Running

You'll find on this site there are runners of ALL ages, I have friends in their 60s and 70s who run with no issues - so as the song says..'keep on running'

I'm 41 and I run about 40 miles a week. The key is to gradually build your mileage (don't add too much at once) and listen to your body. Running is for people of all ages. I see a guy in my neighborhood who has to be at least 80 and he's running several times a week. My mom didn't complete her first marathon until she was in her 60s. We may not be as fast as the younger people, but running doesn't have to be about being the fastest -- it's about getting out there and proving that you can do it.

Consider the case of Fauja Singh....

"Singh had stated that he would retire from competitive running after taking part in the Hong Kong marathon on 24 February 2013, five weeks shy of his 102nd birthday. He completed the 10 kilometre run at the Hong Kong marathon in 1 hour 32 minutes and 28 seconds and said that he intends to continue running for pleasure, health and charity."

Taken from - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauja_Singh

If you don't have any joint or other issues, 38 is fine...that's not even old. I can't run anymore because it causes my plantar fasciitis and posterior tibial tendinitis to flare up on me pretty much every time...but I never really enjoyed it much either and much prefer cycling.

My wife is 46 and she runs 3-5 miles 5x per week. My mom is 66 and just recently stopped doing sprint triathlons, but she still runs. My sister is 43 and regularly runs marathons.

I'm curious as to their reasoning...

jadu1536 wrote: »

I recently started running in June and I have increased my run up to 3 miles. I happened to mention it to my family and they just said that since I’m 38 I shouldn’t run... do any of the people who run know if age would effect anything? Any suggestions to keep safe ?

I'm 44 and I run Marathons. My husband's grandfather is in his 80's and if you told him he was too old to run, you'd probably get a not so pleasant stare since he's a quiet fellow. Accolades to the older runners whether it's half of a mile or 100, you rock!!!!

Started running at 56, after not having run since forced at 13 for the President’s Physical Fitness test. (God, I hated that thing!!!!)

A year and a half later , because I have a tendency to get tangled in my own feet and launch into midair, I’m doing a cross between a run and a power walk. For me, it’s safer to slow it down. Always was a klutz.

I do my “runs” at least five days a week, 3 miles, occasionally more.

My trainer is 72 and she does 6-8 miles per day and averages 25-30,000+ steps a day.

My neighbor is late 70’s or older, and despite knee and hip surgery this summer, I spot him out running.

I have lots of neighbors my age and older who run the bike path nearby.

I ran for six or seven years after being told I needed a complete knee replacement (started at 44 and ran until around 50). A chronic runner's knee finally stopped me from running but I loved it. I loved trail running. Was easier on my knees. Unfortunately, it wasn't practical during the week as there were no close trails to me.

Find a comfortable pair of shoes. Even if you have to go to a running shoe store. That was the only drawback to me. People say running isn't expensive. I just bought some Hokas for my wife. $220. That's ridiculous. But great shoes are necessary. Shop around for last year's shoe models and make sure that the ones you pick are proper for your arch and also proper for your gait -- overpronate, underpronate or neutral. My wife is a serious overpronater and has no arches. I'm neutral and have a high arch. Totally different shoe types. Sketchers just came out with a Hoka knockoff that is like $70 and they are fantastic. People tend to love Brooks. Overrated IMHO. I liked Mizuno more. If they had the Sketcher (Hoka knockoffs) when I ran years ago, I likely could have gone on a few more years.

And yes, running is good for your knees, despite what you hear. The reason I stopped is if I didn't run on trails, I stayed inflammed in my legs for three hours after a run. That much inflammation isn't healthy, it was counterproductive. That only started toward the end. I miss trail running. Closest thing to nature that I've done. Wonderful experiences.

Well. I'm 37 and I've just started running again. Literally today. Yes at the moment I feel like a panting hippo that does more walking than running but I'm confident that my personal fitness will improve. That's all that matters, is what you feel about it.

Many people have the impression that the human body is like a mechanical machine, it wears out with use and inevitably breaks down with age. But it is not.
The human body is a living, growing organism. It responds to the stress of exercise by growing stronger.
Yes, as we age, we lose a little resiliency, which means we have to be more careful of injury, because it takes longer to recover. But we never lose that ability to respond positively to the stimulus of vigorous physical activity.
I know people who have run into their 80s, and gotten really slow, but had no detrimental effects from it. On the contrary, they could still run 5 miles in a session. And they appeared to be much more healthy than their peers.
Medical studies have assigned senior citizens to weight training regimens to see if it could prevent falls, which often prompt a downward spiral towards death, and they got stronger. I don't remember off the top of my head exactly how old these people were. But I am assuming they were pretty old if the researchers were choosing them as people who had to worry because a physical accident could be the beginning of the end. AND they could still improve themselves with exercise!
I'm sorry. But your family is just plain wrong.