Hi Everyone!

No races this past weekend that I know of. Don’t forget to let me know when you’ve raced so we can all acknowledge you!

I might have to give this newsletter a new heading called “Wise words from my friends”. Last week as I met my friend Amanda for an early morning run, she asked how I was. I said, “my legs are very tired from my workout last night,” and she replied with “isn’t that the point of training?” Well, there it is. YES! Why am I overthinking fatigue and how my body is responding to training? This has always been the process. But for some reason as I close in on 50, I’ve started to think of myself as a bit more frail and the pain and soreness of training as not a good thing. But in reality, it’s the same as it always was. It’s how you perceive it that matters.

In 1979 Ellen Langer designed and performed the “Counterclockwise Study”. She took eight older men (in their mid to late ‘70’s), and had them live in a house where their environment was shifted to reflect the 1950’s – when they would have been 20 years younger. The photos, t.v. shows and newspapers all represented 20 years earlier, and they weren’t allowed mirrors to see their current selves or to communicate with the outside world. They were told to live as if they were themselves in 1959. After five days, the men had aged backwards. They showed significant improvement in health including strength, flexibility, cognition, hearing, memory and dexterity. They had struggled in carrying their luggage in, and bounced out with it all with no problem. And outside observers said they looked much younger than when they entered.

So yes, we’re getting older. And yes, there are some physical and training changes which can’t be ignored, but 50 and 60 today is not our parents’ 50 and 60. So let’s not go too easy on ourselves or lean into the “old age” narrative. Our bodies will respond to what we expect of them. So as much as I kind of love saying “I’m 50!” to people I’m running with, as a way to sort of lower expectations, I’m going to stop doing that. Who cares? I’m going to lean in and embrace the suck and the pain and the fatigue and the soreness with the same relish as I did in my 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. Because isn’t that the point? Thanks Amanda!

On to tomorrow’s workout! Back to Pottery Rd for hills (or a 400/200m hill in the Beach)

2-4 sets of: 1 full hill, 1 half hill, 4 min tempo

I’ll aim to be there around 6:15.

That is all, see you in the a.m.!

xo

Seanna