Is it to old to start running at 26?

Tom_Cruise

Most people i know that run or are involved in athletics have been from a very young age or started in their teens.

Is 26 to old?

crazyderk

Tom_Cruise wrote: »

Most people i know that run or are involved in athletics have been from a very young age or started in their teens.

Is 26 to old?

No I only started running this time last year and I was 29 going on 30
I never ran or was involved in any fitness whats so ever and I started with the couch to 5k podcasts, there are also some apps available. I quickly signed up to do a 5k run (that was the motivation to keep going)

a year on and I'm still running to keep fit, so definitely give it a go!

Jogathon

Was always hugely sporty, took up running to keep slim when I hit my 30th birthday, have run two marathons to date.

Sooo.... no!

digger2d2

You posted in the events section, one of the mods will move to the main forum where you'll get more of a response but I would suggest you provide more detail regarding your ambitions so folk on here can give you more detailed advice.

alexsmum

hardly! i started when i was 40! flying along:)

Mint Sauce

Done my first 5k at 32. Done my Marathon at 33.

power101

I'm 25 and only properly started doing running 6 weeks ago. Have so far completed 2 10k's. 57.01 min then 54.50 min and now ive got my 3rd 10k this weekend with the goal of doing a half marathon in May.

I had never done any running before this and no proper sports or exercise in probably 10 years.

I've given up drinking for the next 5 months , all takeaways and all sweets/soft drinks.

It's never too late to start!

Rogue Runner

Never too late. Started running at 37, ran the Dublin marathon 8 months later and marked my 40th birthday this year by running my first Ultra.

Wish I was 26 again though.

RayCun

Started at 37

grasscutter

started running at 38
joined my local Athletics Club when I was 42

chinguetti

Started at 36 after doing the GAA, soccer and cycling stuff. Ran many miles since, many more to go i hope.

Get going and good luck.

sideswipe

Tom_Cruise wrote: »

Most people i know that run or are involved in athletics have been from a very young age or started in their teens.

Is 26 to old?

Depends what you want to get out of it- if you have Rio 2016 in mind then, yes your probably too old.
If you want to do something healthy and enjoyable then no way are you too old. I started at 36 and my only regret is not starting at 26.
Go for it.

rom

Steve Way started at I think 32 http://www.steveway.co.uk/?page_id=2

DrPatrickBarry

I am 48 (started running at 42) and a mid packer in my Fell Running club. There is a 62 yr old in the club that blows me away on the hills. (he does have a 2:35 marathon to his name from when he was much younger)

FutureGuy

Jesus i'm 35 and just started. Kids lol.

RoyMcC

Started at 49, first mara at 55. You're no more than a spring chicken Tom.

dazed+confused

Took up running at 25 with no previous sporting history and ran my first marathon at 26 with no problems at all!

PaulieC

38

scriba

Started at 34.

pconn062

Christ I hope not, I'm 25 at the minute and I don't fancy retiring at 26! :eek:

statss

related questions for the parents - can you keep up serious mileage when toddlers arrive on the scene?


(Started at 26 last year)

RayCun

Learn to love early morning runs

PaulieC

RayCun wrote: »

Learn to love early morning runs

^ This. And always be ready to run at the drop of a hat. Be like Superman, wear your gear under your regular clothes

vitani

Just started at 27.

Feeling like a whippersnapper after reading this thread.

TFBubendorfer

statss wrote: »

related questions for the parents - can you keep up serious mileage when toddlers arrive on the scene?


(Started at 26 last year)

(started at 34)
Yes, you can keep up serious mileage as long as you're prepared to make some sacrifices. In my case, I was sacrificing lie-ins. I got up early every morning and went running (still do, though even the youngest is no longer a toddler any more at the age of 5).

statss

Thanks for the reassuring, parents

nerraw1111

Doing yourself a disservice Tom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJdMDvjfyQ0

Outside

Started at 26 myself to lose some weight and realised I really enjoyed running so going strong since! (2 years nearly)

sideswipe

statss wrote: »

related questions for the parents - can you keep up serious mileage when toddlers arrive on the scene?


(Started at 26 last year)

Toddlers are a great reason to run;)

antomagoo

Just on the early morning runs for the parents here, how early is early during the week? Baby is only 9 months old so still have some nights were your up to her at 1, 2, 3, 4,.....:D

Also was told recently that going out when your tired, i.e first thing in the morning when body hasn't fully woken up or last thing at night when body is shutting down that any mileage you do is considered garbage miles

Sorry for hijacking the thread, started running at 33

TFBubendorfer

antomagoo wrote: »

Just on the early morning runs for the parents here, how early is early during the week? Baby is only 9 months old so still have some nights were your up to her at 1, 2, 3, 4,.....:D

I always aim to come back home at 7:45, to get ready for the day. Therefore, if i want to run for an hour I get up at 6:30 to be out of the door at 6:45. If I run for 90 minutes I get up at 6 to be out of the door at 6:15. If I want to run for 2 hours ... you get the picture.

Also was told recently that going out when your tired, i.e first thing in the morning when body hasn't fully woken up or last thing at night when body is shutting down that any mileage you do is considered garbage miles

Bull****

vitani

antomagoo wrote: »

Just on the early morning runs for the parents here, how early is early during the week? Baby is only 9 months old so still have some nights were your up to her at 1, 2, 3, 4,.....:D

Also was told recently that going out when your tired, i.e first thing in the morning when body hasn't fully woken up or last thing at night when body is shutting down that any mileage you do is considered garbage miles

Sorry for hijacking the thread, started running at 33

I was up until 3am with my toddler the week before last, and still found myself getting up at 6am to run. My logic was that a half hour run would give me more energy for the day than an extra half hour in bed.

