Do running or other forms of endurance exercise age a person
Blondieeee26
Posts: 12 Member
Hi! I was googling something and came across an article saying that running (especially for long periods of time) can drastically age a person. I am a runner and this is somewhat scary to me, since I run often and am 25. I feel if I am not careful I could end up aging terribly. My cardio sessions are only 60 min average. I used to do 90 minutes but found it to be a waste of time and it made me incredibly hungry.. so aside from a rare 90 minute session all my sessions are 30-60 min. Some are even shorter at 20 min if I just run 5k.
Opinions or experiences ?
Opinions or experiences ?
0
Replies
-
Can you post that link from Google?3
-
For what it's worth, the people I run with sure don't look their ages - they all look YOUNGER.
My mom turned 50 this year and people think she's in her 40's, lol. She runs a LOT.
In my experience, the opposite is true.
~Lyssa4 -
Age happens whether you run or not. Better to be healthy while you're aging.14
-
Out of curiosity, what was that article suggesting you do instead? Because that sounds like the kind of thing a woo article will state to try and sell you on something else.7
-
Here is a comparison pic of me.
Left, a year ago when I first started running. Right, now, after doing 1,500 km including three half marathons.
Were the dozens of people saying I look 10-20 years younger lying?
38 -
-
Here is a comparison pic of me.
Left, a year ago when I first started running. Right, now, after doing 1,500 km including three half marathons.
Were the dozens of people saying I look 10-20 years younger lying?
You were the first one who came to mind when I read the thread title. I was SO hoping you were going to post your before and after pics!8 -
I've been a long distance cyclist since 1994, and especially since 2001. Long distance, like ultra-cycling ... including a multitude of centuries (100 mile rides), 200 km rides (13.5 hour time limit), 300 km rides (20 hour time limit), 400 km rides (27 hour time limit), 600 km rides (40 hour time limit), one 1000 km ride (75 hour time limit), and four 1200 km rides (90 hour time limit).
When I was doing the most of these (2003/2004), I did experience some "aging" ... my hair started to go grey and my teeth started experiencing difficulties. But that could have just been co-incidence. One family line does go grey early, and my teeth had a past which was gong to catch up to me eventually.
In January 2015, I was 47 years old and hit the highest weight I've ever been. I wasn't doing as much long distance cycling then -- I was only managing 100 km rides as my long rides for a couple years there.
So ... January 2015: My "before" ... and actually, I gained a couple kg after that photo was taken and before I started with MFP (mid-February 2015).
At Easter 2016, I was 49 years old, and had been maintaining this weight since Christmas. 25 kg/55 lbs down!
This photo was taken a couple days after cycling a 300 km randonnee which my husband and I finished in 17 hours and 6 minutes.
And most recently, October 7, 2016 -- still 49 years old. I've kept the weight off for just about a year now.
This photo was taken the day before a 600 km randonnee attempt. Unfortunately I had been ill shortly before the event, so I wasn't quite ready and only ended up cycling 390 km in about 24 hours.
Despite all the long distance cycling I've done over the years, I don't feel like I've aged a whole lot.
19 -
.
0 -
Blondieeee26 wrote: »Hi! I was googling something and came across an article saying that running (especially for long periods of time) can drastically age a person. I am a runner and this is somewhat scary to me, since I run often and am 25. I feel if I am not careful I could end up aging terribly. My cardio sessions are only 60 min average. I used to do 90 minutes but found it to be a waste of time and it made me incredibly hungry.. so aside from a rare 90 minute session all my sessions are 30-60 min. Some are even shorter at 20 min if I just run 5k.
Opinions or experiences ?
Yes it does, and I'm proof.
I started running when I was in my twenties, and now I'm almost 55. I've aged over 35 years!
29 -
Fit, normal weight people always look way more youthful than the alternative - at least to me5
-
Exercise and running takes years off your age and helps you live longer. At age 61 I'm in the best shape of my life and can easily do things, including running, that I couldn't do in high school or college.6
-
I don't run ( do lots of other stuff) and I've still managed to age- 63 times so far.
Must be a dammed of you do, dammed if you don't kind of thing.
Cheers, h.
( sp so I don't get 'kitten'ed)4 -
I started running a few months back. The only thing I can think that would age me is the running time in the sun. I wear sunscreen, but think I'll get me a running hat!1
-
Here is a comparison pic of me.
Left, a year ago when I first started running. Right, now, after doing 1,500 km including three half marathons.
Were the dozens of people saying I look 10-20 years younger lying?
You were the first one who came to mind when I read the thread title. I was SO hoping you were going to post your before and after pics!
Hahaha, cool, thanks!
I don't run to look younger.
I run because it makes me feel fantastic. I run because it lets me set goals and achieve them. I run because it earns me lots of lovely calories to eat back. I run because it puts me in Zen mode. I run because it's fun. I run because it lets me see the countryside and lots of interesting things. I run because it lets me meet interesting people. I run because one day when walking I had an instinctive urge to go faster.
