The Last Hours Of My 40s.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 · Mike Davis

My final few hours in my 40s and it’s somewhat surreal. It would be easy to say that I don’t feel 50 years old, but that would be a cliché. If you asked me how old I feel, I would struggle to put an age on how I feel. I certainly feel that over the past two years it has been more difficult to run as fast and as far as I had previously. Could that be a result of the aging process or just my lack of consistent training, I don’t know. Turning 50 has its benefits for sure and yet it brings some realizations that scare me a little as well. I use to think it would be cool when I hit my 50s as I would move into a running division that I might be able to compete in. While I will still work to be competitive, I am not so concerned where I finish. Being out there on the race course or just out there on the road is reward enough for me. The days of finishing in the top 20 percent of the race are now replaced by helping others get to the finish faster, healthier and smiling. My schedule of working a fulltime job, coaching runners and being a devoted husband now inhibit my training somewhat. It’s not that I can’t run, but I have found it impossible to train as I would need to, to be competitive. As I move to the half century mark, I definitely understand my body much better and if I wanted to take on being competitive or even running another marathon, I would have to discard some activities in my life and at this point I enjoy all that I’m doing. Yes it is somewhat somber to realize that with age come physical limitations that you always thought were further down the road. However, I embrace the days ahead as I turn 50, the changes will be like none I have ever experienced, I will have to work harder and yet I will have much experience to draw from. Running is an important part of my life, both as a coach and a runner, learning to push my body as well as listen to it will be the challenge ahead. For now I have few goals as far as running I am far more focused on coaching and helping others. My days are filled with analyzing running logs, adjusting training plans accordingly and working to coaching balance. I find a great deal of pleasure in working with runners and helping them fulfill whatever goal they might desire. I am fortunate that I have run 5Ks, 10Ks, half and full marathons so I understand the demands that come with each. Knowing the demands helps me to not only help my clients, but to realize what I myself can and can’t do. Now being 50, I have to take in account my body and the changes that come with each passing year. No way am I suggesting that my age means I can’t compete or shouldn’t, but I understand the time and effort that must be available. So as I turn the page on another birthday I am grateful for the fantastic health I enjoy do to running and working out. I can honestly say that I am in far better shape at 50 than I was at 40. When I was 40 my waistline was close 40 inches, my weight was climbing toward 240 instead of the 200 pounds it is today and no way could I have run a sub 22 minute 5K or even dream of running a marathon. Over the last 10 years I have taken care of myself better, embraced running and just as important I have enjoyed the benefits of the wonderful running community. While my next ten years will be far more different than the last ten, I know that running will be just as important. Maybe not the same, but it will fill much of my time both individually and as a coach. Tomorrow I will probably feel much like I do today, I am on my 49 consecutive day of working out and I am tired. Again I must learn that some workouts have to be less demanding and give my body some recovery or this goal of at least 15 minutes every day of 2013 will be impossible. Fifty has many benefits and one that I will enjoy is being a little bit smarter than I was. A few more hours to go and a half century will be in the rearview mirror. Then next half will be a bit different!