Thoroughly Thriving

Ode to Adult Onset Runners

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There is a group of runners that hold a special place in my heart: Adult Onset Runners (AORs). While elite runners trained from youth are amazing and impressive, I am inspired more by the accomplishments of the many who run behind them, sometimes finishing marathons hours behind them.

Ode to Adult Onset Runners

If this is you, than you are glorious. Let me tell you why….

You Overcome Self-Doubt

You know what many people say when others talk about going for a run?

“Oh, I could never do that.”

You probably said that once. Maybe you still feel that way sometimes. Yet…at some point you decided to just go for a run!

2014-aor-doubt

No matter how slow or jiggly you might be, how out of breath and frustrated you might feel, you walked, jogged and ran and kept doing it. Even though you qualify your distances with words like “just” or your paces with words like “only”, you are still doing it!

You may still want to overcome the “I can never run FAST” doubt or “I could never run FAR” doubt. If you want too, you will. Whether you know it or not, you’ve opened up your mind for business…the business of overcoming self-doubt!

You Embrace Discomfort

In a world where people actively avoid being uncomfortable, you embrace it!

adult onset runner

Starting to run as an adult can feel like trying to hug a cactus. Tiny tingles and painful zings cover your body, and the more you press in the more intense they get! Some days it’s your neck and calves, and other days it’s coming from the inside of your thigh…somewhere. You get tired and achey.

All this and yet, you still run. Hopefully you’ve realized that running doesn’t feel “comfortable” for anyone, no matter how easy they make it look. Either way, you didn’t let the initial shock of all the discomfort stop you. The uncomfortable feelings are familiar, less distracting, and totally worth it.

Whether you know it or not, you’ve begun to learn a very important lesson!
[Read: Discomfort: A Skill for Running and Life.]

You Overcome Fear

Running with a “real runner.”
Running in a group.
Running a race.
At a track.
In public.

Any of these can flip the fear switch. Yet you constantly overcome them.

adult onset runner

Truthfully, runners at every level have fears. It’s a human thing. We fear stuff, rationally or not.

[READ: Fear Journal, Entry 1: Zombies]

While some let it paralyze them, you are actively learning to overcome. What you’ve done may seem pedestrian to you, but this is huge for a lot of people.

You Ignore Haters

Some folks say running is bad for you. Some say you’re not a runner unless you can finish a marathon in under 4 hours. Some make it a point to remind you about the negative sides to running. Or feel the need to explain to you why THEY hate running. Or laugh at your 13.1 bumper stickers. Or hint at how selfish it is.

“Well, I just couldn’t take time away from my family to train for a marathon.”

adult onset runner

“…I’m the man, I’m the man I’m the man. Yes I am. Yes I am….”

All runners have to ignore haters, but the hate seems particularly evil for AORs.
Those comments sting a little more, playing on your self-doubts and fears.

You’re not an elite runner, so what is the point?

If you don’t “look like a runner,” a very few people reserve a special kind of disbelief and condescending “concern” for you.

“You signed up for a marathon?
Wow, really? That’s brave…. Have you trained for it?
Well be careful. You have to really be in good shape to run a marathon.”

FORTUNATELY, the haters are scarce if you surround yourself with the right folks! You can seek the support and encouragement of a GIANT COMMUNITY of fellow crazy runners!

You Dare to Dream

adult onset runner

Being highly skilled in overcoming self-doubt, fears, and ignoring haters, sets you up to be a dream-making machine! Could be another race, a faster race, or a longer race. Often it goes beyond running.

Once you’ve ran farther and faster than you previously thought possible, you see how weak the boundaries of your current dreams are. You realize you’re capable of so.much.more. You find yourself dreaming bigger in your career, your relationships, your other personal goals.

“If I can finish a 50k, what else can I accomplish in life?”

You Inspire Others

Watching the winners of the Boston Marathon cross the finish inspires awe, but it doesn’t necessarily inspire non-runners to run, because elite runners aren’t your average person. Those runners are like super humans, right?

However, YOU are every day people. You ARE the 35 year old mother of 3 and lactose intolerant. You ARE the 65 year old retiree who decided to pick up running and finish a marathon in every state. You ARE the working professional who runs on his lunch break.

adult onset runner

You inspire because you show others it can be done.

