I gave up running years ago. Best decision I ever made. It’s a lame, selfish sport that nobody other than yourself cares about. You can be a fan and love track of field without competing in it.
I'll never "give up" running. Coach is my job and I love the sport. I just need to find a way to "remotivate" myself.
1) Decide that you get to set all new personal bests in the 35+ category. You have no personal bests yet. The ones you have are in the pre-35 category.
Ew, no.
I can't fathom how anyone could find that motivating.
OP, just quit running. Hit the gym and find another way to stay in shape.
The gym sounds eons dumber than runner. Picking up weights and putting them down? The reason I want to run is it requires no memberships and a pair of shoes.
I gave up running years ago. Best decision I ever made. It’s a lame, selfish sport that nobody other than yourself cares about. You can be a fan and love track of field without competing in it.
I'll never "give up" running. Coach is my job and I love the sport. I just need to find a way to "remotivate" myself.
I guess I have had some theories. One is that I spend so much time coaching other athletes that I have trouble "taking my work home with me"
I'm a washed up collegiate runner. I'm also a cross country and track coach. I'm 37 years old and I adore the sport of running. I used to train like an animal back in high school and college because I had clear goals and wanted to achieve them.
Over the last 5 years running has been basically miserable. I rarely want to run, but manage to talk myself into getting out the door. Every step I take I'm doing math on how slow my run is going to be while comparing that to my former self. I mostly run because that's what I've always been doing. My miles are pretty low and in otherwise healthy so it's not burnout in a physical sense. Am I just low on testosterone? Do I just need to find a good thing to train for? I can't figure out what made me so excited to go out for a run back in the day. Am I depressed or something? My life is pretty awesome generally I just wish I was still motivated to train.
What are some of your strategies and tips to keep on training after 35 that worked for you?
My genetics are terrible in terms of all the diseases I can inherit. That’s what motivates me.
I do have this to think about too. Every family member who doesn't exercise near daily has serious health complications. I'd like to get to retirement age still able to enjoy the great outdoors and without medical debt.
1) I don’t want to be another garden variety fat sack of crap like most of my peers
2) I genuinely enjoy the hard work it takes to be fit
Motivation will ebb and flow throughout the year but you have to actually have the drive to be the fittest and healthiest version of yourself you can be. Be a source of inspiration/motivation for your own family and friends.
Doesnt have to be just running - swimming, weight training, cycling, climbing, etc. They can all get you there.
I'm a washed up collegiate runner. I'm also a cross country and track coach. I'm 37 years old and I adore the sport of running. I used to train like an animal back in high school and college because I had clear goals and wanted to achieve them.
Over the last 5 years running has been basically miserable. I rarely want to run, but manage to talk myself into getting out the door. Every step I take I'm doing math on how slow my run is going to be while comparing that to my former self. I mostly run because that's what I've always been doing. My miles are pretty low and in otherwise healthy so it's not burnout in a physical sense. Am I just low on testosterone? Do I just need to find a good thing to train for? I can't figure out what made me so excited to go out for a run back in the day. Am I depressed or something? My life is pretty awesome generally I just wish I was still motivated to train.
What are some of your strategies and tips to keep on training after 35 that worked for you?
Masters Track and Field. Five year age groups. Every five years you get reborn!
I was a pretty good high school runner, didn’t run for a team in college but got into marathons in my early 20s and ran in the 2:30s.
After that I got into lifting to the point that I was training powerlifting 4-5x a week at 5’10” ~200lbs(not all muscle mind you). I loved lifting but after a while it got to feeling just as frivolous as running: constantly worrying about getting stronger, bigger, more aesthetic etc.
Tried to come back to running a few times but I would consistently get injured trying to ramp up too fast and burn out. Then go back to lifting, then running, then get bored of both.
At 36, I’ve been running 6-7 times per week for the past year, and just ran a half at about my old full marathon pace(first race in over 10 years) at mid 160lbs. I’ve had to learn that I’m not the same runner I was which means building back VERY slow, a lot more really slow/easy days between workouts, and even doubles since long singles leaves me feeling more wrecked.
All that to ask, what motivated/motivates me currently? Partially I want to see if I can still PR in the marathon in the next year or two while gradually picking up the volume(but not forcing it if I end up not motivated). It’s been feeling great to have a physical goal to work toward in life instead of being absent one(even if it needs to be tailored to your current situation and age). Also, I feel SO much better at this weight and being in good running shape than I ever did lifting, or some combo of running and lifting. The strength was nice but I felt so much less athletic. I still do upper body stuff(mostly calisthenics) a couple times a week, but feel much better at a light weight in general(this included having to get over some “bigorexia” and self-esteem/insecurity stuff from my younger years).
Im gonna keep running forever even when this “comeback” is done because feeling lean and fleet-footed feels so much better than just lifting or piddling around at the gym(especially if only doing it to look good). Though I do want to eventually get into boxing/kickboxing as a hobby.
I moved to ultras and still have (misplaced) hope that I can do amazing things there. Off of that I'm probably in better marathon shape than I was a decade+ ago. I was going to suggest you move up, but then remembered that a friend of mine moved from road 5ks and xc, to 800 and even down to 400 and 200 as he moved through his 40s. (We all suspect he's doping but) guy is probably going to be sub-2 at 50.
Moral of the story is, switch it up. If there's a race you haven't done, you can still convince yourself you'll be the best at it.
I'm a washed up collegiate runner. I'm also a cross country and track coach. I'm 37 years old and I adore the sport of running. I used to train like an animal back in high school and college because I had clear goals and wanted to achieve them.
