Is age against me?

steoc

Hello all, Id like to introduce myself ,Steoc from the sunny south east.
I have been reading all ur posts and threads with intrest.
I have recently started running(aprox 2 months) and have had several injuries during this time. I have hurt my Knees after one week(a gentle 3.5 Mile Jog) i did rest them and have had a physio look at it, i now wear a strap on one Knee.(untill better). Week 3 i strained a hamstring which was quite painfull out of action for 2 weeks:-( went back last friday ready for action and now strained my calf muscel(other leg). The hamstring and calf strains happened doing some Track work(6 x 300). Am i runnig to fast or not warming up enough? Or is it becaue i am turning 40 in December.? :-(
Is my age against me? I have never done any running before and love it. I joined a running club and do circuit traing/ Jogging / Track work with them. Is it to much too late?
Anyway heres to midlife. :-).
Steoc.

Ciaran_D

If you look at the results for the Dublin marathon, there are several pages of finishers with ages 70+, that's coming on twice your age so I don't think age is the main factor here.
I think a lot of people starting out after years away from exercise will experience the same injurys that you mention. I know I certainly did. I'd suggest taking it very easy for the first few months, maybe only running on a tread-mill until your legs have got used to the new life-style! It takes a long time for your body to adjust.

Slogger Jogger

Not necessarily. Some would say that those who exercise from an early age risk burning themselves out.. the argument being that you only have a certain amount of years in you for tough exercise. If you haven't exercised before but build up slowly but surely you could have years and years of exercise ahead of you. There are differing sides of this argument and who knows! Having said that I was mid 30s when I started with no background in running and so far so good. Go for it.

RoyMcC

Morning steoc, welcome to the madhouse.

First up, age is irrelevant if you're taking up running as a hobby/sport. I started out at just short of 50 and it's the best move I've ever made. You've got a lot of PBs ahead of you in the next few years

Second, as you're starting out, don't be comparing yourself to anyone else and try to keep up with others that have been at it longer. Take things at your own pace, no one elses.

Injuries. I'm not surprised you're picking them up if you're already doing 300m track sessions. Who advised you to do that? Your best bet at the moment is just to get out on the roads and slowly build up time on your feet. Get your body accustomed to the idea that it's getting off the couch and getting active. It's much too soon to be doing speedwork.

Warming up is overrated UNLESS you insist on trying to run fast in which case it's essential.

Which club are you with in the sunny south-east? They should be giving you this advice.

Best of luck. Track your progress, start a log.

dna_leri

steoc wrote: »

Hello all, Id like to introduce myself ,Steoc from the sunny south east.
I have been reading all ur posts and threads with intrest.
I have recently started running(aprox 2 months) and have had several injuries during this time. I have hurt my Knees after one week(a gentle 3.5 Mile Jog) i did rest them and have had a physio look at it, i now wear a strap on one Knee.(untill better). Week 3 i strained a hamstring which was quite painfull out of action for 2 weeks:-( went back last friday ready for action and now strained my calf muscel(other leg). The hamstring and calf strains happened doing some Track work(6 x 300). Am i runnig to fast or not warming up enough? Or is it becaue i am turning 40 in December.? :-(
Is my age against me? I have never done any running before and love it. I joined a running club and do circuit traing/ Jogging / Track work with them. Is it to much too late?
Anyway heres to midlife. :-).
Steoc.

There are lots of us here who hit midlife [crisis - moi, never] and start (or restart) running. Its definitely not too late but you do have to approach with caution - don't try to jump in at the level of the young guys, yet.

With 3 injuries in as many weeks, you are right to question if you are doing sometihng wrong, you probably are.

Good advice above from Roy.

Stay on the slow stuff until you have built a base, at least 6 weeks. The best way to gain fitness is to avoid injury.

I would suggest to set yourself a target of maybe a 5K race around end of year. Talk to your club coach about a program to get you there or use one of the many Couch-to-5K (C25K) programs on the internet.

How Strange

steoc wrote: »

Hello all, Id like to introduce myself ,Steoc from the sunny south east.
I have been reading all ur posts and threads with intrest.
I have recently started running(aprox 2 months) and have had several injuries during this time. I have hurt my Knees after one week(a gentle 3.5 Mile Jog) i did rest them and have had a physio look at it, i now wear a strap on one Knee.(untill better). Week 3 i strained a hamstring which was quite painfull out of action for 2 weeks:-( went back last friday ready for action and now strained my calf muscel(other leg). The hamstring and calf strains happened doing some Track work(6 x 300). Am i runnig to fast or not warming up enough? Or is it becaue i am turning 40 in December.? :-(
Is my age against me? I have never done any running before and love it. I joined a running club and do circuit traing/ Jogging / Track work with them. Is it to much too late?Anyway heres to midlife. :-).
Steoc.

