Advice for Late Bloomers

I was frankly surprised to see a recent RunnersWorld poll asking how people got started running. Most began in school, probably high school, but certainly as kids. Not as many took up running “late in life”. I find myself again an outlier (maybe not quite of the Malcolm Gladwell sort).

I’ve had occasions to run throughout my life. Beyond the irrepressible urge to run as a child, I first tried deliberate running in high school. I had always been a cheerleader and was feeling the need to prove myself as “real” athlete. I went out for track, the only spring sport that didn’t involve a whole team relying on my expertise. I worked out with some gifted athletes. I was not one of them. But I did my wind sprints and hills and hurdles. In competition, I ended up throwing shot put and discus. Go ahead, laugh.

Then it was off to college. I was in Army ROTC, and PT (that’s physical training for you civilians)was a requirement that included running – and I hated it. I especially hated running in formation, as I was the shortest and slowest. I finally deliberately dropped a typewriter (oh yes children, those were the contraptions we used to write papers way back when I was in college) on my foot to get out of PT. A hairline fracture for a college student that spent a good deal of time hoofing it around grounds was actually preferable to forced running.

Random attempts to run in the name of getting in shape were short lived. I did successfully complete the W4MTP once 8 years ago and almost liked it, but I quit after the program ended. I wasn’t quite ready to commit. Now here I am, 44 years old, the most unlikely running enthusiast ever. While I could write volumes about what’s different now, suffice it to say, now is my time. So I have some tips for my fellow late bloomers out there:

Be patient. You will not be running marathons overnight – maybe never- but then again, maybe one day you will. Follow your training plan as precribed. You will not gain points for going do more than required. You will only increase your odds of injury and frustration. I remember thinking the first couple of weeks that I’d like to go faster, longer, do more. But guess what? It got challenging soon enough. I am happy to say that I completed the 4 miler training program and a half marathon training program and race without injury or even soreness.

Embrace rest as an important component of your training plan. Let’s face it, if you are a woman of a certain age, especially if you are not in your prime fighting form, your body is needs rest to recover. When you train, you push yourself just enough to create micro tears in your muscles. It is during recovery when your muscle repairs itself and adapts to the new workload. Rest is not slacker time, it is necessary time to grow in strength and endurance.

Be kind to yourself. This is the most important piece of advice of all, and the best that I myself received.You may be feeling self conscious about putting on shorts or anything stretchy or clingy, but let’s face it you are entitled to look the way you do. No matter whether you are 35, 43, 58 or 72, embrace the fact that your body is your lifelong companion and be kind to yourself. You deserve it.