You Understand

A runner is a runner, and yet there are things that AORs understand a little more intimately. The victory of finishing a 5k, even if it took 40 minutes. The confusion over running around a track. The awkwardness of your first date with a foam roller.

You know both sides: the non-runner perspective and the world of the initiated. You are critical for bridging the gap. You have to be. You’re probably married to a non-runner who is realizing that he/she is becoming a minority in your social circles.

adult onset runner

You may never run a marathon, but you can make running accessible. You can talk with new runners about what they’re going through because you went through it as an adult. You’ve had the body aches and tried the remedies and recognized patterns in how you run and recover. You still don’t have all the answers, but you understand the whole wonky process.

[Read: Phases of My Long Runs.]

You are the best ambassadors for the sport!

 

To My Running Family:

To Team in Training:
Of all the amazing things Team in Training does, I especially love how they create AORs en masse. I was still “young”, joining TNT at 24, I was still insecure about running. I avoided running as a kid because I had bad feet [read about that here], and I couldn’t run a mile because I’d hyperventilate. While I still have bad feet and must constantly focus on my breathing, I can run and like to run and that is amazing to me.

To my friends, you know who you are:
It’s unnecessary to name names, but there are a few friends who have come to me for advice or questions on running. The more this happens, the more I realize how common our frustrations and doubts are. So I wanted to write this for us.

 

Where does this term “Adult Onset Runner” come from?

I think I heard it from John Bingham first. I take it to mean anyone who did not run in school (aside from what was required of all children) but started running for whatever reason as an adult, often after college and kids and maybe even a disturbing doctor visit or two.

Have you heard of the term “Adult Onset Athlete?” Roy Benson says this:

“Years ago I coined the term ‘adult-onset athletes.’ I wanted to describe runners who had never participated in sports in school and who had probably never learned to respect the wisdom of seasons. These runners would not have benefited from coaching that taught the importance of phasing in the separate periods of: 1) conditioning; 2) competing; 3) peaking for championship performances; 4) and then taking at least a couple of weeks of active rest to recover.”

–RunnersWorld.com “Owner’s Manual: No Substitute for LSD”

Roy is right. Adult Onset Runners approach running differently than those who ran in school. Not all of us want to be faster or set personal records. We may get lost trying to read articles written by athletes for athletes. If we want to learn more, it can be overwhelming to realize we know so little about heart rate and VO2 max and lactate threshold. God help us if we google “How to be a faster runner.”

To the AOR, there can be some “mysteries” about training and racing that we have to learn on our own if we even care to learn them at all. Yet, while we may not always train as smart, run as fast, or know all the jargon, we do have a separate set of skills and accomplishments that make us equally proud to be runners!

Hire me as a coach!

If you’re struggling with improving your run, I work with a few clients as an online running coach. I’ve helped clients drop their walk breaks, run their first or fastest marathon, and generally navigate the struggle that is life vs running. Click here to learn more about my experience and services!

 

Read More:

Ode to Partner Running

How to Become a REAL Runner in 3 Easy Steps

Figure out your Long Run Fuel Needs

Don’t Die After You Run: A Long Run Recovery Timeline

Short Fully Body Workout for Post Run!

 

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Comments

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  2. This is so true. I have noticed huge changes in my life just from running – realizing that sometimes when I say I “can’t” do something, it just means I’m not actually willing to try.

    Funny/inspiring/awesome article 🙂 thanks!

    Reply

  3. I love this post! I started running at the age of 57 and with a recent birthday that pushed me into a new age group, hope to qualify for Boston this year! It will not be a sub 4 hour marathon, but hey, at age 60, a 4:25 or better will do the trick! Thanks for a really great read!

    Reply

  5. Have you been following me? Inspiring others is my favorite part…and community to inspire/motivate me, like RTY! 🙂
    Being 40 and in the best shape of my life rocks! (I can share some of my 10 yr old daughters clothes!)

    Reply

  6. Loved this! Just turned 55, cancer survivor, started running a year ago. Did my longest today at 9 miles. Training for my first half. Best physical shape of my life, and running is adding life to my years!

