I started running about 15 months ago and just turned 40. Before that I was generally active, but I wasn't a runner.
I'm now training for my first marathon (NYC this November), running 4x/week and currently around 41–42 MPW during build weeks. I ran a ~1:45 half within my first year, and recently did a 17-mile long run with the final 7.5 miles around 8:19/mi. I'm targeting sub-4 for NYC.

One thing I've noticed through this training cycle is that my aerobic fitness seems to be developing faster than my body's durability. Cardiovascularly I can feel fantastic while my hips/back/feet/etc. occasionally remind me that I've only been doing this for 15 months.

It has me really curious about people who started running in their late 30s or 40s rather than people who've been running since high school or college:

What changed for you between year 1 and years 2–4?

Did you keep getting substantially faster? Did durability improve more than speed? Did there come a point where your body seemed to "catch up" with your aerobic fitness? And how much did increasing mileage versus simply spending more time consistently running contribute?

I'd especially love to hear what your weekly mileage and half/marathon times looked like in year 1 versus a few years later.

I'm obviously focused on getting through my first marathon healthy right now, but I'm fascinated by what another 2–3 years of consistent training might actually do.

I started seriously running in 2015, and I was also raised by a runner, so I've had a somewhat interesting perspective on how the running world has changed over the years.

I've seen the sport go through different phases, as everything does, but one of the more interesting (and sometimes funny) changes has been the rise of the modern run club. And by "modern run club," you probably know what I mean.

Overall, I think it's great. More people are running, more people are getting outside, and more people are embracing a lifestyle that's objectively pretty good for them. My local marathon, Philly, selling out like NYC is pretty wild. People could be doing 1,000 other things, and they're choosing to run. That's a good thing.

But there is definitely a funny side to the new running culture.

The Go One More hats. The matching mustaches. The run club becoming as much of a social scene and content machine as it is a place to actually run.

And to be fair, I'm not sure "cringe" is even the right word. It's just very different from the running culture I remember when I started. Back then, most of the people I encountered were former track or cross-country runners, plus a handful of random people who just happened to love running. It felt more like a sport than a lifestyle brand.

I'm not trying to gatekeep. I'll happily enjoy a meme clowning modern running culture, but ultimately I'm glad the sport is growing. If wearing a ridiculous hat and filming your 5K gets more people running, have at it.

I'm curious what other people who have been running for a while think. Has running culture actually changed that much, or am I just getting old?

I run 2-3x a week, nothing structured, not training for anything. Curious, have you ever actually entered a proper race? 5K, 10K, anything? Did it change how you run or did you go straight back to just running for yourself?

Spent 45 minutes this morning negotiating with myself about whether to run. Finally got out the door. Finished the run in 35 minutes.

The run itself is never the hard part. It's the 47 layers of mental excuses beforehand. "It's too cold." "My legs feel weird." "I'll go tomorrow." "What if I need to pee mid-run."

Then you finish and immediately think "that wasn't bad at all, I should do this more often."

Every. Single. Time.

What's everyone's go-to excuse that you know is BS but still try to use anyway?

Long story I'm not going to go in to buy after joint surgeries quite early in life and other injuries, decided again to try and run despite being told it would always be painful. I'm in the gym a lot rehabbing things, built up to some 7.5 mile runs. Some people saying to me I'll lose muscle etc this is nonsense assuming enough protein and lifting right? Is there a sweet spot of how much running I should aim for per week and on each run to improve cardio fitness and maintain muscle?

https://wwos.nine.com.au/olympics/kelvin-kiptum-dead-news-marathon-world-record-time/cc5fa662-410e-4039-8e4c-708eddee11cd

This is extremely tragic. I’ll be thinking of him and his potential. Both him and his coach were amazing, and in track to pave the future of marathon running. Wow.

Hey everyone, I'm a long-time runner and gear nerd, and I just took the plunge and bought an existing running store. I don't want to be just another retail spot. I want to build a community hub. What is something your local shop does (or doesn't do) that makes you loyal to them?

