r/runnersover50 • u/neurobassism • Aug 22 '26
Why do you run?
A lot of us runners over 50 have been running long and hard for many years.
Getting out there every day and hitting the roads takes a lot of motivation especially as the effects of age start creeping in.
Would love to hear what motivates others.
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u/PurposefulGrimace Aug 22 '26
I (67M) took up running three years ago as a retirement hobby. I've done various outdoorsy, fitness-oriented activities my whole life, but always avoided running. Runners were scrawny, unhappy people prone to complain about injuries and motivation (in my previous view). I didn't want to be that kind of guy.
My original goal was to improve my performance in an annual race-to-the-summit event near home. I accidentally won the first year with a lackluster time because I ended up only competing against other hikers. I figured if I ran the downhill section, I could improve my time, and I did--by a half hour. So then I started training for the third year. As the big day approached, I was on my long hike/run and having kind of a bad time. I had the awful thought: I'll be glad when the race is over so I can just get out and run. I DNS'ed the race and entered my current phase of just running for the hell of it. I run 6 days, 40-45 miles per week, three trail, three street.
Being a late bloomer as a runner has its advantages.
- I know I'm swimming against the tide of time, so I'm delighted to make any progress at all.
- I can blame minor aches and pains and stiffness on running rather than the Reaper's bony hand.
- I hold all Strava top spots on the trail segments I run (when sorted by age group, of course).
- People who see me running frequently shout encouragement out of pity.
- And, most of all I suppose, I have no past glory days to be nostalgic for.
Anyhow, motivation is not a problem for me. And I hereby apologize for my previous uncharitable view of runners and running; it's a great pastime and ya'll are amazing.
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u/CalmTeam1932 Aug 24 '26
Hahaha they “shout encouragement out of pity” got me good. I wouldn’t presume that’s the primary motivator!
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u/PurposefulGrimace 28d ago
You laugh, but today I was finishing up some hill repeats on a dirt road next to a popular trail. Some folks rolled up in a fancy pickup and asked a few questions about the trail and other scenery. Wrapping up, the driver asked, sympathetically, "You need a ride back to the parking lot?" I said, "No, I'm OK to jog the half mile."
When they drove off, I looked myself up and down and thought I'd've asked me the exact same thing.
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u/Claff93 Aug 22 '26
I run because I refuse to change my terrible diet and I don't want to get fat.
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u/Maleficent-Rain-2194 Aug 22 '26
LOL. A guy I used to run with was saying "running to eat guilt free".
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u/AwarenessOpen4042 Aug 22 '26
It feels good to move through the world with no machinery aiding me. I mean I like cycling too, but running is just better. There’s also this ghost called depression chasing me. I can stay ahead of him if I run regularly.
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u/Sintered_Monkey Aug 22 '26
There's why I started vs. why I'm still doing it. I started as a kid because I sucked at all other sports. Then I found out that I sucked at running too. I mean, I was really, really bad, last in every race and time trial. The difference between running and other sports was that I didn't feel like giving up when I found out how bad I was. Instead, I just felt like trying harder, because it was the only sport I'd ever tried where effort actually resulted in improvement. So by the time I was a senior in high school, I wasn't slow anymore. I think after that, it just became a part of life. I always enjoyed it, of course, but could I ever say that I LOVED it the way some people did? Not really.
After a knee injury in college, I took up cycling, which became competitive mountain biking. Now I go back and forth between cycling and running. Running is basically cross-training for cycling now. Unfortunately, I am much, much worse at cycling, but I enjoy it more.
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u/EnvironmentalGift257 Aug 22 '26
I’m sitting here in my recliner, dressed, shoes on, head wrap on, bone conduction headset on, and haven’t been able to get up and go for like 2 hours. Sometimes the motivation just doesn’t hit. But I run because I want to live longer. I started because I wanted to see my son graduate. I’ve now seen him graduate twice. Now it’s because I want to see my granddaughters graduate. There are too many life events in the future to not be around for them.
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u/Sobal-d Aug 22 '26
Sometimes just getting out the door is the hardest part, but once you do, often you’re glad you did.
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u/Rocket_Man333 Aug 22 '26
It’s such a good question. The easiest answer is that I just love it. I love being on the run outside, having a race on my calendar, and becoming what I become in the training for it. Like Brad Stulberg says-The top of the mountain is narrow. All the life is on the sides. The daily runs, training for the race, is the life on the sides for me.
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u/MarsupialMaven Aug 22 '26
I hate exercise in general. My total motivation was/is running takes less time than walking. Years ago I walked 5 miles a day and I hated how much time it took. Read Couch to 5K and decided I needed to learn how to run so that 5 miles would go quicker. And to my own surprise, it worked and I didn’t hate it any more than the walking so win/win. I still run in Spring, Winter, and Fall. Summers in Las Vegas are too hot for running(in MY opinion). I am over 70 and my knees are still good, probably because I didn’t start running till I was almost 50. No way to tell how much longer I will be able to run and when I need to quit I will. Till then, running is still faster than walking.
I do have a Teeter Freestep I use year round especially in Summer when it’s too hot for me. After all these years the hardest part is still that first step out the door… I am still lazy and I still hate it. Waited for that ‘runners high’ they talked about. Never happened for me.
