Starting running in your 40s

[OhThePain77]

I have been running for the past few months, starting from not being very fit. Now I can confidently do 5k and have a race booked in a few weeks. From there I am planning on a couple of 10ks. I would like to aim to do a half marathon at some point. Is that a reasonable goal? I am 41. Besides running I also do strength training and yoga.

Can other people who started running in their 40s or later tell me their stories?

I’m 55 and I ran my first half marathon in April this year, so yes, it’s a reasonable goal. Build up gradually and keep up the strength training.

i find running so helpful for my mind and body. I’ve sign up for a marathon next April, which may be a bit mad but I’m just going to see how it goes with the training.

I’m 48 and have been running on and off for about 12 years but have been focusing on it more for the past 3 years.

I can run 10k fine and am doing a 10 mile race in a couple of weeks. Have done one half marathon but didn’t really enjoy it. Might try again one day 😃

My favourite is parkruns - have done over 100 of them now with 20 different ones. Am planning out more to visit

I think you might dial back the strength training for the half marathon focus. One would be the focus over the other, to avoid over training or injury.

I lift heavy and managed 5k (I'm 43) doing the C25k program (did a race). You already do yoga so that is good. I've got my eyes on a 10k too but I was considering restarting a whole Couch to 10km programme, then as the runs get longer towards the end I'd cut back on the strength training (or maybe not depending how strong I feel!). My main focus is strength training not running though.

I have run on and off since my 20s, and did 2 half marathons aged 29 and 30, but basically stopped aged 35 after having children (although continued sporadic cycling and yoga). I started again this year aged 40 and did a half marathon again earlier this month - I’m enjoying it more than ever and feel I ‘get’ it more now, like understanding when/ why to do slower and faster sessions etc.

I’m continuing the yoga as it stops you getting too tight and I think will help prevent injury (DH has incredibly tight hamstrings and can hardly bend over as he runs and cycles but never stretches!) and have started some basic strength training as it’s important over 40 and also helps running too. I usually do 1 short easy run a week, a long easy run and some kind of faster/ interval session, then try to do 1-2x short yoga sessions and one strength session. Will see how long I can keep it up!

Am also at the top of a waiting list for a London Marathon place to support a charity close to my heart - this may turn out to be madness though!

I ran my first half marathon at 41 approximately 8 months after having my daughter. I ran another one a few months later. I'm 45 now and planning on signing up for one next year - even though I've basically not run for years!

I think strength training is really important. I definitely feel the difference in my legs. My breathing is what let's me down with running and only cardio can help with that.

I re-started running again at 45. I have joined a wonderful all women’s running group and i don’t think there are very many women under 40 in it!

I definitely need to focus on strength too (after learning the hard way and picking up an injury). I absolutely think it’s possible to pick it up later in life but the body may be a little more reluctant to go hell for leather without the strength training, warm ups, cool downs etc. Basically if you are sensible you can do whatever you like!

I started running after I turned 40 (as a morbidly obese woman). Tried C25K and thoroughly surprised myself.

A couple of years on, I'm still regularly running at least 20km a week (minimum of 5k each run) and amongst my proudest achievements is completing a half marathon.

The half marathon made me realise that I don't have a marathon in me though, not so much the event itself but the level of training you need to do to be ready. It's a massive commitment, certainly more than I can make physically, emotionally and practically.

I have 3 more 10k events lined up this year and a couple of fun runs with my children. I'm a member of a social running group just for women who are incredible and range in age from 18 to 65, the focus is on community so no one is left to run alone on the social runs and they come up with all sorts of different ideas to engage us as runners and encourage us out of the door.

Personally, I'm really happy I can call myself a runner. I might not look the part, but I definitely am one. Your goals sound perfectly achievable - hope you enjoy your first race as much as I did.

I'm early 40s & I've just started the NHS C25k programme. I always hated running at school, was always 2nd or 3rd from the back in cross country, usually puffing away at my inhaler & with a stitch or cramp. I guess PE lessons weren't very good as I loved swimming, cycling etc.

I'm on week 2 (!) & it's already easier than week 1. And my muscles hurt less. I'm still swearing at Sarah Millican quite a bit though...

I'm hoping it's going to help with weight loss, as diet has done fuck all. I did try running about 4 years ago but didn't get past week 1 as I got a migraine after every run. None so far this week! Which is unusual - I get a lot of migraines, normally. I'm hoping the endorphins or something is helping. I'm a lot better about my diet now though.

I am struggling on the hills. Even the gentle ones. So I'm sticking to the canal towpath for now. It's flatter, and it's gravelled so it'll be less treacherous in the icy weather. And it's quiet so there's less arseholes other people to dodge.

I need to take up yoga. I've always been naturally bendy. Worried about losing that. I'd like to be able to do the splits actually. Purchased yoga blocks & a mat a while ago, & I'm going to re-start doing Nintendo fitness boxing on my non-running days for an upper body workout. I used to do it a lot, pre-baby. Lots of fun. Baby is now 11...

My new new mantra is:
Treat my body as a temple, for I am a goddess.

So, no getting tipsy, or eating shitty cheap chocolate.
My name is ThreePoundsOfMeat and I'm a chocoholic, BTW.

Well done to everyone who has been, or is, a new runner post 40. Very inspiring.

I started with C25K in my mid forties and never looked back. My DH had gone back to running and cycling, and our DS's were (are still) very sporty and I didn't want to be the flabby middle aged woman sitting on the sofa eating chocolate. I am not fast, but can keep going for a long time, and have done 10Ks/HMs/marathons and most recently a 50k (and all the training means I can also sit on the sofa and eat chocolate).

I'm a big fan of parkrun as a brilliant way to start the weekend, make new friends and become part of a community, especially if you volunteer from time to time as well as run.

Your goals look great OP, keep going!

Absolutely. I know someone who started running at 43 and celebrated her 80th birthday by running the London Marathon.

I'm 49 and did c25k in 2012, since then I've done several half marathons, a couple of full marathons and this year my first ultra. It gets addictive but has helped me lose three stone and reverse type 2 diabetes.

Wow - some amazing stories here! Thank you all so much for sharing! I especially love the idea of celebrating my 80th birthday by running the London marathon!

I'm feeling good about my 5k in a few weeks and will look for a 10k to do in the spring. I'm pleased that I can aim for a half marathon in a couple of years.

@Grumpyold that’s really inspiring!

She ran Snowdon marathon at 84, but is struggling now at 87, walking with a stick, but she still takes her dogs out everyday.

I started in my 30s after having a baby, but in my 40s and having my best year of running yet. I've run a marathon and enjoyed it, and then moved on to speed work and have got new parkrun pbs.

I started watching running videos on youtube which explained more about technical structured sessions; I'd already known of them, but they've really been brought to life. And I've been using the full range on my features of my Garmin to help with that.

I do strength work too, and I'm finally really seeing gains on my weights work after a good burst of consistency. 2020-21 was too disrupted to get that consistency.

I've got a parkrun friend who started in her 60s, and there's one local chap who started walking parkrun at 95 and has been most weeks for 2 years!