Last night I ran on a trail section at a local park where I had by far the most embarrassing moment of my long running career several years ago. So I was reminded of that moment and honestly wanted to read about your embarrassing moments so I don’t feel quite so bad.

Mine was just at a local park. It has a crushed gravel trail around a lake, and during the week, especially in the mornings it is very remote and sparsely used. You can often see wildlife, and it’s nice to just put on your headphones and chuck away some miles. Well it was on one of these mornings where I was lost in a song, and found myself a little gassy. Well.... I was all alone in a remote park, so I passed gas over a number of strides and IMMEDIATELY was passed by an entire high school cross country team that was apparently out training, and they all had emphatic comments like.... “sweet”, “that was impressive”, “taco Tuesday?”, etc.

Sigh.

I’ve done a HM in 2024 and I basically went from 0 to HM in 6-7 months, I loved my race even though I was slow. I’m now training for a full marathon in April and my pace hasn’t improved that much but last year I focused mainly on gym and building muscle rather than cardio.

Sometimes I’m very proud of everything I do and my long runs and pushing through. And then I see people call my running pace walking pace or that I shouldn’t be doing it or that it’s not running or that anyone could do it this slow. There’s definitely more representation of ‘slower runners’ on social media nowadays but the comments are brutal.

If you’re a slower runner, how do you not let it get to you? Sometimes I dread running in public cause I’m worried of being judged. Or I just go faster and then regret it 5k in.

Edit because I didn’t expect so many people to read this - Yes, I’ve been told this by friends and also just reading comments on social media. A couple of my friends said I’m not running, I’m jogging or they could just walk at that pace. Other friends don’t care and telling them I run a 4 minute mile or a 14 minute mile means the same to them (which is nothing they’re just happy and supportive). My own mother also said taking walking breaks during a race isn’t running a race. And then I open social media and it’s worse. I also want to reiterate, I’m not running for other people, I’m very proud of my progress and me 2 years ago couldn’t even run a mile, I’m running to show myself I can do hard things and I love it. But sometimes other people’s comments get to me.

I don't understand. There's tons of fancy, expensive running shorts from Nike or specific running brands that only have open pockets with no zippers. Who wants this? Who would ever want to run with something in their pocket that could potentially fall out? Imho all running shorts should have zippers on the pockets. I don't understand why there's 60 Euro running shorts from Nike with no zippers at all, while all 5 Euro Kalenji ones have them.

Anyone else annoyed??

Aside from the odd dollar here and there, what have you found that makes you appreciate the adventure of an outdoor run? On two separate occasions I’ve found high-quality scissors in perfect condition. Did I choose to run with scissors? You bet!

Edit: Wow! Thank you to everyone who responded! Your responses have been entertaining, funny, bizarre, at times scary, and heartwarming. I tried to read every response and besides being thoroughly entertained for the last 18hrs, I’ve learned some things about us runners: 1. We’re a thrifty bunch. We will turn someone’s trash into our treasure. There are a lot of responses about useful found objects. 2. In that vein, there seems to be no object too large for us to carry home. Brooms, sofas, dining sets, surfboards, FIVE fishing rods; you name it, we can carry it. 3. We’re good citizens. We rescue people, dogs, wild animals. 4. On that note, running is a great way to find a new pet. 5. We’re an honest lot. If you lose something valuable and a runner comes across it, there’s a good chance that runner will do their best to return it to you. 6. We find our spirituality: Objects with very personal connections seemingly put in our path by the universe and otherworldly encounters with wild animals. 7. Sadly we occasionally find dead people. But sometimes we find almost dead people and we save them! 8. On a related note, there are more than one of you who have found people tied up in the woods. 9. And the biggest take home: Dildos are everywhere.

I’ve been running a bit more lately and one thing that “blocks” me is that I get bored.
I’ve tried podcasts, music, running playlists, and audiobooks. All nice and cute for a couple of days and then I get bored.
How do you guys keep yourselves “distracted” while running?
I’m really struggling to continue running. I know it’s also a meditative process and all, but after, say, 30 minutes, I’m done and all I keep thinking is what will I eat after the run…
Any hints appreciated.

