Mastering the 40 +

I've spent more than just a few years in the 40's now, and have experienced enough adventures (good and bad) to fill a blogpost on mastering the 40+ in training, racing, motherhood, PT professional and more! I'll be coming out of my 40s in a  few ( ugh over a year) …couple years…, and will be leaving them incredibly stronger, smarter, happier, than I could have ever imagined than when I was starting out in my 40s. Some bumps in the road, and course corrections can knock you down for a bit but lead you to more strength, better opportunities, happiness, than ever imagined.  I confess I am not a gold medal champion at mastering the 40 +,  have failed a bunch, but have gotten pretty good at dusting the dirt off, and climbing higher than I thought possible.

RACING

In my late 40s, I can happily say I still love to train, race, toe the start line, challenge myself, sweat it out, make it hurt, and see how far I can go. After so many years of racing,  there is still enough fire in me to get out of bed at 4:30 in the morning to fit in a workout. I might not race as often, or as big of races. I might not go as fast, but I sure try…… and its still fun.

Bettysquad17, gear is here!

*  Sometimes I wonder why, I bundle up to run in the cold grey wind when it scrapes your face, and makes your eye lashes freeze at this point in life, but here's …why. 

Its my sanity, its for me and its often the only time to myself.

*  Sometimes I wonder if working out for just an hour before work is enough because thats all you have, when you've spent years doing double workouts, and workouts lasting for hours on end, but yes its worth it. Im happier at work, nicer to my patients, co-workers and people in line at the store. I have more energy if I've done something, anything first. And in terms of training, and gaining fitness, you can smash yourself pretty good in 1 hr. And luckily at this point in life I've done all the races I ever want that require an extensive accumulation of training hours a week.

coffee required at 4:30 AM

*  Sometimes I wonder why my neighbors look at me weird from behind the steering wheel as I'm running through my subdivision, or at pick up from practice when Im in a bike kit

But then I quickly shake my head and mumble 

"stare-don't care."  My kid is doing just fine on honor roll, killing it in sports, with tons of friends even though I'm out running, riding and doing some.racing. At 40+ you can just not care what the judgers think. 

this kid!!!

*  Sometimes I wonder why I get so sore, and so trashed after big workouts and races. It takes me so long to recover for a huge effort. But then I realize I have to be more diligent than ever at the pieces of recovery that are so important. This I confess I fail at. Maybe I'd do better if I had more time to prepare the perfect recovery food and weekly meals, get weekly massages, take naps (lol whats that), stretch, go to yoga. I can't don't have time for all that because at 40+ there is so much more going on in life!  But I can do better at some of this and am making a huge effort for now,  at least during Boston training. 

found at new massage therapist worth sitting still 60-90 min for

*  But even though I know all that is important for recovery,  staying healthy, injury free and a successful performance I sometimes forget my age, act like a 20 year old and get hurt. Late last summer I was training for a big half marathon. The running was going amazing I felt so strong and was so close to a great race. I did a very speedy 13 mile run on a Saturday, followed the start of CX season on Sunday and 2 all out fast CX races. I felt my hamstring pull a little going over the barriers (because they are my favorite), but still finished race pushing hard, nearly puking.
 I did manage hard long distance track workout the following weekend and nailed the efforts,

LOVE the track

but then was officially injured, couldn't run, didn't do the half marathon and managed just  a few CX races through the fall. At 40+ I should know better, my legs were tight and not recovered from the big runs,  but OMG long runs and CX are so fun.   Still learning at 40+

trying to maintain balance 

*  But I don't wonder about the importance of strength, core staying strong. I preach this every day at work and since having that set back,  and getting into Boston… 

I've been committed to the strength workouts at my gym,  home and in between patients at work. ……whatever I can fit in. It was important in my early 40s, but its essential in my late 40s.  I go to my awesome personal trainer 1 x week and do 1-2 strengths workouts on my own.  Running and bikiing are repetitive  motions in 1 direction. I work hard on training to maintain proper balance between the forgotten and overworked overworked muscles. These strength workouts right now for me are as important as the running. 

 getting strong at the gym

*  But even though I had a lapse in remembering my age and ended up injured and missing a big race, and half assed it through CX season, I chose to chill through November and December,  even myself out, get strong, rest my body, rest my mental toughness, to get ready for Boston training which requires a good deal of mental toughness. Long runs all layered up cold and frozen aren't my favorite, but getting to the starting line of the Boston Marathon and accomplishing something new makes it worth it 

and more strength

*  But even though Im in my late 40s, & might not get all the training, epic workouts, easy workouts, nutrition, recovery, rest, exactly right, and it might take more out of me, 

I am so thankful to still be out there pushing myself until it hurts in my running shoes or on the bike, attempting new races

I'm a mom to an incredible 13 year old who is doing amazing in school, sports, leadership, and wouldn't miss any of it for a minute 

I have a great job in a busy clinic and help people get back to there life, its tiring and demanding, but rewarding.

*  With more miles to run and more time to think, there might be more to come on mastering 40+ in being a single mom, home ownership, and a professional in corporate health care, and chasing new adventures. Lots going on between the ears during all the Boston miles!  

Until then, be strong be brave and be badass every day