How to avoid runners face?

[Yadaaday]

I’ve been running for a little while now, only 5k but it makes me feel happy and satisfied.
My question is, am I likely to get runners face from running this amount? Or do you get it when you run longer distances? Is there anything I can do to avoid it??

I can see why you might take offence but I don’t mean it. I’m in awe of people that can run those long distances. I just want to avoid damaging my skin and have a happy balance of running.

Cause I've lived opposite the park all my life & many of the runners are my neighbours or neighbours of my mum or people I know from the local community.

I don't think running gives you a particularly youthful body like dancing for example so it's not a question of seeing someone with a 30 yr old body who is actually 60 & has a face to match.

This lady has been running marathons (and further) for 40+ years. How old would you guess she is, if it didn't say and how old is her face? Both much younger than her actual age IMO.

I'm nearly 60 so I long ago ceased to worry about my face! Honestly, I know loads of runners, it's mostly those who've lost weight suddenly through vastly increased training! Take it steady and you'll be fine.

Men don't seem to suffer it in the same way but runners face is so true I think it must be a combination of sun, wind and movement so a good spf and a face wrap? Or accept you can have a great body Or a great face as you age but rarely both.

Or this outstanding 71yo marathon runner Surely no one could argue she looks anything less than amazing?

You need some new running kit

Not everyone who runs will have runners face just like not everyone who loses 10 stone needs skin removal surgery etc so I don't really get the point of your links.

This lady certainly looks her yrs but good for her that she's so strong still.

www.womensrunning.com/2019/09/culture/racing-the-fifth-avenue-mile-to-the-marathon-is-still-euphoria_102946

I’m intrigued is this for sure?

Can’t just be sun as you can easily wear spf. So weight loss and motion?No idea

I look younger now than when I started running 10 years ago
SPF 50 everyday
Hat
And a very good skincare routine, including cleansing, toning and moisturising at the end of every run.

However I looking flipping awful when running! And having a dp who is an amateur sports photographer means I have am0le evidence of this 😂🤣😂🤣😂

Dont run on concrete. The impact does the inevitable in terms of gravity. Running on softer surfaces will do less damage

I use biore spf 50 and then a weleda kids facial protection cream anywhere that I'll sweat. Good running glasses protect the thin skin around the eyes too.

I've been running over 5 years and this is the first I've heard of runner's face.

shuffles away awkwardly to check face

Is it the impact? Because people who are outside walking for the same amount of time wouldn’t get walker’s face. Presumably

Well yes doobiev some people age better than others but that's not connected to running.

I know two marathon runners. One definitely looks haggard, but it's mainly a very low fat diet (she was recently diagnosed anaemic) and zero sunscreen or skin routine. So there's definitely some weathering there. And no fat reserves to plump it out.

The other one looks amazing, but is very into her lotions and potions and makeup and would be very mindful of her appearance. She also hasn't got as low a body fat % as the other one, and yet is actually probably healthier.

So perhaps it's just down to what your priorities are.

I'm a sunscreen obsessive and always. wear a peaked cap when running and also am a size 14, so Im not too concerned.

It's the impact, not necessarily sun (a lot of people just run in the dark). I knew a serious runner who was 50-ish but looked about 70 - she was very thin and wrinkly.

That woman is a serious distance runner with very low body fat. At 5k there will be very little effect on your face.

It’s the gravity and impact along with weather, spin instead 💁🏼‍♀️

So @ElderAve you are saying there there is absolute no link to running & premature ageing?

And everyone who thinks otherwise on this thread is wrong?

doobiev I did a quick Google after seeing this thread and it would seem that it's been debunked as a myth.

It's essentially anecdotes with some people aging better than others and look after themselves to different levels.

Isn't that just a low body fat look, OP?
Keep your body fat % up and you won't look too thin faced.

Wear SPF (& maybe face buffs) & you won't look weather worn.

These women got famous by doing running. They all look quite fine ime, no haggardness at all.

They're wrong to attribute a complex issue as such as what makes faces age to one very specific issue yes.

In any case, after about 40, how old you look has precious little to do with your face anyway. No point having a young face if your body can't keep up