    Reply

    • Rachel, thank you so much for the comment! My cancer survivor comic is based off the woman who leads our Team in Training family and though I probably don’t remember the details (her age, how long she’s survived cancer, and how many marathons she has completed) exactly, that was the exact conversation that got J and I to sign up to train for our first marathon. Like her, I am sure you inspire and give hope to more than just adults who want to run, but also to cancer fighters hoping to live well! Absolutely amazing.

      Reply

  7. Thank you so much! I never knew I had a name! I started running a year ago. I’m 50 now, still struggling to only run a 5k but I’m gonna get there.

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  8. This article made me laugh! I started running at the age of 36, I was inspired by my brother and in turn I have dragged a few friends into running with me as well. It really has changed my life in SO many positive ways. BTW – that cactus being hugged is hilarious!

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  9. I started running because of team in training too I had the best team! So encouraging! I had the fear of high school going in that they would judge me and be fake and I wouldn’t fit in. But I was so wrong. I had people celebrtaing my progress, missing me when I was gone, and I rocked my first half marathon exceeding my expectations for myself! That was in 2012 and two years later I’m getting back on the train and scheduled to run another May 18! Totally relate to this blog post! Yeah solidarity!

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  10. I actually teared up reading this article and can identify with every single word!! Thank you so much for writing it!! Do you mind if I use one of your images for my FB cover photo?

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  11. I started running at 40. I used to always say “I only run when chased.”
    I’m training for a Sub-2hr Half marathon in April, and eyes on my first marathon this fall.
    So far, I’ve infected my wife, a friend, and my sister with the bug. You are right that it is infectious. I love to watch it spiral out, when those I inspired then inspired others.
    I think I’ll go hug a cactus now. 🙂

    Reply

  12. It’s nice that people recognize that there is such a large subset of us “runners”- and it’s an effort for us to call ourselves that. We pay our fees and run towards the middle (some of us- back middle) and we feel like winners.

    The negativity warning is right on, I have been running for about 14 months now, and did my first marathon in Dec., the two most common comments I get: “Did you finish?”- um, duh. or “How long a marathon?” Didn’t know there were options.

    Now if I could just take one minute off my trail mile….

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  14. I love this post!! I started running after three children at the age of 31, I often find myself comparing my pace and accomplishments to those who have been running their whole lives. I’m not going to do that anymore thanks to this post! I may be a turtle, but a determined one!!

    Reply

    • Sarah, thank you so much for the comment! It’s hard not to compare ourselves to each other. The problem is that if often leaves us feeling inadequate and you have a lot to be proud of!

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  16. I started running at 42 (4 years ago) with TNT also–a fantastic organization on so many levels. Running has changed my life and I am so proud to be an AOR. My second marathon is in 6 weeks. Thanks for an article that is truly spot on!

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  17. I ran for 22 years as a soldier in the US Army. The point was to run faster, harder, and longer in order to prepare for the rigors of combat. It broke my body down and wasn’t enjoyable and I thought I’d never run again after retirement.

    Well, I did take a break for a few months but started feeling less energetic. I got back out there, ran my own pace, and actually enjoy the runs now. My focus is on the road and putting one foot in front of the other. The point is no longer to challenge kids half my age but to just ‘run my own race’.

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  18. Love it! Now I only wish the athletic clothing companies would also recognize that 5’3 165 lb 54 year old women can run and make clothes for them!!!

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    • Yeah, but the clothing companies don’t make regular clothes for athletic people. I’m tall, muscular with a thin waist (sounds like I’m bragging but it’s true and it is necessary to mention it here). There aren’t any dress shirts that fit both my shoulders and my waist. Unless the suit comes in separates, I can’t get a jacket to match the pants and vice versa. Even then, there’s usually some tailoring. The jeans in my waist size are always too short. So yeah, I get where you’re coming from, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that life is perfect for everyone else.

