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40+ and proud of it.

Leslie G.
Leslie G. Sendmail

Has your training changed?

posted over 3 years ago | Report

Has your training changed over time? If so, how?

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11 posts

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  • Leslie G.
    Leslie G. Sendmail

    Ok, I'll go. The biggest difference for me is that I have to be mindful to take rest day more than I used to. And I'm not always good at this, but then my body lets me know it's time for a day off.

    Also, I've noticed that I'm way more focused than I ever used to be, and also I'm willing to push through tough workouts way more than I ever was when I was younger.

    Finally, because I'm in this for the long haul, and want to be one of those women who are still active and vital into my 70s, 80s, and beyond (?), I'm more willing to do rejuvenating stuff like taking a power nap or stretching. When I was in my 30s it was all about calories burned, baby! Actually, because I eat indulgently much of the time, that's still partly true, but that's a conversation for another day...

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • JackiePRO
    Jackie Sendmail

    It use to be that if I did some walking a couple of times a week I could keep my weight in line. Now that I'm getting older I find that I need to do a lot more. Since my children are grown and have left the house, I find I have more time to walk, bike and try other workouts. I also am doing more weight training.

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Leslie G.
    Leslie G. Sendmail
    in reply to what Jackie said:It use to be that if I did some walking a couple of times a week I could keep my weight in line. Now that I'm getting older I find that I need to do a lot more. Since my children are grown and have left the house, I find I have more time to walk, ... read more

    Isn't that the truth (about it taking more effort as time goes on). In my 30s I could just drink a few more Diet Pepsis and run a few more miles, and drop 5 pounds in no time. Now it's not quite that easy. I tell my clients that the road gets narrower, and you have to decide if fitting into your current clothes is worth it to you.

    My children are still home, but they are old enough that I can leave them and do a long run -- or I can ask them to join me for part of it!

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Alexander B.
    Alexander B. Sendmail

    Yes it has. I do a lot more walking mixed in with my running, but my wt. workouts in the gym are still doable. I just finished the Gore-Tex TransRockies Run where I did 20K of climbing and 100+ miles of running (fast hiking in my case!) Thank goodness I brought along my trekking poles!

    I need to rest more and ease up on speedwork. BTW, I just turned 60 last month.

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Leslie G.
    Leslie G. Sendmail
    in reply to what Alexander B. said:Yes it has. I do a lot more walking mixed in with my running, but my wt. workouts in the gym are still doable. I just finished the Gore-Tex TransRockies Run where I did 20K of climbing and 100+ miles of running (fast hiking in my case!) Thank good... read more

    Holy cow -- you did 20K of climbing and 100+ miles of running? (Walking? Crawling? Who cares -- you did it!) That's fabulous!

    I'm doing my first marathon in a little over 2 months, and am toying with the idea of some ultra races in early 2009. And I'm turning 48 in January. Who says life slows down as time goes on??? :)

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Chaz H.
    Chaz H. Sendmail
    in reply to what Leslie G. said:Ok, I'll go. The biggest difference for me is that I have to be mindful to take rest day more than I used to. And I'm not always good at this, but then my body lets me know it's time for a day off. Also, I've noticed that I'm way more focused... read more

    Yeah, for sure... In some ways it has changed in the same ways it has for you... In other ways it's been very different.

    I have gotten a LOT more conservative in my training and racing. I used to race 15-20 times a year... Now, I just pick a half dozen races I really want to run. I am much more likely to rest when I feel sore or tired, instead of trying to train through those things. I'll never do more than two hard runs a week, while in high school we were frequently doing four or five moderate to hard runs a week.

    As far as focus, I'm actually the opposite of you... When I was younger, I had all of my focus on running. Now, I really try not to put that much mental energy into it... I figure less pressure equals less likelihood to push too hard or over train. I've always pushed myself hard through workouts, but if I am blowing up on a run, no way I push harder. I figure it's my body trying to tell me something and I had better listen. I'd rather live to run again another day than to push push push only to be sidelined.

    That being said, I have also found as I age I RARELY have what I would consider bad running days... At least bad days that can't otherwise be explained by illness, or running too soon after a big meal, or something like that. When I was younger, I would have days where I felt like crap and I had no idea why. Now, that pretty much never happens. Could just be all the years I've put in, now my body is just tuned to it.. Who knows.

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Jayadeep P.
    Jayadeep P. Sendmail

    I started distance running after 40. It was always "why run when you can play football(soccer)" for me, but it was becoming difficult to play and get a group of people to play with as well. Then for sometime I thought I missed the bus of distance running because I could never go beyond 5K till I started Galloway's run-walk method. Then I did a 10K and a trail half marathon recently. But I am taking it easy with no time targets and listening to my body well and enjoying the runs.

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Mike D.
    Mike D. Sendmail

    Due to getting older I have inserted more non-running days to preserve my fragile body. I used to run 5-6 days a week, now I run 4 and only two days in a row before a rest day. I try to bike twice a week also and take one day completely offr.

    posted over 2 years ago | Report

  • Carl C.
    Carl C. Sendmail

    I find that my stretching times before and after a run are much more extensive. Due to a martial arts accident and surgery afterward, my right knee may pop in and out during a run. So, I have to be careful and do numerous and controlled weight lifting for my legs so that it compensates for a weak knee. Thus says a health care professional.

    Last year, I pulled a hamstring playing flag football. Therefore, I'm cautious so that I don't pull another muscle.

    Also, it takes a longer period to get to a certain pace.

    posted about 2 years ago | Report

  • Sheldon C.
    Sheldon C. Sendmail

    Warmup before hammering is critical.
    Slower cadance, but using more power.
    Using brains more than brawn in racing.
    Lying about age is easier when fit.

    posted over 1 year ago | Report

  • User_avatar Deleted User

    Now over 50, I listen to my body more. Spring ramp-up is more difficult now - the winter pounds no longer just fall off, joint/back pain in the mornings after hard work-outs. Solution is more daily calistenics, longer period of base-mile building before doing speedwork and tempo runs. So far it's working, but the true test will be October, when I run my first marathon since '04. The real goal is year-round training (even Winter), and a marathon each year.

    posted over 1 year ago | Report

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