Do they still put in the miles? Do they take on other hobbies? How do they combat weight gain?
Do they still put in the miles? Do they take on other hobbies? How do they combat weight gain?
The trick is to never, ever be a former competitive runner. Just be an older and slower one.
Kipchoge, Elkinah, Ritz, Bekele...they all can jog at a leisurely pace and beat every single person that comes to LetsRun.
Mostly just drink alcohol.
Recent results suggest if your name is Kenenisa Bekele, you simply just don't stop being a competitive runner
For the most part, they don't.
I'm on pause from competitive running for now due to injury. Last ran a 200 and 800 in a meet 2 yrs ago, 5 and 10ks 40yrs after college. Was doing abt 30mpw, + 2 track workouts and hills, weights 2-3 times a week
I cant speak for everyone but for me I can't run triple digit weeks no more. I run slowly for only 20 or 30 miles every week. I mean slow as in 44 year old me slow. That's 9 to 10 minutes per mile. Younger me could do quadruple the miles and do easy runs at 6 minutes a mile.
Since I have back and hip issues from running, I like to go for swims at the YMCA and walks. Never been a bicyclist.
Gaining some weight from a competitive runner shape is fine at any adult age that you wish to no longer be a competitive runner. This DOES NOT preclude good health. This assumes a decent diet and a decent normal level of physical activity of some kind(s).
bike
Why do you need to maintain fitness if you are “former”? It’s pointless and silly. Grow up and find meaning and purpose in other aspects of life. Do something more useful for the world than just running around.
Nothing wrong with some weight gain.
So you have never encountered a former collegiate runner in you life?
Weird question man.
My ambition is to become a drinker with a running problem.
Keep on keeping on - just add in more cross training as needed.
The OP’s question is a valid one.
Apart from the VERY rare exception, how many ex elite or sub elite, competitive athletes, start young, and continue to train at the same level of volume, frequency and intensity, all the way through to Masters competition? I’d bet a handful at best.
High level training seems to have a shelf life before something comes along to derail it. Whether that be orthopaedic or other health issues, boredom, lack of motivation, or other aspects of life that take a higher priority.
The following examples are what is usually seen…
1) Someone trains hard and competes when younger, and then either stops, or reduces training, for one of the reasons above.
2) Someone trains hard and competes when younger, but then takes a break for an extended time ( possibly two or three decades even) and then returns to Masters competition once their body has had a break, and there is new fire for their motivation. They usually have to make adjustments to their younger training, to accommodate their advanced years.
3) Someone hasn’t trained or raced when younger, but takes up the sport in their older years. They realise that they have some “undiscovered” talent for it, and a lack of wear and tear on the body, from not having trained when younger, means that they can push on in training a bit, for their age and compete on the Masters scene.
With regards to number 2) above. I’ve always wondered…if something with regards to training and exercise needs adapting as we get older, due to wear and tear and our ageing body, then should we have been doing it that way in the first place? Wear and tear and negative effects of an activity don’t “just” happen. They are a product of years of hammering away. Unfortunately we don’t realise…until it’s too late. We then think that it was what we have been doing recently that is the problem, but fail to realise that it might have been due to years of punishing the body.
You’re d riding too hard. These guys are long distance runners, not sprinters. After a few years of casual training after their retirement, the average high school varsity miler will be competitive with them at 40.
Stop running once you are not competitive.
Lift seriously, 6 days per week x 45 minutes. Intermittent fast at least 12 hours most days. Eat ball-park decent. You will be okay, and chicks will dig you.
The key to combating weight gain is to make the correct choices in diet. They aren’t worth it to me. Eating is a joy for me and one of my favorite parts of living life. I’ll take that and the couple extra pounds.
No soda is huge and pretty easy though.
Just take care of your diet and strive for 10,000 steps a day. What a walk outside can do for my mental health is hugely underrated.
I must've missed the OP specifying 'sprinters.'
What are talking about???