Running in Your 50s: What Changes, What Hurts, and What Still Works | IDKR Episode 188

Running in your 50s is different—and that’s not a bad thing.

In this episode of the I Don’t Know Running Podcast, we talk honestly about what changes as runners get older: slower recovery, new aches and pains, declining speed, shifting motivation, and learning to let go of chasing PRs. We also share what still works, what needs to change, and how adjusting expectations can actually make running more enjoyable and sustainable.

We cover:

- Why speed and VO₂ max decline with age (and why it’s normal)

- Recovery, sleep, and why rest matters more than ever

- Strength, mobility, and training smarter—not harder

- Managing mindset, ego, and expectations as a runner in your 50s

- Finding joy in running beyond pace and race times

- How to keep running for decades without burning out or breaking down

If you’re in your 40s or 50s—or heading there—this episode is about giving yourself grace, adapting your training, and continuing to love running for the long haul.

🎧 Listen, laugh, nod along, and remember: you can’t outrun Father Time—but you can run alongside him.

👉 Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Patreon for more conversations about running, aging, and all the things we still don’t know.
🏃‍♂️ Happy running.

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