I was re watching Rupp win the American trials back in 2020 and I couldn’t help but wonder what begins to slow us down as we age. What biologically makes someone in their mid to late 30s run slower than their 20s and early 30s. 2020 does not feel that long ago, it’s only 4 years, but the once untouchable Rupp didn’t even place in the top 5 at the Us olympic trials. Is it that it takes longer to recover? Is it the years of mileage. 4 years does not feel like a long time ago, and in life in general 4 years doesn’t seem like a long time, but there’s a world of a difference between the 2020 Rupp and 2024. If any older runners of letsrun would like to give their opinions on why or when they felt age caught up them I’d love to hear. I’m almost 30 and feel like I’m still running as well as I was at 22, and it’s weird for me to think how much I could slow down in only 4 years.