Of course we don't know exactly how long we'll live, but around 80 seems reasonable for fit health conscious people. Do you plan to run until the end? I hope to for sure.
We all run for different reasons. Is living longer one of them?
https://runnersover50.com/blog/does-running-add-years-to-your-life-what-the-research-actually-shows/
I’ve been running for 30 years and I keep going and I see lots of people my age will run regularly. I also see people much older than me in their 70s 80s and 90s even finishing races.
So I wonder is there anything different about running over 50 then before 50?
Have you noticed any changes?
Anyone ever check their DHEA level? Though it declines with age in everyone the effect may be much greater in endurance athletes.
Mine was pretty low - starting taking supplemental FWIW
Though subtle, something about our running seems to change with age.
This study tried to tease out the details.
Main findings - calves weaken, hip extension increases, stride shorten and knees remain the same.
Suggest calf strengthening may be important training tool
Klein M, Patterson C. Changes in running biomechanics in master runners over age 50: a systematic review. Sports Biomechanics. 2023;24(5):1168–1196.
I think I first read in the competitive runners handbook about the 10% rule suggesting that you shouldn’t increase your weekly mileage or your long run by more than 10% per week to avoid injury.
I found out that the data on that is actually pretty sparse
Perhaps those of us over 50 need to attend to it or perhaps not.
Hey runners over 50, how many years have you been running continuously?
I started running on and off 35 years ago but became a daily runner 23 years ago and going strong at 57.
Certainly, there’s a lot of information out there showing that runners slow with age. Probably on the order of 10 seconds per mile per year after age 55 though everyone’s different.
I don’t know if it’s psychological, but I wonder if I feel as though running is harder even at a slower pace as an age.
What others think?
New post on runnersover50.com: I've been doing 16:8 for years — but what does the research actually say about whether it's helping or hurting my running after 50?
I’m 57 and have been running for 30 years. I’ve ran every NYC marathon since 2004.
In recent years I’ve been getting various pain after long runs. In particular the hamstring insertion and hip flexor insertion.
I’m wondering if others my age get pain often after running.
Always wonder if it’s just the shoes or just reversible running injuries.
I’ve started hitting 14+ mile long runs every weekend now and due to the heat here in (Florida) I run before the sun so starting around 4 am.
Right now I only bring water and electrolytes
Here's one take on the best current running shoes for older runners:
https://runnersover50.com/blog/best-running-shoes-runners-over-50-2026/
Do you agree? Have a favorite of your own that didn't make the list?
A study just published in Clinical Interventions in Aging followed men for 30+ years and found that higher lifetime endurance activity was strongly associated with better insulin sensitivity, lower waist circumference, healthier HDL/triglyceride profiles, and greater aerobic capacity in older age. The cardiometabolic benefits are real and dose-dependent.
The catch? None of the muscle strength or power measurements differed between low, medium, and high PA groups. Running more didn't preserve grip strength, leg press power, or anaerobic capacity. The researchers put it plainly: endurance training alone is likely insufficient to maintain muscle strength and power as we age.
I’m curious how people are managing volume as they get older — whether you’ve scaled back, held steady, or surprisingly built up.
I’m in my late 50s, running about 30 miles a week, and have been at that range for 20+ years. Some weeks feel exactly like they did at 40. Others remind me I’m not 40.
Drop your age, weekly mileage, and whether you’ve had to adjust over the years. Bonus points if you share what’s made the biggest difference — recovery, shoes, slowing the easy runs down, cross-training.
Curious what’s working for people here.