It is not uncommon for older people to question how old they can run so that this type of physical activity is beneficial. Find answers to this and other questions regarding running for seniors in this article.
Contraindications
So that you understand that there is no sport that is useful for everyone, just as there is no panacea for all diseases, I will start the article with contraindications for those who cannot run, especially in old age.
Joint problems
Don't jog if you have severe leg or pelvic joint problems. I repeat: serious problems. That is, if you constantly visit a doctor who regularly advises you and explains what needs to be done to make the disease recede. If you have problems with joints, but small ones, then on the contrary, running will help get rid of them. But first, you must have the right running shoesand secondly, you should know the general principles correct technique easy running.
Excessive completeness
If you are over 70 and your weight exceeds 110-120 kg, then running is contraindicated for you. The stress on your joints while running will be disproportionate to their strength, and you can damage them. In this case, it is necessary to lose weight with the help of proper nutrition and regular walks, bring it to at least 110 kg and only then gradually start jogging. The requirements for footwear and running technique are the same as for joint problems.
Internal diseases
Here everything is much more complicated and it can be said unequivocally for which diseases you can run, and for which you cannot be very difficult. Better, of course, to consult a doctor. But this is in the event that you have a really serious illness. If, for example, you have tachycardia, hypertension or gastritis, then you can safely start running. Generally running is recommended doctors for almost all diseases, since it accelerates the blood through the body, which means that nutrients quickly enter the desired organ. You just need to know when to stop. And the measure is best for you to determine yourself, since only your body will be able to tell you for sure whether running is good for it or not.
Lame grandfather with a strange haircut
When elderly people come to my training and ask if it is possible to run at their venerable age, first of all I always cite as an example one marathon runner who has already passed 60 years ago.
The first time I saw him was at the Volgograd marathon in 2011. Lame grandfather (pictured), who apparently had one leg a little shorter than the other, went to the start of the marathon together with all the participants. And it seemed that with such a problem he was not only unable to run, he could hardly walk such a distance. What a surprise it was when this grandfather showed a result to which many young runners still grow and grow. He then ran a marathon in 3 hours and 20 minutes. He ran in a very strange manner, constantly falling down on one leg. But this did not bother him at all.
And this is far from an isolated case. In general, in all official amateur races in Russia and in the world there are age categories 80+. And the most numerous category is 60-69 years old. It is at this age that most people run. Even young people under 35 years old are sometimes less in races than veterans. And they run completely different distances, ranging from 400 meters, and ending with a daily run.
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Therefore, if you focus on the example of others, then you can run as long as you can walk.
50 years as a barrier
Recently, a woman who turned 50 came to us and said that she had seen a program on TV, which said that after 50 years it was strictly forbidden to run because of the fragility of the joints that they acquire by this age.
After I told her the story about the lame grandfather and other retired runners, she no longer remembered the television program and trained with everyone, enjoying the run.
But there is one more thing. When doctors or, more often than not, pseudo-doctors on TV try to fit all of humanity to certain standards, it becomes funny and scary at the same time. Everyone knows perfectly well that depending on the lifestyle, diet, area of residence and genes, the development of the body goes differently. That is, a person who constantly eats dry food will sooner or later develop gastritis or an ulcer. But this does not mean that this happens in everyone at the same age. The same applies to muscles and joints. If a person has been engaged all his life power sports or worked on very hard physical work, then, more often, by a certain age, the joints begin to "crumble". And vice versa. A person who has supported the body all his life in good shape, while never overloading his body, will be able to boast of his strong joints without any problems at any age. Although here the nutritional factor and genes are not unimportant.
Therefore, there is no specific age barrier. It depends only on yourself. When 40-year-old men tell me that they have run off their own and are already too old for sports, it makes me laugh.
Almost all centenarians lead an active lifestyle. Not everyone is running, but almost everyone maintains their physical body in constant activity. Therefore, feel free to run if you understand that you want it or it will help you.
If you don't know how to run in the winter, then read the article: How to run in the winter.
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