It's never too late.

However, take it easy and don't try to do too much too soon. Typical men's problem :rolleyes: taking the all or nothing approach.

Before I started running a physio told me to take glucosamine and chondritin. I always had knee problems before, I still take the supplement every morning and I've never (touch wood) had a problem with my knees since. It could be coincidental but who knows!

Also, get your gait analysed in a proper running shop and invest in good runners. Technical running gear etc you can pick up along the way but IMO proper runners are essential.

DublinRunnerJoe

Hi Steoc

I have started back running 4 weeks ago after a 15 year break and I to have picked up a couple of niggles, groin strain and knee twinge..My problem was I thought I could return and start running 22 min 5ks again, I was wrong, My advice would be to spend the 1st few months running 2 mile runs and 5 K at at pace where your body feels confortable and dont try to over do it by trying to run longer distances or shorter distances at a quick pace.

best of luck
By the way I am 45

CK1Champ

No it doesn't mean your too old...how long ago would it be since you've trained at this level?if it's been a few years your muscle take time to get back into the training thing again and will take time to build up...a 71 year man finished the lanzarote iron man this year and it's arguably one of the toughest triathlons so Id say stick with it but don't do too much straight away let your body adapt

plodder

I started when I was 39 as well (seems like a lot of men start at that age ) so you're in good company. Definitely, you need to be more careful the older you get. For the first two years I took it quite easy, only fairly gentle running every second day. I also did some light weights in the gym as well. I'm pretty sure that helped.

CK1Champ

Forgot to say in that last post...warning up for exercise is essential,it prepares the body for exercise and can be a main factor in avoiding injuies so I would recommend you keep the warm up going

henryporter

According to one of the newspapers yesterday, there were two 80+ years old finishers at the DCM, so starting at 40 will give you a long running career at that rate of going. I started at 40 as well, finished my first marathon on Monday aged 42, having started little 1 and 2 mile runs at the beginning. I needed to get orthotics for pronation problems which affected my calves, but generally no problems except for possibly not doing enough strength training alongside the running, which is the cause for the knee problem I am currently experiencing. Your case seems similar enough to mine, so the best advice i can give is to stick with it - it will become enjoyable

steoc

Wow,lots of replys... Thanks for all the advice and tips.
I am just afraid of going back into my comfort zone(sofa and beer).
Off to the physio again after work. Need a small loan for this. lol
Its cracking me up having to miss yet another running session but i know i need to rest and then stard off doing gentle jogs at my own pace.
Thanks again for the info and talk to you all again soon.

littlebug

Same age and same boat as yourself at the minute Steoc. It seems (ironically) that baby steps are needed the older you are starting I know what you mean.... I'm starting to feel like a proper couch potato again after 3 weeks out

steoc

Yeah its daunting the toughts of getting back to my old rutine.
I have lost 2 stone over 3 months all down to been more active and watching diet a bit better. I have'nt been drinking as much either while running. I have also bought all the clothes for bad weather running as i am really enjoying the time on the road.:)

Ger the man

+1 on the warm ups ,you simply cannot get away without doing them before running\exercising. Not sure if it has been mentioned already but you could try some light weight training mixed with fast walking? This will improve strength and cardio too.

One more thing - when your training, always listen to your body - slow down and walk if you need to, if your puffing and panting then your going too hard.

Keep it up and well done!

groovyg

Steoc if you can't run at the moment - do other exercises - go for a swim or if you have a bike go for cycle, maybe do a long cycle at the weekends until you are injury free. you are never too old to take up a sport, if you a look at the dublin marathon on Monday, there were all shapes and sizes and all age groups out running. I would definitely reccommend going to the pool as its a great away to stay in shape and helps with injury recovery.

aero2k

In answer to your OP title - no.
(I tend to be a bit verbose when posting, I'm trying to bring down the average wordcount)

DustyBin

Steoc, like henryporter said

henryporter wrote: »

... generally no problems except for possibly not doing enough strength training alongside the running, which is the cause for the knee problem I am currently experiencing. Your case seems similar enough to mine, so the best advice i can give is to stick with it - it will become enjoyable

Some strength exercises should help
Lunges, squats etc are great for this - google leg strentghening exercises to find more
Alternatively you could go to a few circuits sessions and get a full technicolour demo instead
These exercises are handy enough to do at home, but you would need to be better disciplined than me

steoc

Thanks again for all replies.
Just back from physio a bad sprain in the calf muscel:( Will have to see him again on Monday,will have to rest till then.
Will go for a swimand a cycle instead, have to keep going..:rolleyes:
Have been looking at the traing logs and found some good info there too.
Cheers

Steoc