78 and Counting
They just keep coming – those birthdays. Maybe when we were 8, 16, or even 21, we couldn’t wait until the next one. No longer. Now we want them to stop. Of course, we have no control over that. All that I can do is make the best use of the time given.
Looking at the last 12 months, it was by many accounts a strong running year. I was not constrained by injury for 10 ½ months of that year, exceeded an 80% age grading in 13 of the 16 races, topping out at 84% in a half marathon. I set two age-class course records in local races. Average weekly mileage was 26, just a hair above the prior 12 months. My 5K to 10K times held steady and in some cases decreased year-over-year, whereas the age-grade tables suggest I should have slowed 52 seconds for a 10K. In younger years, standing pat might have suggested a slacking off in training. As we move through our 70s that may instead indicate we are doing some of the right things.
So, now it’s into a new year. What am I aiming for? First, I’d like to achieve an 80% age-grading in races I’m intending to race hard, such as the series’ championship races. In fact, I hope to be closer to 82% as much as possible. I’d like to stay injury free for the full 12 months and average 30 miles a week, something I haven’t done in 11 years. I see that as part of the push-back on aging. Lower base mileage works against us. In particular, I’d like to include a 12-miler about every three weeks. In addition, I see being more regular with hill work. While I have been pretty consistent with track workouts and form drills and look to maintain that, I think more targeted lower body strength work and flexibility are needed. I recently participated in a research study (see Data Collection post) and was embarrassed about how little strength and flexibility I showed. There’s work to do!
This will also be the year I publish Staying With It: Reflections on Running and Aging, a memoir type book composed of about 80 essays. This is something I’ve put a lot of time into over the past eight months. It will be gratifying to get it across the finish line, but then the question arises: How do I get it out there?
My first 78 year-old race will be the James Joyce Ramble 10K in Dedham MA in two weeks. This is a race I’ve run numerous times and it is the 10th year it has been the National Masters 10K Championship. A number of the top guns from around the country will be there. Don’t have to wait to test myself in a new year.
Overall, it’s good (great!) to still be running and have an opportunity to set running goals and shoot for them. I don’t take that for granted.