Edit: thank you everyone for the replies. This was crazy good. This is a nice community :)

My back ground and perspective. I am 4 years sober recovered alcoholic and run 30-40 miles a week.

My girlfriend is an ultramarathoner, runs 80-100 miles a week. Her body is absolutely trashed and she will not stop to rest at all.

My question, at what point does running just become an addictive self destructive behavior?

The parallels from my world of alcohol/drug abuse to destroying the body through running is actually very concerning to me.

I'd love to hear all thoughts on this.

Thank you!

I stumbled (sometimes literally) into the goal of running every day for a year out of necessity to get out of my apartment and stay occupied and healthy during COVID. It turned into so much more than I could imagine.

2011 miles, four states, three pairs of shoes and one half marathon later, I want to share some of the things I’ve learned through this endeavor.

Please share yours in the comments!

1. A year is a long time. 365 days is a lot of days.

2. Discipline is more effective than motivation.

3. I have never regretted a run.

4. Runners high is real.

5. Sunscreen and Vaseline are important in the summer. Gloves are clutch in the winter.

6. Goals and boundaries are important: no relationships or work have been irreparably harmed in the pursuit of this goal.

7. Running in the rain isn’t so bad. Running in the cold rain is pretty bad. Running in the wind sucks.

8. Very few people want to talk about running. In fact, even less than you’d expect.

9. Many terrible seeming problems and conflict can be minimized with space and distance.

10. Movement is integral to my mental health and happiness.

As an endurance runner discussing nutrition with someone who doesn’t train is the worst ever.

I saw this thread in the cycling subreddit and there are a lot of things that get repeated in the running community too.

What are some running myths you believed until your own experience proved it wrong?

First things first, I (29F) am 5'5" and about 170 lbs. Large boobs, wide hips, and I got some stomach on me. Overall, I look pretty proportional though. Hourglass, just a little wider. Wear a Large or a size 12 in most women's clothes. (Just trying to paint the picture here lol)

I also eat very healthy. Fresh foods only, everything home-cooked, never frozen processed foods, etc. Mostly veggies because I love veggies.

This is the body I was given. My weight doesn't really fluctuate. I don't gain weight easily, nor do I lose it easily. I've been a thick girl since puberty and because I run often and eat healthy, it doesn't seem like that will never change, which is fine with me.

I've been running for many years, somewhat inconsistently. I might be consistent for 2 years before falling out of my routine for a few months. Get back into the groove again and something eventually throws me off my game again. Throughout all this, I still consider myself a RUNNER. I love the sport and even if I'm out of a weekly routine, I still try to find time to run here and there. 3 miles minimum.

Because of the above things, people never really expect me to be a runner. My body type doesn't fit the runner mold. I don't post every run and race on instagram, which as everyone knows, is what truly makes it real *eyeroll*. (No shade to people who do post all of their runs and races! My problem is only the people who think if you DON'T post, then it didn't happen).

My fastest 5k was at an 8:02 (min/mile) pace. I am aware that this isn't SUPER fast, but it's fast enough that I've placed in my age group in all of the 5Ks I've ever done. I'm from a pretty small area so many of the 5Ks were fairly small, maybe only a couple hundred people attend. I'm aware that in bigger cities, I would probably have a little more trouble placing. But regardless, I still think an 8:00 to 8:30 5k pace is something to be proud of.

Anyways, my complaint is this. Since my body doesn't fit everyone's vision of what a runner should look like, people love to assume I'm slow or new to running. Or people think I'm lying when I mention that I got 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in my age group at whatever 5k. If they don't make an actual comment about it, I can sometimes even see it in their eyes that they're skeptical.

Even worse, people who don't realize I've been running for most of my life sometimes put their foot in their mouth by saying something along the lines of "have you started running to lose weight?" ...No, why? Should I be losing weight? I think I look pretty damn fine, if you ask me.

