Running and Aging

The sun creates havoc on your skin. Suncreens didnt really come into use until the 1980s and I
sarted running in the 1960s.

Quoted message said:

I have been running five miles a day (with a day or two off a week) for 16 years now. Before I
started running (at 23)and about 5 years into running I was always told how young looking I was
compared to everyone else. Today I saw a picture of myself (at 39)and I look like
55. My friends still look kind of young but now I look much older. Could it be that all the years
of running has done this? Is it known that runners look older than non-runners of the same
age?

Between the free radicals coursing through your veins and your poor selection of parents, your are
certainly doomed. ;-)

Scott

Quoted message said:

I have been running five miles a day (with a day or two off a week) for 16 years now. Before I
started running (at 23)and about 5 years into running I was always told how young looking I was
compared to everyone else. Today I saw a picture of myself (at 39)and I look like
55. My friends still look kind of young but now I look much older. Could it be that all the years
of running has done this? Is it known that runners look older than non-runners of the same age?

Actually, you can look at pictures and judge for yourself. At usatf.org, there is a section with
athlete bios including pictures (you can also go to fast-women.com or mensracing,com). Look at Deena
Drossin....Then look at Amy Acuff. The differences are rather stark. They're both about the same age
(around 30), both world class athletes who spend lots of time in the sun training on the track. Amy
looks so hot that there are college guys on letsrun.com who claim they can get nonrunners to come
look at a track meet on tv just because Amy Acuff is in it. And Deena Drossin.......looks like a
distance runner.

The difference? Mileage, I think. Amy is a high jumper, so she doesn't run mileage. And there are a
lot more straight up comparisons you can make, Bob Kennedy vs. Michael Johnson, for instance.

I turned 50 last December, got a new license, and compared the picture with the old one. I couldn't
tell a difference. But I'm not running much mileage anymore. This is a major reason (besides the
fact that the training seems to work) why I dumped slogging out slower mileage on the roads in favor
of HIT. Every time I run slower distance 5-6 times a week--and I don't tell my wife that I'm doing
it--my wife tells me that my face looks "drawn." I get many more "looks" from low mileage but lots
of fast running (sprinting) and weight lifting in the gym. If you could have Bob Kennedy's body or
Michael Johnson's (skin color excepted), which would you take?

My feeling is that if you keep to 20-25 mpw or less (which is what the average running club member
runs), running can make you look younger. But if you crank up the mileage, you will pay a price in
appearance. Also look at your hydration practices. Many distance runners a chronicly dehydrated
which can also make you face look drawn. Weight yourself. For a 140 pound runner, 1 mile=about 100
calories and it takes 3500 calories to drop a pound. If you lose more than this from your run, you
are not drinking enough.

Lyndon

"Speed Kills...It kills those that don't have it!" --US Olympic Track Coach Brooks Johnson

rick++ said:

The sun creates havoc on your skin. Suncreens didnt really come into use until the 1980s and I
sarted running in the 1960s.

So, are you saying there is a topological map etched into your face? 😉

--
Doug Freese "Caveat Lector" [email hidden]

Doug Freese said:

That's me Jobs close to sixty look 40 and I can't beat the ladies off with a stick - Woe is me. 😉
I get some very funny looks when I tell people I'm retired.

heh heh 🙂

cheers to running.

Lyndon said:

I turned 50 last December, got a new license, and compared the picture with the old one. I
couldn't tell a difference. But I'm not running much mileage anymore. This is a major reason
(besides the fact that the training seems to work) why I dumped slogging out slower mileage on the
roads in favor of HIT. Every time I run slower distance 5-6 times a week--and I don't tell my wife
that I'm doing it--my wife tells me that my face looks "drawn."

I'd suspect slight dehydration not aging especially if you're normally a low mileage runner.

Quoted message said:

My feeling is that if you keep to 20-25 mpw or less (which is what the average running club member
runs), running can make you look younger.

Lyndon, generic hogwash!

--
Doug Freese "Caveat Lector" [email hidden]

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

you take in more free radicals because of the increased air intake. This can cause more cell
destruction than would otherwise occur.

I used to take in free radicals, but they smoked up all my dope and were never around when the rent
was due. Screw the Chicago 7--let'em sleep on someone else's couch for a change.