Will distance running training destroy a youthful appearance?

Not sure what the research says, but I have been running and competing for 34 years. My hair is hardly gray at age that all three of my older brothers were gray (none of which run) and only one ran more than just in HS.

When I won my first masters race (that gave out prize money). They asked to see my driver's license because they did not believe I was 40.

Depends. Being too thin makes you look older but the big one is the sun. Invest in some good zinc oxide sunscreen where it’s a physical barrier to the sun vs the ones loaded with chemicals that create hormonal disturbances. I believe for women, anything over 100 miles a week ages you because of the oxidative stress.

Ummm no. When I was 28 I looked 17 because of running. I worked in a high school, in special ed, and most of the rest of the student body either didn't know I was a teacher, or wasn't sure.

Shalane Flanagan looks REALLY OLD. She looks weathered and much older than 40.

You can run 100+ MPW and still look much younger than your age. The keys are:

- run in the early morning, late evening, indoors, or at night. If that's not an option, use a sh!t ton of sunscreen.

- minimize your intake of crappy food

- don't smoke or do illegal drugs

- no excessive drinking

- don't have a high stress job or lifestyle

- get plenty of sleep each day

Unequivocal yes

Doesn’t having a tan make you more attractive and youthful? I thought the sun was good for you?

It’s the best way for balanced vitamin d levels. Not supplementation that you just urinate out anyway.

I think it's the sun. If you're out roasting your skin year after year, you will look like a burnt toast.

levchenko wrote:

Doesn’t having a tan make you more attractive and youthful? I thought the sun was good for you?

It’s the best way for balanced vitamin d levels. Not supplementation that you just urinate out anyway.

You don't pee out Vitamin D. It's fat soluble (as are Vitamins A, E, and K).

I do agree that it's better to get Vitamin D through moderate amounts of sun than from supplements though, although I have no evidence to back that up lol. You certainly don't wanna stay out to the point you are tanning--that's called skin damage, and the darker your skin gets, the more sun it will require in the future to make the same amount of Vitamin D.

cecevans wrote:

Ummm no. When I was 28 I looked 17 because of running. I worked in a high school, in special ed, and most of the rest of the student body either didn't know I was a teacher, or wasn't sure.

i was getting checked by crowd control security who thought i was a high school athlete, well into my 30s, while coaching indoor track.

creepy...

LOL at these middle aged - elderly posters claiming they get carded. New levels of gullible are on display!

levchenko wrote:

You make some good points about lance Armstrong.

He is probably fitter than 99% of males his age but looks far more older and weathered than them also.

I’m not sure which one is better to be.

I just looked up Lance Armstrong and he looks amazing for a 50 year old man. No idea what you people are talking about

vaxilated wrote:

LOL at these middle aged - elderly posters claiming they get carded. New levels of gullible are on display!

Right lol😂 these dudes are for sure dreaming that this happened and convinced themself they are the epitome of health and youthfulness.. like dude you look like the old man you are

Had Some Myself wrote:

levchenko wrote:

Some say yes some say no.

I would have to say yes. The stress oxidation frequency, the low body fat, and the damage to muscle atrophy.

When I think of the 40 year old runners I see that have been training since highschool, it seems to be a common occurrence of a bad hairline also.

Not nearly as much as getting fat and living hard with alcohol. Meth and opioids are obviously even worse.

Went to my high school 20th reunion, and was just depressed at how wrecked most of the folks seemed. Those who were even within probably 20 pounds of high school weight were pretty rare.

This.

Even someone moderately fit at 50 looks worlds better than their age group peers.

No doubt too much run no good for the youth appearrance.

Too many sun and wind no good for hair and skin. make lips dry. want skin and hair like baby, not wild boar,

Too much effort make face contort no good for skin. make wrinkle.

Too much moving make for hunger yuou eat too much. get big. no more sleek

Too much exciting make hormone flow bad for skin and eyes make for the hair grow

Too much active drain energy

slouch no stand up straaght Much active make some too leen. Too many angles lose curves.

too much bouncey make for sag. droop look old

Too much run time mean no time for make up hair rest. make look like olde hag

This should answer the question once and for all. Bekele is 39 and looks almost 50 here.

https://www.letsrun.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/E75D28D3-66E7-4FF5-A97A-1145C9E40E89-400x300.jpeg

ragingclue wrote:

This should answer the question once and for all. Bekele is 39 and looks almost 50 here.

https://www.letsrun.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/E75D28D3-66E7-4FF5-A97A-1145C9E40E89-400x300.jpeg

Damn he looks like could croke from kidney failure if he dropped 1% more in body fat. Will probably run a fast time tho.