As our life expectancy steadily increases, middle-age is not what it used to mean and folks in their fifties are hitting the pavement and staying active. Still, as we age, our bodies change and for runners in the 50+ category, there are some useful things to keep in mind.
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is even making a concerted effort to encourage this simple exercise for people in their fifties. Here are a few things to keep in mind for those starting to run a little later in life:
#1
Watch what you eat before you run and make sure to keep drinking while you’re at it.
#2
Don’t try any fancy footwork and keep your feet close to the ground. By keeping your feet low to the ground, your less likely to trip and you’ll put less pressure on your knees. No need to literally pound the pavement.
#3
Know your limits. You shouldn’t be huffing and puffing, there’s no need for that and biting off more than you can chew will risk injury. Try slowing down and keeping a pace that lets you catch your breath.
#4
Change things up by pausing for short walks during your run. Building up your stamina doesn’t mean that you need to be running the whole time. Short walks in the midst of a run can keep you active for longer without completely wiping you out.