I was 42 when I ran the Chicago Marathon.

I am currently 44 years old and I didn’t start running until I was 38. And I have MANY friends who started way later than I did (friends please comment so they don’t think I’m lying about you;).

I’ve mentioned this before, but I believe it bears repeating.

I HATED running when I was young.

Hated, loathed, despised, dreaded . . . I never played a sport and I was never considered athletic. Not even a little bit. I was crazy skinny and a ballet dancer who spent most of her childhood (until I was 15 and the owner of the studio said my body type was wrong for ballet) in a dance studio or rehearsal hall (I was also a community theater kid). Running was NOT my thing.

I see a lot of women my age who think they can’t start running because they never have and they’re too old and they won’t be good at it.

Let’s take those COMPLETELY WRONG things one at a time, shall we?

I can’t start running because I never have.

This is ridiculous. The human body is miraculous and can really learn to do just about anything. Will it take time? Yes. Will it be hard and maybe even hurt a little at first? Possibly. But will your body adapt and figure it out? HECK YES.

I’m too old.

Well, last year I ran a race for awhile next to an 80 year old woman (who, btw, was slightly faster than me pace wise) who didn’t start running until she was 60. UNTIL SHE WAS 60. You are not too old. And if you REALLY want to be inspired that you’re not even A LITTLE BIT TOO OLD, you read this article about Geri Owens, an 80 year old marathon runner. And for more on putting that nonsense to bed once and for all, go read this great post from Jeff Galloway about how your BEST running maybe after 40. And if you need even MORE evidence, check out this article from Runner’s World about how running slows the aging process.

I won’t be good at it.

What does “good at running” even mean? I’ve been at it 6 years and my marathon PR is 5:36. That’s not too swift by anybody else’s standards. But I have to work really hard for that 5:36 and I love every minute of it and I look pretty good for my age if I do say so myself. And I’m CRAZY proud of all I’ve accomplished!

One of the reasons I love running so much is that we can ALL do it. Most races nowadays are as friendly and supportive of the 7 minute per mile pace group as they are of the 13 mile per minute pace group. The field is wide open, and in my opinion, there’s never been a better time or a better sport to be part of.

So if you’re sitting there, reading this, and thinking that you’re ready to get healthier, to (maybe) loose some weight (I say maybe because that can be really tough as we get older and if you start running and you DON’T loose you might stop and I don’t want that), and even maybe meet some new friends and start a new fun phase of you life JUST PUT ON YOUR SHOES AND GO OUT THE DOOR!

And for tips on that very first run, check out this post I did last year that will give you some more info on what to expect.

And if you don’t have running shoes, head to your closest running store and get some. Today. And then maybe go to Target and get some compression capris or shorts and a tech top. Because I don’t know how to tell you this, but you’re actually not getting any younger. So today is the BEST DAY to begin!

Happy running.

Jen