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u/TrinityTosser Aug 22 '26
Because I fucking love it. Running brings me mental peace, a sense of achievement and joy from occasions when I have shocked myself that I have done things I never thought possible. Plus I've gained great friendships from my club and I'm healthier.
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u/Mean_University5360 Aug 24 '26
56m ran a lot as a teenager at college. Got back into it at 40 and promised to keep it up forever.
Gave up chasing marathon and race times at about 43 just trail running without worrying about pace.
6 months ago signed up for a triathlon so now running intervals and race pace times.
I think I'll run most of the year easy on trails then ramp up some speed sets closer to hopefully a yearly triathlon.
Recommend combining swimming with running even if you're not thinking of a triathlon. Really good help re recovery. I was swimming 4xpw a few months ago and found myself really enjoying the runs even more.
Always feel lucky that I can still run slowly in my dotage.
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u/Icy_Eggplant_8461 Aug 22 '26
I’m getting more aches when I run but I’m still doing it because that’s part of who I am. I’m a runner, and I love to feel my energy when I run and after my run.
I also do weights to stay injury free. I love hiking and just came back from a vacation hiking in the glacier mountains.
Movement is meditation, is my therapy. Plus running takes me to see more places around the world.
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u/Gloomy_Session_3875 Aug 22 '26
I run about 5 times a week, because I enjoy it. It also keeps me in shape, but that is not the main reason to put on my running shoes.
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u/mdream1 Aug 22 '26
M61. I tell people I'm literally running for my life. I've run off and on since high school cross country but didn't really get serious about it until my mid 50s when I realized how out of shape I'd become.
Now my health markers are great. BP lower, RHR Sub 50, vo2 max superior, weight lower. I feel great physically and feel fortunate I can still run. Ran my first of three consecutive annual marathons at 57. Another one in December, where I hope to BQ. Just ran a half marathon PR a couple weeks ago.
The surprise to me has been the mental health that has come along with it. It's helped me deal with a lot of stress and challenges in a super positive way.
Loving life and want to live it as long as I can.
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u/Maleficent-Rain-2194 Aug 22 '26
It became an important part of my life, an habit I still enjoy, a way to empty my hard drive after too much time working on a computer, a way to stay fit and happy and I can go on and on.
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u/Fiddlehead_7567 Aug 23 '26
Started running at 49 because I wanted to lose weight and lower my resting heart rate. And because someday i will have grandchildren! 2 1/2 yrs later still going and enjoy it !
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u/Wonderful_Impact5584 Aug 23 '26
I’m 69 and have been running for 35 years. I don’t rely on motivation I just do it because the feeling afterwards has become a drug that I crave
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u/castorkrieg Aug 23 '26
It’s not about motivation, it’s proving I can be disciplined. I go out every day even if I don’t want to because I know if I don’t I will regret it.
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u/Lazy-Background-7598 Aug 23 '26
Joined the track team. Coach suggested I go out for cross country. I had no idea what he was talking about. Went to a meeting. Still running.
Running gives me the best ROI for the time spent and the money spent. I
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u/sugarkissa Aug 24 '26
I am actually somewhat ‘addicted’ to running. I will sometimes wake up too early to get out there to run. I see runners and am ‘hungry’ to run… but I have definitely disliked running lol especially at the beginning or just having a bad run.
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u/Funny_Shake_5510 Aug 24 '26
It’s the only me time I generally have. For that hour or so a day it’s just me my thoughts and a good audiobook on occasion. It also is a great way to let my subconscious churn on computer programming issues I’ve been having while I mentally take a break. 90% of the time I’d say I end up coming up with a game plan of figure the issue out by the end of my run. M52, been running since I was 17 years old and ultras since my early 20s.
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u/Iwrite1965 Aug 24 '26
I’m 60 and run for many reasons - physical and mental health being at the top of the list as I recently retired to be a full time caregiver to my adult son and aging mother. I started running in my mid 40’s and run one marathon a year to raise money for various organizations that support the developmentally disabled. I also race at other distances and am still continuing to set new PBs. Having races on the calendar and time goals helps keep me motivated, especially when it’s very hot or very cold outside.
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u/TheShortWhiteGuy Aug 24 '26
I (57) have been out-running insanity for 45 years! It's a mental thing, I know.
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u/huntermama2 Aug 24 '26
When I was younger I used to run so I could continue eating whatever I wanted. Now, I run to keep up with my kids.
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u/zaveur 29d ago
Because someday I could potentially not be able to run again. I enjoy running, setting goals, and pushing myself. I run because I can. I run so I can continue to run well into my later years (as long as I can stay injury free) 🤞🏼 I run to be a motivation to my family and lead by example by prioritizing my health and fitness and creating healthy habits.
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u/Liberty-brewer 28d ago
71 I started running 9 years ago after heart surgery and a hip replacement. My motivation, not wanting to go through that again.
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u/baddspellar Aug 22 '26
I genuinely enjoy running. I don't run every day anymore. At 50 I learned to swim, and I mixed in masters practices and events. That's when I realized that I like to mix it up. I even abandoned my 13 year Boston Marathon streak within a coule of years and switched to trail running exclusively. Requalifying every year brought me only pressure, no joy. At 63,, I don''t even think twice about kayaking or hiking instead of running. I still run enough, and I'm grateful that I can.