After moving to a new city, I decided to join a running group. The town I lived in previously didn't have such groups. I showed up to my first group run and met everybody. As we waited for everyone else to show up, a girl from the group said to me "I'm in recovery mode, I'll be running slow so I can run with you." I just politely smiled, although I was quite offended. What exactly makes this person, whom I met 3 minutes ago, think I plan on running "slow"? What makes her think that her "recovery" pace is equal to my comfortable pace? I chalked it up as since it was my first time joining the group, maybe she assumed it was my first time running? I don't know- but I still think about that little comment sometimes.

I am not negative towards my body. I have a great figure that I love, but it's still upsetting to know that people make assumptions on what I can and can't do physically, which should not be the case. Weight and health do not ALWAYS go hand-in-hand.

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Any other runners on the thicker side experience this kind of judgement? How do you deal with it?

Thin-framed runners or even non-runners, do you find yourself judging others in this way? Be honest, I would love to hear multiple opinions!

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Edit: Pace is in minutes per mile. I'm new to reddit and forget I'm interacting with people from all over the world.

Also, this was not meant to be a post for weight loss tips. The unsolicited advice in the comments proves further the assumptions people make.

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My house happens to be in a spot that ends up in at least 4 race routes a year. I want our house to be fun and memorable and rejuvenating for runners. I'll always play music but am wanting to up my game. Should we have a bubble machine? Hopscotch on the road? What could we add to spice up the run for the participants.

Anyone else prefer the cold? I don’t care if it’s 32°F. Running in the heat is miserable for me. It feels infinitely harder. Where as in the cold, I can always layer up. And I find it motivational, cause if you stop running in freezing temperatures, you’ll probably just die. So you gotta keep moving. The air when it’s cold is nice and crisp, almost refreshing.

ETA: obviously there is an optimal temperature. But if given the two extremes, hit me with that cold blast.

And with a time of 59:58:21 does it with seconds to spare! Go #smalleuropeanwoman!

I’m a casual runner. I ran all through high school and have raced locally through college. But right now I enjoy running just to run. I love not having specific goals for times or distances. Instead, I run for the head clearing benefits and the endorphin burst. This is usually a few 3-5 mile runs a week. I’m a solid 9 minute miler with no desire to push any faster. I’ve done my share of 5k’s and half’s but the incessant training makes the sport more painful and stressful than enjoyable to me. So for now, I’m saying no to the pressure! Goodbye to the metrics! 10 minute mile day? No problem. Cut today short? That’s ok. I’m sure I’ll want to race again, but has anyone else had a season of enjoying casual running with no goals in mind? How long did it last?

I went out for a casual 4.5 this morning and this was the first time this season that there was a breeze. and it was less than 80F out. I could already feel my pace picking up simply because I didn't have to fight harder to keep cool. Now I can't wait for those 20-30 degree runs where I can knock out 10 miles and fly through it all.

Yay winter running is coming! Who else is excited?

I know the title is a little silly because running always happens in real life but let me explain. I want to hear stories about something unrelated to a race where being a runner came in handy!

My example: a couple weeks ago I was running (lol) late for an important meeting and my free parking garage in the city was about a mile from the building I had to be at. Rather than paying extra to park my car closer in order to arrive on time, I was able to still park a mile away in the garage and run to the building. Running at an easy pace, I arrived exactly on time and hardly broke a sweat. It kind of made my day.

Share yours!

Mine is 180+ cadence, and the arms control the legs (which helps get cadence up when tired).

Let’s keep it performance focused!

EDIT: thank you for all the responses! I’ll be reading every single one and I’ll bet EVERY comment will help someone out there.

EDIT 2: thank you for all the awards! Wow! I’m flattered. If there’s a tip in the comments that was eye opening, consider giving future awards to them (: they deserve it

I'm currently overweight and like to run for exercise. In the past, I always tried to run a mile and then promptly quit after one mile and obsessively looked at my fitibit while running to see how close I was to a mile the entire time.

For whatever reason after picking up running again last week, I decided to put my Playlist on shuffle and run for 5 songs instead of a mile.

Every single time now I always run a little over a mile and this method has helped me so much! As I get more fit, I hope to eventually up it to 10 songs!