By: Jade Dallas
The Changing Face of Endurance Running
Age no longer a barrier for endurance athletes!
Back in 1962 Bill Bowmen and Arthur Lydiard (coach of Olympic Gold Medalist Peter Snell) created the concept of a jogging club. In 1966 Bill collaborated with cardiologist W.E.Harris to create a joggers manual entitled 'Jogging' and from these initiatives the jogging phenomenon is said to have begun!.
In 2010 jogging has hit epidemic levels with record numbers participating in major running events all over the world. In conjunction with this, a surprising statistic has emerged with the majority of athletes winning these events falling into the 30-40 year age bracket. More than 40% of female finishers in last year's New York Marathon were over 40. More amazing is that the first four female finishers were between 34 and 41 years of age. According to organisers of our local Shoe Clinic Harbour Capital Marathon, similar trends were also witnessed here with over 60% of all entrants between 30-50 years of age.
Are the older generation taking over endurance running?
Physiologically it is proven that endurance can be maintained well into your twilight years. This coupled with people's growing knowledge and concern for health and well-being, could be part of the answer to this puzzle.
The longer we work at doing something the more resilient our body becomes at doing it, so it makes sense that older generations have more resilience and arguably more tenacity to compete in and complete endurance based events.
Unfortunately it does not make Marathons any easier to do, in fact quite the contrary, as our strength and power naturally begin to decline as we age. This means an older runner will have to work harder to slow down this degeneration, while simultaneously growing their aerobic capacity. The best way to do this is by following a resistance training programme aimed at building your strength endurance and core control, while recognising the importance of investing time in a regeneration and recovery plan.
The benefits of jogging are endless, especially for those starting out at a beginner’s level, so why not get started! Here are some tips to help you build jogging into your lifestyle:
- Begin with power walking- gradually bring your fitness level to a point where you can start jogging short distances. Always begin your session with a few warm-up exercises to prepare your muscles and get your heart rate up.
- Get a training ‘buddy’- this will help you stay motivated, accountable and committed. The company is usually pretty nice too!
- Dress appropriately- wear bright clothes so you are visible to cars and other pedestrians.
- Wear the right footwear – the guys and girls at the Shoe Clinic will find that shoe the supports your style and fits you best.
- Be consistent- Regular aerobic workouts increase blood flow and assists the body in eliminating toxins. To get the best results and most enjoyment, commit to 3 sessions a week of about 30 minutes each.
- Stretch- Make sure you stretch after each session to increase blood flow to your muscles, reduce muscle soreness the next day and prevent injury.
- Enjoy it- Don’t look at jogging as a chore that you have to do. Look forward to your session as something therapeutic and relaxing. It’s your time, so enjoy it!
No matter what your age, it’s time to find a new lease on life and join the jogging phenomenon. Like millions of others, you might actually enjoy it!
