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.
Check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IDKR
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.