Finishing up a half marathon with my friend Sarah A few days after my 30th birthday I was out on a long run with my friend Sarah when I felt some aches and pains. “Oh no!” I wailed, “I’m getting old! My body is falling apart on me!” Slightly shocked, she looked me right in the eyes and said, “No. You’re in your prime.” I couldn’t decide if she was just being a nice friend or if she knew something I didn’t.
So when I got home I started to research. Do you know what I found? Thirties IS apparently the prime for women. According to several articles I found online females in their thirties have prime cardiovascular health and the ability to maintain the strength of their twenties for another twenty years. It isn’t until you’re fifty years-old that you need to begin to double your recovery time after hard workouts or hard runs.
So when I got home I started to research. Do you know what I found? Thirties IS apparently the prime for women. According to several articles I found online females in their thirties have prime cardiovascular health and the ability to maintain the strength of their twenties for another twenty years. It isn’t until you’re fifty years-old that you need to begin to double your recovery time after hard workouts or hard runs.
I decided that it was my mindset that had me thinking negatively and focusing in on my aches and pains was what was making them worse. I needed to have the mantra that no matter what age I was, I was going to tell myself, “I’m in my prime!” You really can find positives for any age. For example I am much more disciplined and mentally tough than I was as a teenager or even in my twenties. Right now in my thirties if I was toeing the line with my 16 year-old self I’m sure I’d not only win, I’d run circles around my younger me. The determination and focus I’ve gained over the years has helped my training and now I’m stronger both mentally and physically.
Work hard and results will follow. There are a lot of other females in the world, particularly female distance runners who are peaking not in their thirties, but in their forties. They show that age really is just a number. What is more important is how you treat your body and what tasks you expect it to attempt and accomplish. Here are links to just a few of them and their stories.
Tina Husted, Age 43
Jo Pavey, Age 42
Pam Reed, Age 48
I challenge you to take on this mantra no matter your age, “I’m in my prime.” With determination, focus and hard work any goal you set before yourself IS possible.
Happy Running!
Kelly
Tina Husted, Age 43
Jo Pavey, Age 42
Pam Reed, Age 48
I challenge you to take on this mantra no matter your age, “I’m in my prime.” With determination, focus and hard work any goal you set before yourself IS possible.
Happy Running!
Kelly
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