot summer with less injury though of course much slower. Then came achilles tendonitis. Then 6 mos after recovery from that came tight hip muscles and strained quads, which I am currently babying. Always something for me now.
On a brighter running note, my youngest (15 yr old son) runs HS cross country and has just started summer training with the team this week. 5 days a week they run at 6am, all the way to mid-August. They also incorporate a lot of strength training and core exercises. Since he is not driving yet and I am dropping him off, I usually stay and run or cycle or kayak. Gets me into a good summer exercise routine!
Sadly I cannot run for any distance—it makes my legs swell (like hives) and get hot. It’s a problem I’ve had all my life. My legs generally don’t perspire—just get very hot and swollen. For awhile, I swam but now I get hives from cold water and have other issues as well.
Have switched to using a rowing machine. It seems kindest on your joints and exercises 85% of your muscles at the same time. Our kids bought us a rower that trips up to take up no more space than a grandfather clock when not in use. I also walk some.
@HImom - I totally get that some people really can not run. I have several friends with health conditions for whom it would be dangerous to run. I think about them sometimes when I race, and I feel very fortunate this is something I can do.
Reading these responses – I would love to all be together in a room sharing! Anyone remember Jim Fixx? Carb loading? My best event:)
Was a competitive swimmer then morphed into track. Back in the day before metric, I had to join boys track team in middle school because there wasn’t one for girls. Remember being booed at one high school meet HA!
Had a great time running first Pittsburgh Marathon in 1985; committee for the 1986 marathon was ill-prepared for record 90-degree weather. I remember watching runners drop like flies from dehydration – water stations were far and few – sky-rocketing learning curve.
I run late at night with my flashlight, phone (and reader glasses:) two pepper sprays and solve the entire world’s problems in a mere 50 minutes:) I love coming to the end of a run and wondering how I got there.
Back in the day I was like a gazelle. Now, I shuffle, with gray hair, not giving a rat’s behind sporting shorts and crepey legs! As long as I can go, I do.
For those who have battled through physical difficulties and continue any and all forms of exercise – Bravo(a)!
PS shoutout to my son-in-law who finished Boston this year!
I started running in 1976. I was inspired by Frank Shorter’s silver medal in the Montreal Olympics. I went to school prior to Title IX. The only sports option was field hockey (which I hated) and I had never considered myself remotely athletic. Except for a few years in the early 90s, I have been running ever since. I used to run quite a bit. Now I only run 5 miles, 6 times a week. I’ve never run with music, etc. I use this time to think, complain, whatever. During the week, I am on the road at 5 a.m. I love this time. Its so peaceful and I solve all the problems in the world (at least in my head) during this time. Endorphins are a wonderful thing.
I used to do quite a bit of racing. I only race about 10 times/year and at short distances. I frequently win my age category (over 60) because there isn’t much competition. I love when older women runners come up to me after the race and say I’ve inspired them. I’ve had some serious health challenges in the past year which interrupted my training. I was more concerned that I’d never be back to regular running again than I was about the health issues. I’m almost at full power again and I hope to be running for many more years.
Since I was a late bloomer running I’ll do it while I enjoy it and while my body allows it. But I also enjoy brisk walking and spinning, etc. - if I can’t run I want to have other enjoyable fitness that I can be satisfied with.
I went out for track in 7th grade and promptly got pneumonia and had to be hospitalized for several days. I have not run since except to pass PE classes while still in school.
I wish I could run. I love the running culture.
My D has been a long distance runner since she was 13. She started with XC and track in 7th grade. She was fairly fast in 8th and 9th grades, she ran the state middle school meet as an 8th grader and she lettered on the varsity team as a 9th grader. She then started having health issues and slowed way down. She ran JV the rest of her high school career.
I will always remember the late March day when she was a freshman. She just had gotten medically cleared to run track a couple of days before the first meet. She was assigned to run the mile at that meet. She had been in the hospital and had not been training for more than a day or two. Before medical issues she would have expected to be in the top 3 or so in that race. She not only came in dead last, every single other girl running that race lapped her. Then they all stood in a single file line on both sides of the track and clapped her in. All the girls from all the teams.
I love the running culture. Did I already say that?
She has run 7ish marathons with another one this Sunday. She is not fast enough to qualify for Boston, though is fast enough to dream about being fast enough, she can run one in under 4 hours if she has trained.
My H is not really a runner but he is an athlete. Softball and tennis are more is speed, though he needs other people in order to do those things. He will be 62 this year. A few years ago he decided if D could run a marathon, he could, too. So he trained and decided he wanted to run one before he turned 60. He ran one in about 6 hours 3 days before his 60th birthday. This was after he had had miniscus surgery on both knees. He now goes in spurts. He will go weeks without running then go run a few miles 3-4 times a week for several weeks then stop again.
I’ll never forget my first 5k. I was nervous of course. I was intimidated of course. All these other people were good! (not true - there are always walkers, slower runners, newbies, oldies - the gamut!) I remember telling several people who I talked to before the race started (because runners are super friendly and like to chit chat) that it was my first race.
I think everyone of those people I talked to high fived me or cheered me on during the race - they were sure to give encouragement no matter what.
For the most part, no one cares how you run - they are just happy to have people out there. No one is judging or comparing! Everyone has a story of how/why they are out there. And as we see from above comments, some of the stories are quite impressive - and nearly all include struggle!
I like running, but I like other activities as well - Pilates, yoga, boot camp. I ran track in high school and cross country in college. Middle of the pack. I did a lot of treadmill miles when the kids were young. Then I stopped and gained a lot of weight and carried that for a long time.
When I finally lost weight and got back to running, I was 50. That year I ran a half, a 10k, a full and a 5k. I didn’t do a good job of listening to my body over the next few years and struggled with dehydration issues, a very high HR and finally a fractured heel thanks to too much running. Lots of disappointing race experiences including a full where I was pulled from the course due to dehydration. Should have been my clue that I was overtraining but I kept on until I couldn’t.
I used to run in the very early am with a more competitive training group, but am now just running because I enjoy it. I’ve been trying out some trail running with some younger folks up in our ski area. Different dynamic for sure but I’m enjoying it more. I don’t feel as stressed trying to be “fast”. It’s just being comfortable with myself. I can really relate to @Mansfield ‘s post!
