In 2009, I turned 40 years old. In 2009, I ran my first organized 5K. This is what is called a positive correlation. The older I get, the more I need to run. During this first frigid affair, I ran with a friend, who at 24, was also running his first 5K. He crossed the finish line about 2 minutes ahead of me. I was pleased.
After the race, the race winners were announced. My friend took home a third place medal in his age group, whereas I finished 7th in my age group. He gloated a bit, having reached the podium on his first try, but I was content to check how I fared against the rest of my peers. It turns out I crossed the line ahead of 8 others my age, and I felt good. It fed the little competitive demon inside of me. My friend saw me, and followed suit. It turns out he managed to finish third in a group of three. It took a little of the wind out of his sails, but my point is not to deflate my friend’s accomplishments.
I recently turned 43. This birthday had a special meaning for me and my loved ones.
Starting a running program, especially for the “over 40″ crowd, can be daunting. Actually, it can be downright painful. We have a mile-long list of things to do and little time to complete it. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to find the time.
Just to be clear, I don’t run–I jog. When I lace up my shoes, I do so in the spirit of survival, not competition. I turned 40 a few years back, and like many men my age, I panicked. If you don’t believe me, just look at the results of any local 5K. The age groups really begin to stack up around 40 and above.