10 things I wish I'd known starting running: advice for older runners

When I was starting running in 2021, it took me 3 months of run/walking before I completed my first 5k two years ago. Since then I've built up to race 5k, 10k 10 mile half marathon and marathon races including a Boston Qualfying time in Valencia in December 2022. I've made a bunch of mistakes along the way , been injured a few times, run inefficiently but most of all I've had a great time and met a lot of new friends.

Older runners starting running face unique challenges. Our bodies are slower to adapt to new things and we injure more easily. As I look back on my two years of running, I've reflected on the main10 things I wish I'd known starting running. This summarizes those 10 lessons I've learned and I hope its useful advice for older runners or anyone just starting running

00:00 Introduction
00:22 Vary your running speeds when training
01:16 Pick your running shoes carefully
02:21 Yes you have to do strength training
03:13 It’s okay to stop for a break on long runs
04:02 Embrace the difficult days
04:53 Nutrition is really important for longer runs
05:56 Your brain plays tricks on you.
07:22 Rushing your training cycle is the road to injury
08:46 Races can give you a boost
09:29 It’s easier and more rewarding running with others

[bills.]

Pure gold for us older runners, thank you. You are exactly right, having a race scheduled while your training for a half or full marathon, even if only a 5K or 10K, gives a boost to your training, it's a shorter term goal on the way to achieving the long term goal. It just keeps your head in the game.

[markdyer]

A great presentation and I'm with you 100%. I had to devise a way of getting from the couch to 1 mile down the road before my brain realised what was happening so I have a completely friction-free pattern where I lay out my gear, front door key, Garmin fully charged, etc, etc; the first task is to mix my after run drink and then it's like dominoes falling, task after task, ignoring procrastination devices and aches. So instead of going for a run I think of just mixing my drink.

[mulchgranny]

I appreciate your advice . . . but what makes running fun for me is doing it shoe-less-ly :)