How Aging Impacts Runners’ Goals of Lifelong Running

Abstract

Running and jogging are listed as two of the most popular outdoor leisure activities for adults (The Outdoor Foundation 2017). Male and female adult runners attending a four-day workshop conducted by the authors from 2007–2018 indicated that learning how to be lifelong runners was their primary goal for attending the workshop. These recreational runners with an average age of 50 years, who attended one of the 20 workshops, were chosen for the study to see how successful they had been years later in pursuit of their goal of lifelong running and what changes in training and health they had incurred. The study surveyed workshop participants to examine their running frequency, injuries, body weight changes, and supplemental training as they aged. Among respondents there was no difference in the percentage who are still running with regard to age and sex. Comparisons of those runners 60 years old and over with those under 60 years of age were made to see if there were differences in how their running activities had changed over 10 years. Current runners 60 and older reported running “less frequently.” There was no significant difference in running interruption due to injury in those 60 and over compared to those under 60. Two-thirds of the runners had a normal BMI classification in strong contrast to national norms. Nearly ninety percent were cross-training to supplement their running. These former workshop participants have been able to continue their favorite physical activity and enjoy running after the age of 60 and beyond.