Over the last 5 years running has been basically miserable. I rarely want to run, but manage to talk myself into getting out the door. Every step I take I'm doing math on how slow my run is going to be while comparing that to my former self. I mostly run because that's what I've always been doing. My miles are pretty low and in otherwise healthy so it's not burnout in a physical sense. Am I just low on testosterone? Do I just need to find a good thing to train for? I can't figure out what made me so excited to go out for a run back in the day. Am I depressed or something? My life is pretty awesome generally I just wish I was still motivated to train.
What are some of your strategies and tips to keep on training after 35 that worked for you?
I think 35-40 is a tough age for a runner. Hard - but not impossible - to maintain form from 10 years ago, but not truly in the Master division yet (I know they do 'sub-master' now, but it's a bit of a Mickey Mouse division).
My personal experience was that I was still running track in England in my mid-30s and ran very close to my every best steeplechase at 35. Late 30s, I came to US and found I could still be quite competitive in local 5ks, and focused on them, and just running the best 5k times I could.
That got me to 40+ when I could concentrate on the Masters Division. At the time I lived in New York, so did indoor track as well as road racing. I've continued to compete as a master for the last 25 years, running the USATF Championships several times, as well as the World Senior Games.
At 37, you would be well-placed to build up steadily for the 40+ Masters Division, whether it is road, country or indoor and outdoor track. That could offer a bunch of new targets, and trying to improve in age graded terms. You have to make adjustments for age - more days between hard sessions, maybe cross-training, but that's all part of the new challenge.
I have to say that without competition, I wouldn't have the motivation to keep in shape, so it's given me 30+ years of purposeful training and racing after that 35 year point.
At 37, you would be well-placed to build up steadily for the 40+ Masters Division, whether it is road, country or indoor and outdoor track. That could offer a bunch of new targets, and trying to improve in age graded terms. You have to make adjustments for age - more days between hard sessions, maybe cross-training, but that's all part of the new challenge.
I have to say that without competition, I wouldn't have the motivation to keep in shape, so it's given me 30+ years of purposeful training and racing after that 35 year point.
I appreciate the helpful posts from everybody.
I have been thinking that my goal should be a long build up so when I hit the masters division I can be competitive.
One thing that has lit a small fire in my belly is seeing my peers in the coaching world still running pretty fast.. most are guys I used to regularly beat back in my college/early 20s. I can't help but think when I see a coaching buddy of mine run sub 17 that I should be able to do that. Unfortunately I'm currently in about 21 minute shape...lol it usually comes back quick if I can convince myself to stick with it though. I love to run hard workouts, I always say it feels good to hurt in that way but usually I'm afraid to do those hard workouts when I can't stay consistent with regular running days.
I feel physically good after I have had a good run
I feel emotionally good after a run; it usually "flushes" any worries or negativity out of my system
People generally think I am 10 years younger than my real age because most Americans are so obese and broken-down. I look better than I would if I were not a runner
My friends are mostly runners, so I get a lot of social time with them (and it is while I am working out, so no time lost there)
My kids seem to be following in my footsteps of staying active
I love having goals and targets. They get adjusted based on reality so I am not trying to beat my college (D3) PRs
I have a lot of good local trails to run on, so there is the advantage that I can connect with nature. Time in the forest is vital for me...
By running a lot, I am fit enough to do a lot of other things - hiking, triathlon, cycling, backpacking, mountaineering, skiing, endurance sports in general
I have audio-books and podcasts that I love. Running time is also listening and learning time. Win-Win!
I can eat a lot more without gaining (much) weight. I love food and my active lifestyle allows for more of what I love.
My wife is fit/active and I would feel terrible if she were always in great shape and I was a fat slob.
I like to test my limits (and limitations). I like to know what I can and can't do. Running is a good place to safely test that out. It helps me to know myself better.
I like routine. Working out is something that provides stability to my life. I always find time to run (or swim, bike, row). That sense of routine provides order and balance
This post was edited 2 minutes after it was posted.
It seems to me that you don't really "adore the sport of running", you just adore setting PRs.
I love running. I mean, I love the actual act of putting one foot in front of the other. I genuinely enjoy getting up early to run every morning.
My PRs are ancient, but I still enjoy the excitement and challenge of racing, and I run a race most weekends of the year. My times are a lot slower than two decades ago, but I love the process as much as ever.
I plan to continue running and racing as long as I'm physically able. I hope to one day be one of those 70+ age group runners I admire.
Loving running and racing is all the motivation I need.
I’m like this too but the problem is that as you age things start to hurt. Chronic pain is no fun. Going for a run is still possible for me but it’s not as fun as it used to be because every step I take there is physical pain.
I can't fathom how anyone could find that motivating.
OP, just quit running. Hit the gym and find another way to stay in shape.
The gym sounds eons dumber than runner. Picking up weights and putting them down? The reason I want to run is it requires no memberships and a pair of shoes.
If you haven't lifted weights / done resistance training then there's your opportunity to get PRs - weights + plyos / jumps. It's not one or the other, they're completely different training adaptations, and frankly you should be lifting if you want to age well.
In terms of performance, a point was made on the previous page regarding fast twitch muscle fibre and athletic decline. Lift some weights, do some plyometrics & you can keep it around far longer than most people seem to think you can. I played pick up basketball with my friend's 42 year old brother the other day. He's 6' flat, and pulled out a tomahawk dunk mid game. How? Sprints, weights, and 2 jumping sessions per week since he finished playing in college.
Your aerobic base is built from well over a decade of training, focus on speed.
Or accept that you're past your peak and pivot into something else.
