What do you find motivates you in running after the age of 35?

Take steroids and run personal bests. Beat Nick Symmonds' 100 meter PR from 2019 when he briefly did sprints on YouTube and then quit with no explanation of why he was quitting

but seriously, do sprints and jumps. If you want to defy aging, you need to hypertrophy and use the fast twitch fibers anyway, and since you're on letsrun, there's a 90% chance you aren't very explosive

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.

2) Do a race you have never done, and consider some in which time is less relevant, like trail races, an ultra, or whatever is unique to you.

3) Train in places that you seldom go. Don't just do "out the front door" runs. Go to a park, the trails, a boardwalk, etc.

4) Join a club and run with some other people who are your age, or maybe even older. Enjoy the pre and post run chitchat. Maybe find a partner in the group to cruise along with.

5) Don't feel like you have to run all the time. Have periods of the year that focus on other activities. Have days in the weeks when you are running more than you do not run; you spin, or lift weights, or swim. Become a "total body" athlete, if you aren't already.

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 think the common denominator among people who continue to train and race after their best years is loving the process. I'm 50 and still love training - doubles, easy runs, intervals, hills, tempo runs, etc. I can't tell someone else how to get there, but I know that's what does it for me and many others.

versions of these points have worked for me.

I would also add that once I got to 35/36, I started to feel old in other ways, and focusing a bit on running has actually helped me to feel younger. obviously it can also do the opposite if you focus on your lifetime PRs. but you can probably still hang with or beat a lot of significantly younger runners, and that's a cool feeling

Become a Disciple of the Iron. As a runner dweeb you probably have a hard time benching your own body weight but it's not a hard mark to reach brother.

Oh don't worry, I'll explode all over this message board if I have to.

I've never cared about setting PRs. I liked to race.

Then go do it. The only thing stopping you is you.

There’s got to be a lie somewhere.

As you age, your performance drops off, so it ought to mean that you have plenty of competition. Are you even signing up for races?

I'm in my mid 40s and just run. I don't care about my time or anything and, Franky, no one else does am either.

Young, hot a55 at road races.

Real life usually starts after college…

Most people stop caring about times as they graduate.

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'm very similar to Hobby Jogging Harry. I love to run. I don't favor workouts or stretch goals but I like to run comfortably hard for 6 to 10 miles a day. As George Sheehan said, it takes a real effort for me not to run.

I enjoy trying to qualify for Boston with a nice cushion every year. It's doable but not always a certainty.

But I started later in life just to lose a few pounds. I feel sorry for (formerly) competitive athletes who just can't see a purpose and they stop running even if they continue to follow the sport.

I'm 37 as well. I got burned out on running for several years with comebacks here and there due to long work hours, injuries, etc. I've been training pretty consistently for the past half year or so, at least when I'm healthy. I just enjoy running - what else am I going to do with my time.

What helps me is running different places - I'll drive up to an hour to run sometimes. Going to a running club provides some motivation - I like to keep up with the post collegiates. Being a boring person outside of running helps - basically a homebody.

Ultimately though its what you want to do. Try to enjoy life - if running isn't fun anymore try something else that does appeal.

Mid-40s female still running for health reasons. I go the gym or do some HIIT, but running is just easy in terms of putting on shoes and getting out the door without much hassle. My genetics are terrible in terms of all the diseases I can inherit. That’s what motivates me.

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.