Older Runner, Better Runner: Be A Badass On Marathon Day At Any Age

Joined a running group: There are running clubs all across the country that will meet the needs of runners of all levels. The NYC Galloway Club became my go-to group for more than just having company on the weekly long training rains. They were — and are — my community, the voice of reason when I doubted myself, the supplier of solid info on socks, bras, and energy gels, and one of the greatest weekly gifts I give myself, better than any therapy session.
Didn’t let physical discomfort stop me: My arthritis is now a given. It’s a part of my life but I won’t let it stop me. It’s not debilitating or particularly painful, but a presence that can sometimes make itself known, especially when it gets cold. In fact, I urge all my friends (and my mother, too) to fight the urge to stop doing things they feel passionate about because of common physical conditions, like arthritis. Whether it’s exercise, playing music, or knitting (another one of my passions, even though I have a bit of arthritis in my thumb, too!), it’s critical to keep doing what we love to do, especially as we get older. Take a look at the video below, and prepared to be inspired to keep going, no matter what.
Ran 30 miles: This was a huge accomplishment for me. I took Jeff Galloway’s advice to heart and scheduled a 30-mile training run a few weeks ago — my longest ever. It made me think that running the 26.2 marathon will be a walk in the park by comparison. Maybe an ultra-marathon is in my future?
Entered shorter races: To stay competitive and motivated, I entered and ran in shorter races during my six-month training period — 5K, 10K, half marathons, sometimes with my daughters. They were a great complement to the general training I was doing, and helped me forge new friendships with people in the running community. I’ve already decided to make running shorter races a regular part of my life in 2017 and beyond to stay fit and have fun. And after all, who doesn’t like getting a medal?