And to train smart. How fast you do it becomes proportionately less important as you grow older. If runners are a bit schizophrenic about aging it s no wonder. Swallowing the psychological pill of age can be depressing, but it s washed down with the natural high of competing on the young end of a brand new age group. That exhilaration is probably the greatest when you turn the big four-oh and officially become a master.
Most accomplished runners find their competitive juices still flowing into their mid forties.
In fact, some veteran competitors experience a spike in performance when they turn 40. By plan, they lay low during their late 30s, perhaps cutting back on competition to slowly build a new base. They come back mentally and physically refreshed for their first season as a master. That strategy, however, can be a double-edged sword. Rodgers recommends tempering this enthusiasm, citing his own struggle with a foot injury at 41 years old, calling it the worst in his 35-year running career.