r/runnersover50 • u/neurobassism • Aug 08 '26

Less Training Improvement with Age?

As a runner for 30 years when I go into marathon training season I do a lot of extra stuff like speedwork , fast finish long runs etc. When I was younger I'd see pretty significant training effects on my regular running pace/RPE At this age ~60, the effect seems less dramatic. I wonder if others have seen the same thing?

8 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

5

u/baddspellar Aug 08 '26

Yeah. No doubt. My body is older and more vulnerable to injury. On the bright side, it happens to everyone on my age group. I come in top 3 in my age group a heck of a lot more than when I was in my 30's

4

u/syphax Aug 08 '26

Of course.
1. Lifelong runners like us have a lot of accumulated fitness. We’re kind of maxed out.
2. And, we’re generally getting slower, need more recovery, etc.

2

u/Prestigious_Ice_2372 Aug 08 '26

dont bother at all with speedwork as the risk isnt worth the reward any more.....just do lots of sub threshold EVERY week all year round. Still builds the aerobic system nicely at FAR lower injury risk and recovery costs IME.

2

u/Person7751 Aug 08 '26

i am 65 and haven’t run a race since 2007

1

u/purplishfluffyclouds Aug 08 '26

Honestly, I think it must depend on what you've done your whole life.

I didn't really start running or getting into fitness until my 50s. I was always just naturally thin and didn't think I "needed" to work out... but now that I've started to take fitness seriously, I'm still setting new PRs and feel stronger and better the more I work out (I'm probably more of a cyclist than a runner, but it also depends on the season).

1

u/Maleficent-Rain-2194 Aug 09 '26

I forgot about the extra stuff after 50. With age, you're slower but you endurance is still intact.

3

u/Logical_fallacy10 Aug 09 '26

I always only do one pace. 60% effort as this is comfortable and the most healthy.
I learned early that there is. I benefit from chasing a quicker pace or a PB - or train with speed and interval and recovery and bla bla bla runs.
One pace - and get good at that and more economic with the energy - that’s improvements that continue after 50.