      Reply

  19. This was linked from a Facebook group, abd I wanted to say thank you. I am a new AOR. I started last March, being overweight and my wife looked at me like I was crazy and told me later she didn’t think I would stick with it. I completed the C25K program and raced my first 5K in June. I continued running and have gone through slumps in motivation, completed a 10K in October, and I am happy to say, my first Half two weeks ago at the Disney Tinkerbell weekend. I had a time of 2 hours and 49 minutes. Not elite be any means, but a drastic accomplishment for me.
    Thank you for the wonderful post. It is inspiring.

    Reply

  20. I’m also proud to be an AOR. As encouragement to anyone still on the fence about running, my experience has been that the running community at large is welcoming regardless of age or ability.

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  21. I wouldn’t call myself a dedicated runner, but I’ve been waddling myself around sporadically for a few years now. I did a couple of 5k races and one day decided I could totally do a 10k. Yep, I was going to do it. I just didn’t realize that the level of runner kind of goes up exponentially after you leap out of the 5k. I was sorely outmatched and the only reason I didn’t come in last was because my boyfriend stayed with me the whole time and let me run ahead of him across the finish line! It could have been the most discouraging day of my life if it weren’t for the other runners. People who were high-fiving me on the out-and-back course. Knowing full-well I was poised to come in last, they cheered for me like I was a champion. And people coming up to me afterward to tell me I was inspiring because I didn’t give up. Me, inspiring? I don’t know about that, but that day made me realize that runners are a special breed, and you don’t have to be elite to join them.

    Reply

    • Trish, that is beautiful and true. Most of us run “against” ourselves as opposed to competing against others. And so, in that regard, you weren’t outmatched. You were there to do a 10k because you had decided to do it, and you did. That is the kind of spirit and determination that runners of every ability can find inspiring.

      Reply

  23. This is wonderful. Thank you for validating my experiences so far. I am an AOR! My goal for this year is to learn to run a whole 5k without stopping. I’ll get to the others later, but I’m trying to be injury free this year. A 5k without stopping is a good goal for now. Thank you again. (Maybe I need a cactus, too.)

    Reply

  24. Thanks for sharing this article, I love it and relate to it 100%! I am one of the AOR since 2012. It is so good to have a great online community to supportive runners who make this journey more bearable!

    thanks

    Reply

  25. This is awesome and so inspiring, and I don’t just think it’s just for people who run but for any of us “older” people who decided to get active later in life and try new things. I didn’t run my first 5k until I was 36 and I had to walk most of it. I started training in a martial arts class at 37 when most people start as young kids or teenagers. I didn’t even walk into a gym for the first time until I was 37 (and I love it!). But now here I am, 40+ pounds lighter and constantly looking for the next crazy event to sign up for (I seem to now be obsessed with adventure runs and obstacle courses, lol). I’m doing more now in my late 30s than I ever did as a teenager. And to think people believe that life gets more boring the older you get. Ha! Not true. 🙂 – Maggi

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  26. I enjoyed this article. Thank you for sharing. I’m not an AOR . . . yet. I’m still wrapping my head around the idea I never entertained in my youth. Now as a divorced single parent of a 4 year old and over 40 I’m looking at many things differently.

    Reply

    • Juanita, you are welcome! I won’t tell you that you should start running, but I will say that if/when you want too and are ready, let me know! There are MANY ladies out there like yourself who would love nothing more than to encourage you and share tips as a running single mom or a runner starting in their 40’s and 50’s and yes, even 60’s! If you want to get connected or ask questions, there is a whole wide world that would be thrilled to be a resource to you! 😀

      Reply

  27. Great article! Very encouraging! I find myself with the self doubt a lot and am working on getting through the “I Can’ts” one at a time

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  28. This is awesome! I ran my first 5k a year and a half ago at age 40 after loosing over 100 pounds. Since then I’ve done a gazillion of them, some 10k’s and contemplating a half. Running has been revolutionary for me… And my family. My 11 year old found a new passion and is quite speedy, and my little girls (6,5,&3) love doing fun runs. It’s a once a month family event with my husband being the family cheerleader. In addition to running being great for our whole family, we have meet the nicest people through this amazing sport! Thanks for such a great post… Makes me feel like I belong in the group!!!

