At some point in your life, you would have seen a person well into their retirement running and you wished to be like them. Running is not the first exercise you think of at the thought of mature adults, but yet there are a surprising number of people who enjoy doing it despite their age. Many avoid running as they mature due to chronic pain in the joints. However, you do not have to say your farewells to the beloved sport, as you just need a few things to adapt to running in your mature years. Here are some tips on running for your loved ones and you to try!
Do Not Feel Disheartened
It is normal for your running distance to decrease and your timings to increase. Do not force yourself to perform the same when your body is no longer able to or it is going to come with some serious repercussions. It is okay to have slow days, but as long as you are still running and doing the things you love, it is alright! Do not be disheartened by your performance and think positively instead.
Be Careful of Your Footing
Lifting our feet full off the floor when running becomes harder for us as we age. Trips and falls are more likely to happen because of this. With our bodies being frailer, these falls may even land you in the hospital. Not something we want now do we? Be cautious of where you step and try to lift those feet higher when on new terrain. This is especially important if you like to run in dimly lit areas!
Do Other Exercises As Well
You do not have to run every day if you do not want to. Mix your exercise choices up once in a while! There are so many exercises that do wonder for a mature adult’s body so there is no need to stick to only one. You can try taking up cycling or swimming. Yoga works too! Ensure you have your rest days too.
Try Competing
If you enjoy some adrenaline rush, sign up for some marathons! Treat these competitions as a challenge for yourself rather than a competition against others so as not to be disheartened if the final results are not what you expected. Remember, you have to think positively! Competing will relight the passion of running within you, and you get to interact with younger runners too. If you are unable to run full marathons, do the shorter distance ones. Do not forget to put your body’s needs first, and know the level of energy exertion you are okay with.
Join a Running Community
Make an effort to interact with other runners in your vicinity and share news of new races or routes to go for. It may be difficult with many runners stopping when they mature, but having these precious camaraderies with people that share the same interest as you will be sure to keep you motivated and inspired.
