The returning runner…
Act 65 – Musings on how my body has changed…
Despite my max pre-marathon distance of 9 miles, I had pretty much cruised through the first 15 miles or so. Now, I was doggedly tailing two adult runners through the final 6 miles. It helped to match their pace. I awkwardly ticked one of their heels because I was running too close behind. “I’m sorry” I blurted embarrassingly. We were gradually slowing down but holding it together without complete collapse. I finished my first marathon at the age of 13 in 3:32 – just a touch over 8 minute miles. The Santa Barbara Marathon was scenic but it had some challenging hills. My dad had mentioned that I was going to run to the race director (John Brennand) and he had been mildly discouraging due to concerns with damage to a young runners joints and such. What’s crazy is that I even remember John Brennand’s name – I was 13 and never interacted with him on any other event. My sister has been digging through the family running “files” and keeps sending me pics and articles about past races. I’ve found it quite weird that, with a little prompt, so far I have remembered every race…
Ok, back to the focus of this blog – changes from a kid’s body to a 65+ body. I doubt if there are many runners who can comment on this. Back in the 1960’s (I ran my first race in 1964 as a 5-year-old) the running community was very, very small (women almost non-existent). So…pretty darn few who were running in the 1960s and who still are. I’ve been blessed. Despite the fears of John Brennand, my body seems to be holding together pretty durn well. Some thoughts:
· I had just as many (if not more) nagging injuries as an adolescent/teen-ager as I do now: Osgood-Schlatter, shin splints, Achilles pain, muscle pulls, and knee “clicks” were all frequent visitors. I may even have less injuries now. The Osgood-Schlatter pain was a constant throughout my teenage years…
· I have gotten slightly smarter and manage injuries better now and seem to recover more quickly.
My pulse for my college physical at 18 was 42. Today at 66, my resting pulse is consistently 40-45.
Throughout my teen years and early 20s, I couldn’t gain weight if I tried. Today, if I’m not running 40/week, I gain weight.
When I was 13, my standard, cruise, training pace was 8min/mile. Today, it’s 9:30/mile ish…
· I need to work much, much, much harder to run a 5:40 mile now than as a 13-year-old. Then, I could do it on 12 miles per week. Today it takes 40+.
· I recover from a race much, much slower than I did as a young punk. As a high-schooler I could race in an invitational meet the day after doubling in a dual meet. I was sore, but didn’t seem to affect me. At 65+ that just isn’t the case. When I race too soon after another race (or tough workout) I just can’t run smoothly enough to run fast. Max is 2 hard days within a week.
I’m interested in feedback from others who might have had much different experiences going from 13 to 65+!
Photo: Finishing my first marathon – the 1972 Santa Barbara.