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  29. I started running a year ago at 47. Not quite to a 5k yet but it is on the horizon. Thank you for writing this article! I also struggle with self doubt and reading this has inspired me to push harder 🙂

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  30. OMG! Love this! Didn’t start running until I was in my 30s, and speed is definitely not my forte. However, it’s not really my goal either. I’m just always happy that when I do it, I have the drive and
    the motivation to get it done! Just happy to be doing it whether I’m fast or slow.

    Reply

    • However as an addendum to my last comment, I have completed a few 5K’s, a couple of 10K’s and a mini. And as an AOR, I’m pretty proud of those accomplishments.

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  31. Great post! I hated running in high school and would never have believed that I’d become an AOR. I started running in my early 30s and never looked back!

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  32. I have been walking 5k races for years, as well as half marathons and marathons. Just recently I started adding a little running to my races and I have to say, I have become an adult onset runner! It’s fulfilling to me in a way that walking never was. I am 56 and about 70 pounds overweight and I have found nothing but support and love in the running community. Many of my friends are runners now. It’s a wonderful world. My goal, like many here, is to run an entire 5k this year without having to walk any of it. Since I do one every week, the odds are good that it will happen.

    Reply

  33. Great post 🙂

    I was an avid distance runner in childhood through end of high school (All-league, etc etc). I also smoked 2 packs a day then, which I guess you can do when you’re an invincible teen ha ha (Although I stopped smoking at 19 and took up the sport of heavy beer drinking in college). I stopped running at 18 and didn’t pick it up again until I was 26.

    It was amazing and humbling experience

    When I stopped running I was at the top of my game, running 5K in 15:30 or so, etc etc. When I started at 26, in my mind, I was still an 18 year old runner… Reality came crashing in when I couldn’t even finish 1/2 mile without being winded. I basically had to start from scratch, and just slowly got back into shape. I’m now 37, and have been running since then – with various intensity depending on life events. Last year, I tried to get back into 18 year old running shape, and managed to get my time down to 6:30 average during 10K races, and was heading to under 6, until injury sidelined me. What is great, however, is that I know I can do it – And I do it only for me – Not to compete with anyone else. Running is that unique sport where you can compete against others – but for me – the real competition is against myself, and how far I want to go 🙂

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    • Wow! That had to be a tough reality check, starting again at 26. Sad to hear about the injury, but awesome to hear you’ve been running for 11 years now and found a new love for it!

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      • Thanks 😉 Injuries are… something that all athletes have to deal with. I am just thankful that I was only stupid about mine for a little while before realizing I could be ending all of my competitive running forever if I didn’t rest and let it heal – for the right amount of time.

        Reply

  35. Enjoyed the article. I started distance running and ran my first half marathon just before my 40th b-day. And now I’m utterly hooked and celebrating 5 years and 25 halfs and 5 full marathons (with 14 more planned this year alone).

    Reply

  36. Love this post. Thank you for it. I currently am a leader of a running group called Moms RUN This Town and deal with everything you mentioned on a daily basis with my members. Many have been running for years, and some are just picking it up after their 3rd/4th babies. This is a great reminder for them and it will be passed along in the group!

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  39. WHEW……..MOVED TO SAN LUIS PERU LAST APRIL…….RUNNING BY MYSELF…….AT AGE 73……..I WISH SOMEONE WOULD RUN AS SLOW AS I AM RUNNING…..NO LUCK SO FAR……..SO I DO REPEATS OF ONE AVENUE TO ANOTHER……RAN 12 OF THEM IN 80 mins…….I THINK SOMEONE WILL WATCH ME AND SOMEDAY JOIN ME IN A LAP!!!!!!!

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  40. My daughter share this article with me … because I too am an Adult Onset Runner! From ages 45-48, every year I kept saying “this is the year I’m going to get off the couch and get fit enough to run 1 mile without stopping. At 49, and I got fed up and firmly declared I WOULD to so before my 50th birthday – period! I though it was going to kill me (lol), but I did it!! And immediately after, my daughter challenged me to a 5K. I almost smacked her (just kidding!!!). But what do you know, I completed my 1st EVER 5K in 2010, and have done 5 since. I’m still working on being able to jogging all 3 miles straight, and thanks to your article I’m inspired to set that as a goal for 2014. Thank you for defining AOR as admirable, regardless of where you are in your journey to health!!

