In all the posts I have written over the past several years, I haven’t addressed running or jogging as an exercise vehicle for Seniors. That might be because I don’t jog or run. So a good question to ask is, “Should older people run?” No matter how I try to answer that, I will generate controversy. Since I am often asked the question, my answer is simply: “I don’t know. I like to walk fast.”
I must confess I really don’t know how to answer the question. I know a few people in their sixties who run, but not many in their seventies. The usual reasons are typically (1) knees — “my knees are shot”, and (2) “I’m afraid I’ll trip and fall and there will be nobody to help me.”
“Old men run as if they fear to leave the ground. Gravity is no longer a playmate but an oppressor . . . Fearing to fall, they run in constant danger of falling; the slightest protruding root or jagged piece of pavement might catch an unsure foot and bring the cautious runner down.” — George Leonard, The Ultimate Athlete, p. 170
In my sixties, in an effort to rejuvenate my body, I participated in a “boot camp” style fitness program. Along with a lot of strenuous exercising with dumb bells and bodyweight, in the parking lot of a County Recreational Center (rain, snow or shine), running a couple of miles was part of the routine. I vividly recall the sharp pain in my knees when I ran any distance. But I was macho and wouldn’t stop, mostly because we ran as a group and I didn’t want to be the one to drop out. Most of the others were in their thirties or forties, with a few in their fifties. They didn’t have problems with their knees.
Usually, the pain disappeared as the day wore on, but it always popped up the next day. It was a warning sign that said: “don’t run, you idiot.”
My own personal recommendation is to let your body tell you what to do. If you are just starting a fitness program, I would suggest you stick with brisk walking. That’s a great exercise for Seniors. If you are running now, at age 60 or so, only your body (or your doctor) can tell you when to stop.
So my answer to the question, “Should Seniors run?” remains, “I don’t know” But at least I have addressed it. And don’t forget, if you’re new to exercise, make sure to check with your doctor before you start.
Thank you for reading.