RayCun

antomagoo wrote: »

Also was told recently that going out when your tired, i.e first thing in the morning when body hasn't fully woken up or last thing at night when body is shutting down that any mileage you do is considered garbage miles

Just don't try doing a speed session

Pretty much any run you do is better than not running. 'Garbage miles'... I don't know, I think you'd have to look at a block of training to make that decision. If you run very easily all the time and never push yourself, that's not good, but the problem is not any particular run, it's that the mix is wrong. Running fast or long can be 'garbage' too - a tempo run is a 'good' run, but if it leaves you tired for another session that is more important, it's garbage. A long run is 'good', but if it's too fast or long, and you don't run for the rest of the week because you're wrecked, that's garbage.

donalg1

Think I read somewhere that you shouldnt run a marathon until you are at least 29 if not 30, maybe I imagined that but I dont think I did. Something to do with the body development after this age.

ThePiedPiper

I started running at 23, with my first marathon being my first race!

I've actually done better since I had kids. Probably making sure that when I do go out for a run, I make it count, and not just clocking up the miles.

I do plenty of running first thing in the morning before the family wake up, and definitely struggle to get the legs moving for the first couple of miles. Night time is good, can get the harder sessions in. Tiredness is a non-issue in evenings.

greenb

Started running at 49 (c25k)......done a couple of 5k races and the Raheny 5m over the last few months. Doing the Meath half next week and (Hopefully!!) DCM in October...

26!! Jaysus, I wish!!!!!!!!!

Cabaal

Started running at 29 only three years back, was never sporty before that really with exception of I don't mind walking everywhere and I did some hill walking

To date I've done two 50km and 4 marathons, so I'd say its never too late

TFBubendorfer

donalg1 wrote: »

Think I read somewhere that you shouldnt run a marathon until you are at least 29 if not 30, maybe I imagined that but I dont think I did. Something to do with the body development after this age.

Nonsense. Even most elite runners these days are younger than that (or at least were when they ran their first marathons), never mind the rest of us.

I wouldn't recommend running a marathon under 18, though that's more caution than any real evidence (I know a few people who ran their first marathons at a younger age, and they seem perfectly fine), but waiting until 29 because your body is still developing is a strange statement.

eviltwin

Started at 35 having never done any form of exercise and 4 stone overweight. If I can do it, anyone can

Tom Joad

Started running at 33. Have a 12wk old baby and a toddler abd doing the best training of my life. Mostly run before 6am.

Key is an understanding partner and just getting out of bed when the alarm goes before you even think about it

EauRouge79

I started at 26, as a chubby 26 yr old. Dublin Marathon was on my 27th Birthday so I signed up for that. Life Changing.
Im not recommending you sign up for a marathon straight by the way!
But if you put it off, you might be back next year wondering if 27 is to old etc etc.

26?

I started at 36! 2 marathons down, loads of 10kms and half marathons, still thinking of going more for mountain running now. You have loads of time.

Murtinho

same here,started running at 34, played a bit of 7aside in the 15 yrs before that, about 10-15kgs overweight, loving it now 3 yrs later, recently gave up the gym membership to concentrate on running only. You just need to build up distances.

daydorunrun

Tom_Cruise wrote: »

Is 26 to old?

Yes:rolleyes: buy a Zimmer frame op.

glennhysen

Started running at 30 which was 7 years ago. I have 3 boys (5, 2 & 9 months). During the week I run at 6.30am or after 9pm!

Rogue Runner

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Doing yourself a disservice Tom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJdMDvjfyQ0

Terrible running form, it has to be said.

Abhainn

Started at 35 (2007), ran my first marathon 7 months later. Now 15 marathons & ultras later. Finished 100th in London marathon last year and did my first Ironman to top it off

Tom_Cruise

digger2d2 wrote: »

You posted in the events section, one of the mods will move to the main forum where you'll get more of a response but I would suggest you provide more detail regarding your ambitions so folk on here can give you more detailed advice.

Thanks for all the replies, i didn't realise this was the wrong section.

Regarding ambitions, id love to run a marathon at some stage in my life so that could be a long term goal maybe?

I play soccer and have kept reasonably fit over the years - mostly resistance training and a little running - but nothing more a half hour or so once or twice a week, i never had any sort of progression.

Is one year a reasonable length of time to get ready for a marathon?

statss

Tom_Cruise wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies, i didn't realise this was the wrong section.

Regarding ambitions, id love to run a marathon at some stage in my life so that could be a long term goal maybe?

I play soccer and have kept reasonably fit over the years - mostly resistance training and a little running - but nothing more a half hour or so once or twice a week, i never had any sort of progression.

Is one year a reasonable length of time to get ready for a marathon?

I started running last March/April at 26. I'm doing my first marathon this April. 1 year is a decent time frame to be ready.

Sunny Dayz

My friend's father started running when he was around 40, he was 50 last year or year before.
Anyway he has done loads of marathons, and travelled the world doing them, europe, new york, boston etc. Does the treadmill runs you do see in shopping centres also. All to raise money for the guide dogs.

The day I got married, he did the Tralee marthon that day, travelled up the country after and went to the afters of my wedding that evening and danced his socks off! Puts us young ones all to shame!

MisterDrak

Started running at 39, 46 now, and looking for this year to be my highest milage year, and also (hopefully) re-write most of my PB's.