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  41. Love love love this article which you wrote especially for me, right?!!! Started running a few days after my 60th birthday last September, as part of a group here in New Delhi, and within 10 weeks we went from 0-6km and all took part in a section of the Delhi half-marathon, and we are all still running and training together. We now have our eyes fixed on the next half marathon itself. Have never felt better. Have made lovely new (way younger) friends, and to know that we have an official moniker AOR is fabulous!!

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  43. Thank you for this. Started walking/running at 64. Been training for 12 weeks. First half marathon coming up in two weeks and I’m just as excited as I am scared. This helped. Even last place will be a win for me as long as I finish. Wish me luck.

    Reply

    • Marlene, how exciting! Your first half! It’s awesome that you are scared – because that means you picked a challenging goal. I love it when people pick challenging goals! Good luck and I hope you enjoy every mile of your half in 2 weeks!

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  46. Passing this on to a friend of mine who recently started running and just did her first ‘mini-triatholon’ and was terrified of the swimming portion. Your encouragement is wonderful.
    #SITSBlogging

    Reply

  47. I became an AOR last year at age 59. I’ve always been fit, but decided I needed to bump up my level of fitness last spring. I did the C25K program slowly and ran four 5K’s last year. I’m not fast, but the adrenaline from running is fabulous. I can’t wait for the snow to all melt away so I can start running outside. The treadmill running is pretty boring. Looking forward to more races this year.

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  48. I identify with most of the above. I don’t get the “hater” thing. No one I’ve ever spoken to has been in the least bit negative. I don’t think that it is only because I have the runner “look”. My wife doesn’t have the look, and she gets a truckload of praise every time she posts about her training. “Amazing”, “Awesome”, “Wow” – that kind of thing. For her – not much praise my way. I have the “look”, so I get overlooked, I guess?

    I get hung up on people (I think they’re trying to give me praise) who say “I can’t even run a half a mile without throwing up!” I don’t ever have a response. “Thanks” doesn’t work. “I ran 26 miles and I’m ok” sounds like I’m insensitive. “You should try it” seems like I’m encouraging them to vomit. I just wish they’d drop the self pity and tell me that they’re thinking of doing a 5K or something.

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  49. I just wanted to say thank you so much for this article and I am most definitely an adult onset runner 🙂 I am not fast but I have heart and I have truly fallen in love with long distance or endurance running as I like to call it. I feel that there is an incredible amount of emphasis placed on being fast or the only runners who matter are classified as the elites who have been blessed with talent as well as physiques designed to run – and it is easy to get discouraged. I did not run in high school actually I was a classically trained ballerina and I was not allowed to run as it would develop muscles that were not in line with ballet, and then I joined the military were we did run alot but it was definitely not for fun, I have deployed to Afghanistan, an a survivor of anorexia and bulimia, and have been through my shares of trials and tribulations . . . and now I am a runner and every day I get to run it is a gift and something I do not take for granted – I am not talented or designed to run but I do it and feel a sense of great accomplishment when I complete a long run – even though it may have taken me an hour longer than what most would categorize as a serious runner. I have also been through a number of injuries to include a Morton’s neuroma and plantar fasciitis and that still does not deter me from running – I commend all those middle of the pack runners with the smile on their faces who really truly know what it takes to train and accomplish a race no matter the distance or time. It takes guts to be an adult onset runner and I intend to keep running for as long as I can. Thanks again for the great article.

    Reply

  50. I missed this the first time around but I’m so glad you linked to it again because that’s me!! I’m an AOR!!! I started at 34 and everything you wrote is true! I love this. You’re awesome Tiffany 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  2. […] Ode to Adult Onset Runnersfrom Running Hutch It goes without saying that I really love Tiffany’s blog Matters of Course. She always has some interesting and fun post. I loved this especially being of the AOR category, sort of. If for nothing other than to put a smile on your face and realize that no matter when you started running or how old you were that you are a Runner and that you are much more confidant than those spring chickens just getting started. […]

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