- The years bring more awareness: with the right approach you can continue to improve, run strong and stay fit at any age.
- Train the body you have today: listen to yourself, adapt loads and prevent injuries. You are no longer a 20-year-old but you are definitely more experienced.
- Build your sports retirement: every conscious choice today is an investment in running well, healthy and happy tomorrow.
The years go by but the desire to run and improve never goes away. Those who have an athletic background, of more or less high level, have a tendency to maintain an athlete’s mentality, regardless of age. We set ambitious goals and work hard to reach them. And that’s not just okay, it’s exactly how it should be. Don’t let the number of candles on your birthday cake hold you back. With the right mindset and approach, you can reach new athletic goals and keep improving at any age.
Don’t train like a 20-year-old
The foundation is adopting a smart training plan that fits who you are today. You can’t expect to follow the same program you did when you were younger, because chances are, you’re a different person in many ways (and I said “different,” not “older”, let’s move beyond the number on your ID). Even if you don’t realize it, your body has changed and it responds differently to training stimuli. You need to take care of it, and now more than ever, you need to listen to the signals it gives you. Running should make you feel good: if it doesn’t, take a rest day and recover. Otherwise, you risk breaking yourself down instead of building yourself up.
Prevent rather than cure and never underestimate the signs
If when you are young you can afford to ignore a little sudden discomfort, if I were you I would avoid it if you are not so young anymore. Signs should always be listened to right away, before they turn into pain and force you to stop. Preventing the onset of certain issues is possible. How? For example, by simply stretching to keep muscles and tendons mobile and flexible since they tend to lose elasticity over the years. Using foam rollers on a regular basis is also a good habit to adopt, as is booking a massage from a professional from time to time to get rid of tensions built up over the course of workouts.
Build your athletic retirement plan
Throughout our lives we work and part of what we earn we put aside to build our retirement. Similarly, playing sports consistently over the years allows us to build our athletic retirement, from which our bodies will draw when we are no longer shavers. What you are and what you do today will determine the kind of athlete you will be in future years. Keep in mind that every workout well done, every choice made wisely is an investment in your future.