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Jun7

Running in my 30s vs. Running in my 20s

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When I hit 30 almost two years ago, a lot of things changed. I had friends tell me that would happen, and course I didn’t believe them. But they were right. I became more confident. I had clarity of what I wanted in life — and what I didn’t. I started to understand my intrinsic value better. I trusted my decisions more. I made some big decisions that scared me. I started to see mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow. And I trusted in God’s timing more than ever. Oh, and I started using a retinol serum RELIGIOUSLY. Aging is beautiful but I’d like to slow its pace juuuust a little.

What I didn’t expect was a dramatic change in my running once I hit 30, but there were 5 things that majorly changed in that decade.

1. I need time to wake up before heading out for a morning run. 

I used to wake up and be out the door in 10 minutes to go for a run. Uhhh, not so much anymore. I need time for coffee, to have a little snack, to figure out what’s going on and to just wake-up! I don’t even know how I used to roll out the door so quickly. I blame it all on needing to wear contacts now (another new thing in my 30s – yay). 😉

2. I need pre-run fuel.

I used to run in the mornings on an empty stomach and had no problems. I still do this occasionally, but that’s very much the exception, and I almost always regret it. I need a snack of some sort, whether it’s a banana, a date or two, or one of these pre-workout snacks.

3. I need a warm-up. A real warm-up.

I used to hit the ground running and running pretty hard, literally and figuratively. I could hit my normal or goal pace pretty easily in mile 1. Since I hit my 30s, I need a solid 10 minutes (or at least one mile) to be warm enough to pick up the pace. You can see how my pace drops after I get going. Part of this is that the first mile of my route is very hilly, but it’s also majorly impacted by my muscles just needing time to get going.

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4. I prefer to run without headphones more often than not. 

Maybe in my 20s I ran to escape my problems, to clear my head, to stop thinking — and music helped me do that (I use this playlist and this playlist). Now I run to be with my thoughts. I brainstorm. I think about goals I’m working on or want to work on. I think about work and how to manage projects. I take in the world around me. I listen to nature. I think about how grateful I am. And the more I let my brain take over, the more my body just does its thing.

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5. I need more recovery — including rest days, yoga, stretching, and foam rolling. 

I definitely have to listen to my body more and I don’t just gut out workouts when I’m really not feeling it. I’ve learned the hard way that leads to injuries pretty quickly. (You can find the recovery tools I use on My Gear page.)

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On days when I just am not feeling a run, I like to take Maizey for an extra long walk or go to the driving range. I like to be active in some way everyday and those options don’t tax my legs like the pounding of running. And can you blame me? The view is excellent. 😉

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Have you noticed anything that’s change in your running as you’ve gotten older? 

 

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    5 responses to “Running in my 30s vs. Running in my 20s”

    1. Ha ha! Yes, you’ve got a nice view at the driving range. 😉 You guys are too cute.

    2. I’m the same age and I can agree to all of the above! I recently just learned the difference a good warmup can make to these “old” bones. The pre-run prepping is only going to get longer, isn’t it, haha!?

    3. Interesting post! I started running in my 30s, so I did not know any better 🙂 but the real change happened from 30s to 40s. I had two adorable babies between 38 and 40 and then did not have time to run or really exercise at all…. hence a wooping 45lbs weight gain… I gained a preschooler around my middle. I am just starting to run and work out again and it is a completely different ball game. In my head I am still a “125lb work out every day and always in half-marathon shape girl”, but the reality is a little different. Warm up, cool down, stretch, pacing myself, starting really small and being patient are all the realities of exercising in my “blossoming” years.

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