The maturity of a true runner does not lie in who he is racing against, but in whether he can run a longer distance steadily while keeping his body healthy.
Running, a seemingly simple sport, actually contains profound philosophy. It has attracted countless people’s hearts inadvertently, but it also makes people easily lose their original intention in the pursuit, ignoring the true meaning of running – strengthening the body, rather than blindly pursuing speed.
Therefore, the essence of running does not lie in the speed, but in whether one can enhance one’s endurance, strength and toughness through persistent exercise, and achieve a comprehensive improvement of body and mind. This is the true meaning of “strength” in running.
We often see some “aggressive middle-aged runners” who work hard to train for PB, even get injured and ruin their bodies. But real running is not about running hard, and you don’t need to risk your life to run. No matter how “good” you are at running, don’t do the following two stupid things to avoid unnecessary harm to your body.
Pursue speed and work hard for PB
With age, the body’s recovery ability gradually decreases. Blindly pursuing speed will not only increase the risk of injury, but also cause excessive fatigue and affect overall health.
Middle-aged runners should aim for endurance and no injury, reasonably adjust their running pace, and avoid competing with young people in speed. When people reach middle age, their physical functions gradually decline, and this natural law cannot be reversed.
At this age, runners should pay more attention to the role of running in promoting physical and mental health, rather than breakthroughs in speed. The pursuit of speed can easily make the human body’s kinetic energy and flexibility unable to keep up, which may greatly lead to fatigue fractures, muscle strains and other injuries, which will not be worth the loss.
In addition, high-speed running requires higher cardiopulmonary function and muscle explosiveness. For middle-aged people, a short high-speed run may increase the burden on the heart and even cause cardiovascular problems. In contrast, insisting on constant low-to-medium-intensity running can not only effectively promote the improvement of cardiopulmonary function, but also enhance endurance and maintain physical vitality.
Middle-aged runners should pay more attention to the stability and safety of running, rather than blindly pursuing personal records. Although regular speed training is necessary, it must be done within one’s ability and not excessive. During the running process, you should also pay attention to listening to the body’s feedback, reasonably arrange the intensity and frequency of training, and avoid putting too much burden on the body.
Run every day, accumulate running volume
For middle-aged runners, pursuing running volume is something that needs to be treated with caution. Accumulating a large amount of running mileage is not only meaningless, but may also bring unnecessary burden to the body.
High-intensity, long-term running may cause serious wear and tear on joints and bones, increasing the risk of injury. This not only makes running lose its original health benefits, but may also lead to the occurrence of various chronic injuries.
Long-term and large-scale running, especially for those runners who have not undergone proper training, may cause problems such as knee arthritis and plantar fasciitis. The recovery time of these injuries is long, and sometimes even affects daily life.
Middle-aged runners should pay more attention to the quality of running, rather than simply pursuing an increase in mileage. While running, strength training is also a very important part.
Many runners often ignore the importance of strength training and are only satisfied with daily clocking in and running 5 kilometers or 10 kilometers.
Strengthening muscles through strength training can effectively reduce the chance of injury during running. It can not only improve running efficiency, but also improve running posture, which helps to reduce various problems caused by poor running posture.
Middle-aged runners should pay more attention to the scientific nature and balance of exercise. Only by combining strength training and scientific running methods can you enjoy running while minimizing the risk of injury and maintaining physical health and vitality.
Middle-aged runners need to pay special attention to diet and rest to ensure that the body can withstand the load brought by running. Eat well to run well. If you feel tired, you can appropriately reduce the running distance and frequency to avoid overtraining. Arranging one or two rest days a week is also an important means to ensure physical recovery.
Psychological adjustment
Runners should maintain a calm mind during running and not be troubled by results and pace. Proper psychological adjustment can not only enhance the fun of running, but also reduce anxiety and stress, and promote physical and mental health. Especially with age, the body’s recovery ability and tolerance will decline, so it is particularly important to set realistic and achievable goals.
1. Running should be a pleasure rather than a burden.
Don’t focus all your attention on results and speed, but rather experience the process of running, nature and the feeling of releasing stress. You can try running in different environments, such as parks, trails or the beach, which can make running more interesting and diverse.
2. Learn to appreciate every little progress you make.
Whether it is running farther, breathing more smoothly, or strength training, it can be your motivation to continue working hard, rather than blindly pursuing higher speeds and better results. This will not only keep you in a positive state of mind, but also give you more satisfaction in running.
3. Running with like-minded runners is also an effective way to adjust your mental state.
By sharing running experiences with others and encouraging each other, you can greatly enhance your running motivation and pleasure. When you feel that running is not only a personal sport, but a collective activity, the sense of belonging and accomplishment will double.
Running should focus on science and health, and not blindly pursue speed and running volume. Remember: running is not for competition, but for better enjoyment of life. I hope every runner can go further and run longer on the road of scientific running.
