Author's posts
Dec 18
Ageing Runner Podcast #5 -The shy, the avoidant and the unsocial – Why all runners need connection as we age
In this episode, Chris looks at research from the Huntsman Senior Games in Utah. It looks at the different levels of loneliness experienced by those who are shy, avoidant or unsocial. Can running in a group really make us feel more lonely than running alone? Fascinating stuff. We also have quick catchup with Chris as …
Dec 03
The shy, the avoidant and the unsocial – Why all runners need connection as we age
Over the past few months, I have written and talked a few times about experiences of loneliness. We looked at an article by an ageing fell runner who felt that she was becoming invisible as she aged and this month I read an article about running and loneliness that caught my attention. It states that …
Nov 19
Ageing Runner Podcast #4 – Is all this running bad for my health?
In the latest episode of the Ageing Runner Podcast, Chris looks at the evidence suggesting that long-term endurance exercise my be detrimental for some aspects of our health. He describes his first cross country race in nearly 20 years (mud bath!), reflects on an alcohol free October and how he lost his running mojo and …
Oct 15
Ageing Runner Podcast #3 – Searching for the truth amongst the experts.
In this 3rd episode of the Ageing Runner podcast, Chris has just run both a Parkrun and a marathon pb. Something seems to be going right. We also look at the battle for the truth amongst all the experts out there and what that means for us as runners as we look to keep healthy, …
Sep 20
Ageing Runner Podcast #2 – The Loneliness of the Ageing Runner
In the second episode of the Ageing Runner podcast, I battle a noisy rainstorm to pass on the wisdom of John, an 82 year old former national fell running champion who is still going strong. We pick up on the theme of loneliness from last time and delve into a post by academic and ultra …
Sep 06
Taking Humanity Seriously in Sports – Sabrina Little
This month’s ageing runner reading took me to Sabrina Little’s monthly column on irunfar.com. Sabrina is an Assistant Professor in Ethics and Moral psychology at Christopher Newport University as well as being an elite athlete. She looks at running through the lens of virtue ethics and says: To take humanity seriously in running is to recognize …
Aug 28
Loneliness of the Ageing Runner
I read a post recently by a fell runner called Ann from North Leeds Fell Runners which has stayed with me. She described becoming more injured as she gets older and the loneliness that can bring. Being laid off is no fun, in fact it is depressing and isolating, especially if a lot of your …
Aug 26
I love the enclosed moving space that I inhabit when I run alone – Ageing Runner
I have run a few barefoot miles this week and I have not done that for a few years. When I ran barefoot every day, I ran very early in the morning and met all the same people. Most got used to me, we had a chat and they understood what I was doing. I …
Aug 19
Welcome to the Ageing Runner Podcast
The Ageing Runner podcast is up and running. I plan to release one a month for the duration. It may be the next 25-30 years. We have to start somewhere. In this welcome podcast, I introduce both my myself and the Ageing Runner Project. We also take a quick look at the link between hearing …
Aug 16
My first ageing running tweak was hearing aids – I didn’t hear that coming!
My first big ageing runner tweak. I now have two hearing aids. After reading about the connection between untreated hearing loss in mid-life and dementia in later life, I went for a hearing test and found that I have a moderate loss in both ears. I am sitting here with a new hearing aid in …
