Running After 40
I was hoping that the summer of 2015 would pattern after
previous summers.
I’d get a slow start, recovering from winter inactivity, and
then get back into my running groove by June.
This year was a different story. This year was my first
summer running after the age of forty. It’s been a struggle to get my speed and
endurance back to where I was last year.
There’s been days that I’ve
considered hanging up my running shoes but I don't think that will ever happen.
I celebrated my fortieth birthday in January, 2015. Within a
year’s time I’ve struggled with weight gain, fatigue and I already have a
wealthy collection of reading glasses.
Running has been a part of my life since I was in elementary
school. My friends and I raced in the streets. We’d have races during gym
class. When I participated in my first major track meet at the age of 13, I
knew that running is something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Today I still love the sport as much as I ever did, but my
faith, family and career takes precedence.
Perhaps if I had more time to focus on running, I would
still be chasing my 5K PR of 23 minutes. Did I mention I’ve never been an elite
runner? (Smile)
I suppose what’s most important is that I keep running… that
I keep giving my best to a sport that I’ve loved since a child.
As I learn to appreciate the strength I still have and the
dawning of a new day, I’m finding that running after 40 is a wonderful thing.
When I consider retiring from my runs and my dreams of
running a full marathon, something inside of me just can’t let go.
What I must let go of is the disappointment of 10 minute
mile times and the need to have to stop and walk from time to time.
Running after 40 just means I have to focus more on strength training, stretching and eating a healthy diet every day.
How do I run after 40? I put one foot in front of the other
and enjoy and ride.
~ Candra Evans
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