The Joy of Learning to Run as an Older Person

The following was written to Chris after she recently informed me of a new direction some of her work is taking. I would have loved such a focus group less than three years ago when I started learning to run.  Little did I know it would become my life-- and yes I am still working full time.

I definitely fit the demographic of Chris Jankins' new Baby Boomer active life focus!   You should see my FB posts related to being active!

I achieved all my running active goals this past year in spite of a stress fracture that had me in a boot cast from Dec. 2013 to March 11. I achieved my first Half Marathon on Sept. 28 in Concord and ran a 10 Miler Race leading up to it.  On Nov. 6 I get my Millennium Running Series jacket, completing 7 out of 8 races in that series. (jacket was earned if you did 6/8. The first one New Years Day, a mile, I did in my boot cast, not running of course but walking as fast as possible but I got a time and was not last!

To get back into run shape I led a very successful WeightWatchers group through C25K with the help of my friends from March 24 to Hollis Fast 5K in June.  Folks begged for another group this fall so we are doing a shortened version, we start week 3 Monday.

Wish I could be there on Monday but we run (in the dark) 6-7 PM.  Alas, Hampton still too far for me on a regular basis while I am still working. I am working with a trainer twice a month.

I was perfect for this target audience less than three years ago.  While I could not run I wrote a visual/photographic essay book about my running.  I have enough from this last year alone to do another.

I still would, as I told you, do another Chi Running workshop with you if time could ever work out.  I need to set a new goal(s) for myself. Not a marathon, but something that will allow me to improve my running form, time, hill work, intervals, and keep me in the ballpark of a 6-8 mi run distance at least once a week to keep that conditioning, improve my time for a next Half I will do sometime, and work toward maybe 20 miles sometime just to work toward something.  Have not figured the goal yet. Posture getting better but still not where I hope to get it.  Form can always need work.
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2 weeks ago I ran a 10K with a couple of my C25K group success stories and my spouse who does not run but walks some 5ks, walked the 10K race, why I include that picture.  He is 74, I am 69, why I pushed to achieve my Half before next summer's 70! Giggle.

Kathleen