I graduated in 2020 but due to injury had to rest and then never restarted. Going out this morning for wk4 r1.
Unfortunately I’m 5-6kgs heavier than before and as well as 5 years older, definitely menopausal but this adds both positives and negatives. I’m still going out first thing in the morning as I don’t want anyone to see me. We live in a small rural community so people about would definitely know me. I go out alone, with a playlist and plod. I’m definitely slower and feeling a few more aches and pains. A lot of shit has happened in these 5 years too and I have definitely neglected myself so there’s a lot of work to do here.
Anyhow, I best get out and run before the day starts for too many more people …
Written by
GreenHooks
Graduate
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Five years older, 5kg heavier, five years wiser. You've done this before so you know it gets better as you move through the weeks.
Many of us don't like the idea of people seeing us run, but take it from one older, heavier runner to another (though you are obviously much closer to spring chicken territory than me) that nobody is judging. Even if they did, they don't know you - why should you be bothered by their opinion? You are doing something fantastic for yourself.
I live in a small rural community to but that didn't stop me running on a public path singing 'Anarchy in the UK' the other week and nobody arrested me or is shunning me now 😭😭😭
(of course one of the joys of being a woman over 65 is you become totally invisible )
I agree with almost all your post, including your final sentence inasmuch as it's an observation on how much of (Western) society regards older women, cf this report: ageing-better.org.uk/sites/...
Personally I'm damned if I'm becoming totally invisible in a few months. 😜
Really interesting article Cmoi , we are individuals and invisibility isn't inevitable.
What really peeves me is that women in the media are criticised for showing signs of aging, or else told they are 'brave' for avoiding plastic surgery, going grey etc. Of course it's a personal choice and if looking a certain way makes you happy then fine, it just scares me when all the actresses over about 45 are nearly indistinguishable - frozen faces, puffed cheeks, subtly plumped lips, shiny foreheads - how can this be healthy? Every time I see my wrinkles I tell myself I earned them, and if they really start bothering me I take my glasses off and I look 18 again, at least in the mirror 😂
Totally agree. Though if I take my glasses off or contact lenses out, I'd struggle to find the mirror, let alone see myself in it! Minus 11 in one eye and minus 10.75 in the other, combined with plus 2.5 in both. Fortunately complex prescriptions work for now 👀🙄🤣
As for not wanting people to see you, I used to feel that way. I'm 64, a few kgs overweight, never been a looker, and I live in a tiny rural community in mid-mountain France. When I started running I was pretty sure I'd be the subject of snarky gossip about my being a sweaty, red-faced, crazy-pony-tailed, make-up-free mess.
How wrong I was. I mean yes, I generally look a wreck when I'm running. However what I get is waves, smiles, and greetings (round here it's considered rude to pass someone without saying Bonjour.) Turns out that people of all ages respect me for getting out there, regardless of what I look like or how fast or far I'm running.
If running first thing is your choice, that's great. But it saddens me to think that you might be doing so because you feel you have to hide yourself away. You don't. You have every right to be out there running and nobody has the right to stop you.
well done! It will be a familiar journey but I’m so many ways another new runner experience. We never go back to where we started completely! That’s half the joy, I find! Bones might have aged but confidence and experience probably increased?
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