Welcome,
This week continues the series of running as you age and into your forties. You can catch up on changes people have experienced in their 30s here.
Instead of interviewing all four people together, I'll be sharing Melissa and Matthew's story now and Laura and Jonathan's story on Thursday. I've never done two full newsletters in a week (usually Thursdays are reserved for chatting but I loved learning from each person!).
So this week I'm interviewing both Melissa and Matthew about how running has changed in their lives!
Melissa:
Melissa just turned 49. As one of her goals before age 50, she plans to run a race in all 50 states.
When did you start running?
My first race was a Halloween-themed 5k. My only reason for doing it was that I'm absolutely obsessed with Halloween (I even work at a haunted attraction as a scare actress as a side gig ~ I am a friendly elementary school teacher by day, and then I terrorize adults at night for which my role actually involves running as I lunge out and chase people through a strobe-lit hallway).
I did the Boston 5k while taking my traditional autumn trip to the area to visit Salem, as it gave me one more reason to wear a costume! I was always considered a fast runner while having little impromptu races with friends in my childhood neighborhood but other than that and high school gym class; I did nothing more with this "skill" until I was in my early forties.
What keeps you motivated to run?
In-person races with themes are my strongest motivation, in addition to the desire to complete my goal of running some sort of race in all 50 states before I turn fifty years old. I call this quest "50 by 50," and I purposely look for quirky races to do.
I love wearing costumes or at least theming with my attire for each event. I also like races that are held in unique areas and/or have challenging courses. One of my favorites was a race I did in the Cajun Bayou of Louisiana in a sugar cane field. The fastest runners received a machete instead of a medal. I made sure to run as fast as possible to qualify for that, and I succeeded!
Unfortunately, I live in earthquake-prone, California, so my machete is stored in a chest instead of having it displayed proudly on the wall due to fear that it could fall and decapitate one of my precious pups!)
Has the race distance you like changed?
During my first 5k, I had to walk a bit for the parts of the course I deemed "hilly". In retrospect, I realize those were just tiny inclines. Fast forward to one of my more recent races; I ran nonstop on a 1/2 marathon course which involved at least 5 miles uphill in the high altitude of Montana.
My favorite distance is 10 miles, but it's rare to find a formal event of that length. Therefore I mainly do 1/2 marathons. Around mile 11, I tend to contemplate how much self-loathing it takes to torture oneself like that, BUT the thrilling rush of crossing the finish line makes me forget that "pain". I've done two marathons and am scheduled to do a third in December.
A huge dream would be to qualify for the Boston Marathon. My students decorated a tee with motivational comments to wear at my first full marathon, which I did in the Las Vegas area-Mt. Charleston.
How many races do you do yearly?
Unrelated to age, many of the events I was supposed to do were postponed and/or canceled due to the pandemic. Otherwise, my momentum would have continued to increase while trying to complete my goal of running in all 50 states as in between all of those.
I typically did at least one formal event per week, two to three of them being 1/2 marathons each month. I also had a daily streak of running a minimum of 5k per day in my neighborhood. My car was totaled in April 2021, though, and I had a concussion and other injuries, which caused me to stop the streak.
What are POSITIVE things you've noticed since growing older with the sport?
The biggest positive (especially because I have a competitive mindset) is that I tend to place more at events for my age group as I move into older groups.
Anything else you want to add?
My miniature dachshunds (Carmella Macchiato and Thor) are also runners.
Carmella has made it to the winners' circle three times for Wienerschnitzel's annual Wiener Nationals competition!!!!
She can't wait for the events to return as, just like many of those for "hoomans", it has been postponed due to the pandemic. Both of my pups have participated in 5ks (in three states so far, actually). They sometimes take short breaks to roll in their stroller as their little legs have to run the equivalent of a marathon to keep up with my walking pace and dachshunds' backs are susceptible to injuries, so I want to protect them.
Matthew:
Matthew began running during college in the mid-90s because he had a girl on the cross-country team. He ran the Twin Cities Marathon in 2001, and it stuck after that!
What have you noticed? Has anything changed as you've gotten older?
I've definitely gotten slower, mainly because being a dad affords less opportunity to concentrate on workouts. So instead, I have to squeeze runs in when I can, and they're mostly being done to reduce stress vs. aiming for specific goals.
I began noticing a change when I hit my mid-40s. I had just wrapped up a year-long running streak of knocking out at least 1 mile a day. Once that was done, I had a big emotional hangover, not dissimilar to those felt after completing marathons, and then it was followed by my first significant injury and injured my shoulder. The combination broke up my habits, leading to weight gain, and I've been struggling since to return to form / personal expectations.
Has what do you do before run changes?
I actually do less preparation like picking routes or stretching because now I run at 5:30 am. So instead, I prioritize things like sleep or reserving time for morning meditation, mindfulness, etc.
What do you do differently since when you started?
I listen more to my body — although I am slower, I'm able to knock out significant miles still because I recall all of the prior lessons about injury, treatment, nutrition, tracking my heart rate, etc. I think this combination of compensating controls will ensure I am a lifelong runner.
What keeps you motivated to run?
My desire to live long. I come from a family whose men are overweight and tend to die before their time, and I really want to be a part of my kid's lives longer than my forebearers. I am definitely race-less, just because I cannot consistently train due to life's stresses.
Also, to be honest, I don't have much to prove on the courses. So instead, I am motivated to explore — try new routes, or experiment with new forms like trail-running.
I am also indulging in a fun side project: running every street in my city!
What are POSITIVE things you've noticed since growing older with the sport?
When I was younger, I was sometimes mocked for "jogging", which never occurs anymore. And as I drive around, I see all sorts of body types/shapes pounding the pavement, compared to the gazelles I was surrounded with when first starting two decades ago.
Thank you Melissa and Matthew for taking the time and sharing your stories!
What is Keeping Me Entertained This Week?
Atreyu Base Model v2 Shoe Review
Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress Review
Lessons About Running Learned the Hard Way
After Leaving the Bowerman Track Club, Marielle Hall Will Train in Providence, Rhode Island
Olympian Allyson Felix On Her Met Gala Debut, Founding Saysh, And Making History
If you are enjoying the newsletter series, I appreciate you sharing. Sharing helps new people discover it!
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