The original was written in June 2018. Skip to the end for the July 2025 update.
When I was in high school and college,
even for several years after college, my running goals revolved around
getting faster and top finishes of races. Even though I enjoyed running
for its mental, spiritual and physical aspects, racing and racing well
is what motivated me. Over time the motivation has changed, and changed
several times.
As I entered my 30's, it took me awhile to accept the fact that there
would be no more PRs and fewer top finishes. Once I accepted that my
lifetime PRs had been set I focused on age group finishes, looking to
podium finishes in the age group categories. Yet during this time other
life responsibilities began taking more importance and time; kids, job,
marriage, community involvement. I found myself training less hard,
achieving my age group goals less frequent. But running remained an
outlet to recharge my soul and spirit.
Entering my 40's my running goal changed again. I realized the level of
training I was doing would allow me to compete for a top age group
finish in only small races. I turned my focus on improving annual and
decade PRs. Trying to run faster in June than in March, or faster at 46
than I was at 43. This goal lasted through my 40s and into my early 50's
when a new decade started a new set of PR opportunities.
Midway through my 50's something caught up to me, injuries. For
most of my running career I'd had only minor injuries that a few days
or a couple weeks off would heal. Not this time. After running through
some pain that I should have known better, but was training for a half
marathon to run with my daughter, I tore a tendon in my right foot due
to a change in my gait from pain in my left hip/glute. Surgery was
required to fix the tear.
The goal became to heal and strengthen the weaknesses in my hip so I
could run again. It turned into a journey that had me questioning
whether I should retire from running all together. It took several years
to reduce the pain in my hips while running. Pain that caused me
concern that my body was telling my it had put in enough miles. Weekly
sessions with a personal trainer saw steps forward only to encounter nagging injury, step forward another nagging injury.
As I approached the year of my 60th birthday, I was finally feeling as
though running was still a part of my future. My hip was stronger, I was
working on my flexibility and running was becoming more enjoyable. It
was time to re-adjust my running goal.
I recall a meet I was at in college. I watched an older runner running the steeplechase as
the meet was also an all-comers meet. I remember admiring that he was
still running and obviously trying a new race. So the goal for my 60th
year is a year to celebrate 60/45, sixty years on this planet,
forty-five years of running on it.
Every run is a good run. Some are gooder or goodest depending on how my
body is feeling. It's a celebration that my body is still doing what it
loves to do, though going slower and not as far. A celebration of
longevity, pride in still being able to participate in the sport that
has brought me joy, challenges, rewards. A celebration that though my
body has changed over time, my mind is still excited about the
challenges ahead. It's no longer about PR's or placing. It's about
feeling the wind in my hair, the sweat on my face, thoughts of past
races, the peace that comes with setting aside the ego and enjoying my
body in movement.
The Update:
It's now 7 years after this original writing. I'm now 67. I've endured a second surgery on my ankle. I have worked to strengthen it and get back to running. Running goals continue to evolve.
Since that original post, I've become a grandparent to two very awesome kids. I still strive to run consistently 4 days a week, but what has become more important is my ability to play with those two grandkids.
Some of my best memories of being a dad are chasing or being chase by my daughters as we play tag, or chasing them down the slide at the park. Some of my most fun grand parenting has been being challenged by E & J "tag, you're it, papa" and taking off after them or trying to elude their tags.
My workout goals through the years have changed. I still have a goal of continuing to run. But the more important goal is to be flexible, nimble enough to elude the tags of my grandkids and get on the floor to play.
