You could be Bill Rodgers!

Sunday, July 29, 2012 · Mike Davis

I have some specific statistics somewhere that breaks down the average ages of runners and as a coach I think I could have figured it out on my own. The largest group by far is woman between the ages of 35 and 44 and the distance most trained for is 13.1 miles. I haven’t had anyone lately that has asked for a 5K training plan or even a 10K training plan; no primarily I have been working with half marathon training and marathon training. As I mentioned Friday I have also been doing a lot of non-distant specific training lately and I like that trend. Becoming a runner later in life has many benefits and some we don’t even realize.

Logic dictates that some people run when they are younger and single. Eventually get married or busy with their careers, running ceases. Time moves along, weight becomes an issue, mental stress increases and friendships are more challenging due to busy life styles. Any of that sound familiar?

So here we are in or around mid-life, driving our car and we see a runner on the sidewalk or running directly facing us (hopefully), we see another and then we see one pushing not a single, but a double seated stroller. Oh my gosh, how can they do that and I can’t even run 50 yards! Our mind races as we see it more often and by coincidence a friend mentions something about running; the running gods are targeting me! Television advertisements are making running look more appealing than ever, running groups are popping up in every town and now we think we might be able to do this. The idea of getting out and meeting people socially doing something so healthy is the clincher, time to get some sneakers.

Taking up running is easier than ever with all the 5K training groups available and then 10K training on up to half marathon training. Many newbies start out by joining a 5K training group, find some running partners, run a few 5Ks and become hooked. From there they become goal oriented and continue to progress in most cases up to half marathon training. Half marathons are in fact the favorite race of more and more runners. Marathons are becoming more popular and growing, but half marathons are being sold out on a regular basis with more available.

Famed Boston Marathon winner Bill Rodgers turned 50 a few years ago and wanted to take aim at the record for 50 year olds at Boston. He trained hard, ran some shorter distant races and his splits were in-line with what he felt he needed to be ready for Boston. The time he needed was 2:30 and he was confident that he could break the record. Unfortunately the once great runner had to drop out of the race around mile 18, Rodgers will always be synonymous with the Boston marathon, but his body had essentially used up the magic. Between all the hard training and racing Rodgers had done in his 20s, he had worn down his muscles and joints and could not reverse the damage. I venture to guess that he would not change a thing as he pursued a passion, but instead he had to except the effect of the passion on his body. Mister Rodgers is still running today, but no doubt he understands that his days of competing have passed.

Interestingly runners that didn't have any experience of competing in highly competitive races in their 20s are now finishing ahead of such people as Bill Rodgers and other formerly successful runners. Studies are showing that those that take up distance running later in life don’t have the wear and tear of the (formerly) best runners in the world. Your goal may not be to break records, but your body may be in a better place than you realize. Running long in to your golden years may be easier for you than it will be for Ryan Hall or Kara Goucher.

More and more people are taking up running every day and the benefits are limitless. Becoming physically stronger, making new friends and developing a mental toughness that most don’t have!