I run because I love it.13 -
Blondieeee26 wrote: »Hi! I was googling something and came across an article saying that running (especially for long periods of time) can drastically age a person. I am a runner and this is somewhat scary to me, since I run often and am 25. I feel if I am not careful I could end up aging terribly. My cardio sessions are only 60 min average. I used to do 90 minutes but found it to be a waste of time and it made me incredibly hungry.. so aside from a rare 90 minute session all my sessions are 30-60 min. Some are even shorter at 20 min if I just run 5k.
Opinions or experiences ?
can you define 'long periods of time' and 'drastically'??2 -
-
Blondieeee26 wrote: »Hi! I was googling something and came across an article saying that running (especially for long periods of time) can drastically age a person. I am a runner and this is somewhat scary to me, since I run often and am 25. I feel if I am not careful I could end up aging terribly. My cardio sessions are only 60 min average. I used to do 90 minutes but found it to be a waste of time and it made me incredibly hungry.. so aside from a rare 90 minute session all my sessions are 30-60 min. Some are even shorter at 20 min if I just run 5k.
Opinions or experiences ?
I do not think that running for 20-60 minutes is running for long periods of time.3 -
I don't think that's the case... I've been running on and off for the past 5 - 6 years and most people say I look younger than my age.
The thing that I notice is that when I lose weight, my face gets thinner and the wrinkles are more obvious. That's not a reason to stay fat though (oops!)2 -
OP are you talking about "runners face".. was it like something from this article?
btw: stop reading stuff on line.. and no running does not age you..
http://www.self.com/story/fitness-runners-face-myth-or-fact1 -
Wut?!?
On the contrary, it's actually the couch potatoes who are looking and feeling sluggish and worn-out. I am the only runner in my family (including extended family like cousins, etc.) and the only adult who is physically fit. I have a nicer figure than most people half my age, to be honest. People routinely think I'm much younger than I am. I don't necessarily think it's the running so much as it's just being so active. (You could do any type of exercise you enjoy, really.) I wouldn't let a fear of aging keep you from a great form of exercise. Consult your doctor. If you are healthy enough to run and you enjoy it, DO IT!1 -
Here is a comparison pic of me.
Left, a year ago when I first started running. Right, now, after doing 1,500 km including three half marathons.
Were the dozens of people saying I look 10-20 years younger lying?
Hope I don't offend, but from my perspective, you went from looking like somebody's decent-looking grandma to looking like somebody's hot mom! Huge difference. What a win!2 -
I guess you could say that running (or any kind of regular exercise) increases your chances of getting a whole lot older than you otherwise would..5
-
Huh?
I do long distance non-competitive cycling events and it's striking how many people (even!) older than me are extremely fit, very young looking but also mentally alert and full of joie de vivre.
Very common to find people well into their 70's still doing 100 mile events with a smile on their face and loving every minute of it.
Being fat and unfit on the other hand is terribly aging, both in appearance and health issues. I look at my (mostly) unfit peer group (mid 50's) and it's shocking how old most of them look and act.
#growingolddisgracefully5 -
You look fantastic.0
-
Not a runner...but walking...yes that's the thing for me.1
-
Blondieeee26 wrote: »Hi! I was googling something and came across an article saying that running (especially for long periods of time) can drastically age a person. I am a runner and this is somewhat scary to me, since I run often and am 25. I feel if I am not careful I could end up aging terribly. My cardio sessions are only 60 min average. I used to do 90 minutes but found it to be a waste of time and it made me incredibly hungry.. so aside from a rare 90 minute session all my sessions are 30-60 min. Some are even shorter at 20 min if I just run 5k.
Opinions or experiences ?
"Google" does not count as a source. I see links to those articles in the Outbrain/Taboola section at the bottom of articles on Runner's World and completely ignore them. Maybe there really is "one weird trick" to losing weight, and maybe cardio will age me, and if so I was wrong to ignore these articles. Nah, not really, they're total bunkum.
Here's a way to test the theory: look up Olympic 1500m champions from the 1950s on the internet, and find pictures of them today. You will find they are mostly alive, sprightly old folk. Sure, some die young of something unrelated to running. But the surviving champions look amazing for their advanced years.
If you're running 20-minute 5kms just as a training run, you are phenomenally fit. I run that distance weekly at Parkrun, and only 1 of the female runners there regularly does that distance in under 20 mins. She also wins local races. You should turn up at your local running club, I'm sure they'd love to have you. You could see for yourself how good the older runners look for their age. They'd also help you see the point of longer runs.
As an aside, it's ok to eat rather a lot after a run of 90 minutes or more. Calories in calories out really works in your favour when you burn 1000+ in a single workout!1 -
Being fat and unfit on the other hand is terribly aging, both in appearance and health issues. I look at my (mostly) unfit peer group (mid 50's) and it's shocking how old most of them look and act.
That was one of the things which triggered me to join MFP. I could see myself starting to become one of them ... and I didn't want that! I wasn't ready to look and act old.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions