[Author’s Note: This article is part of an occasional series on the unique opportunities and challenges of growing older as a runner.]
Final weekend on the Fats Ox 24-Hour Run, the 2024 USATF Nationwide Championships race, I seemed on in amazement as 20-year-old Kaylee Frederick from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, accomplished 136.1 miles in 24 hours, to complete second and qualify for a spot on the U.S. Nationwide Staff on the 2025 IAU 24-Hour World Championships. What made her end result much more wonderful to me was that she did so after finishing 125.8 miles on the 2025 Hainesport Endurance Run in Hainesport, New Jersey, simply six weeks earlier, and a mere 4 months after finishing her second Badwater 135 Mile! All on the ripe outdated age of 20.
A few days later, I used to be describing my amazement with Frederick’s performances — and particularly, her fast turnarounds between three such exhausting efforts — to my spouse Shelly, and as she so typically does, she replied matter of factly, “Nicely, Andy, keep in mind that time 20 years in the past if you obtained fourth on the Western States 100 after which received the Vermont 100 Mile three weeks later? I do know you in all probability didn’t notice it on the time, however younger individuals simply get better faster.”
The writer on a cold run in Silverton, Colorado. Picture: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
After all Frederick can also be an distinctive athlete no matter age, however when it comes to the pace of restoration, Shelly was proper. As I sat there watching Frederick run at Fats Ox, I couldn’t in my wildest desires think about doing something near that. In my very own present world, I ran the Javelina 100 Mile again on October 25 and, for me, it was an amazing race. However, as I sit right here over a month later, I really feel like I nonetheless have an extended technique to go till I might contemplate myself recovered and doubtless a good longer time till I toe the road at one other race. Such is, I suppose, the inevitability of growing old in lengthy distance working.
Undoubtedly, as we age, restoration from long and hard efforts takes extra time than once we have been youthful. Moreover, like many elements of ultrarunning, the highs and lows of that restoration course of differ from individual to individual. To me, an important factor to do is to concentrate to the little issues within the restoration part. Certain, working will likely be tough and extra laborious every day, however specializing in eating regimen, sleep, the affect of life stress, and general wellness I’ve discovered may also assist to hurry up my restoration, or not less than permit me to simply accept that it’s going to take some time. And that’s precisely the place I’m now and sometime most of us will possible be there too.
The writer on the 2024 Javelina 100 Mile. Picture: CTS Ultrarunning
On the finish of the day, I select to sit down again and settle for the passage of time and its impact on me. I’m content material simply getting on the market, 25 years after my prime has handed, as confronting the other of that might be far worse. Inspirational performances like Frederick’s are sufficient to get me out the door, nevertheless exhausting that could be, and if that makes me just a bit higher model of myself, I’ll take it.
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s beer of the week comes from Kaylee Frederick’s hometown of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Stone Bridge Beer Firm makes among the finest Breakfast Stouts I’ve ever had. Brewer’s Breakfast is a basic Oatmeal Stout that pours a deep black and includes a chocolate end that’s good by the fireplace on a chilly winter’s night time in Western Pennsylvania.
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Do you discover your restoration takes longer as you grow old?