"You don't stop running because you get old. You get old because you stop running. I used to think that you would just get better and better with age until you're about 28, and then you would get worse and worse. But as I've gotten older, I've learned that isn't true. In fact, I ran my fastest marathon at age 44."
"Of course, there are certain things that decline in a runner's life, as they do for everyone. Over the years, your bone density deteriorates, your VO2 max goes down, and you're more likely to get a little injured here or there. But while that happens, there are things that get better. We gain mitochondrial efficiency, for example, and most importantly, we get wiser."
Running functions as a tool for personal growth, testing limits and prompting transformation through sustained effort. Physical declines such as lower bone density and reduced VO2 max occur with age, but parallel gains arise: mitochondrial efficiency, accumulated wisdom, refined training knowledge, and improved habits. Sustained running can maintain performance across decades and even produce late-life improvements, as exemplified by achieving a fastest marathon at age 44. Struggle, aging, and trauma can become constructive forces when motion and discipline are maintained, allowing individuals to move forward despite biological and situational headwinds.
Read at Fast Company
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