Health and Fitness Life Lessons

Marathon Running: The Ups and Downs

A Personal Journey Through Two Sides of the Coin with Lessons Learned in the Last Three Decades

Context: In my 60s, I traded long-distance running for a combination of brisk sprints and leisurely walks along the beach, a shift that has remarkably enhanced my overall fitness and well-being. And now, in my mid-70s, I continue to reap the benefits of this rejuvenating routine.

Brief Background

Marathon running was a thrilling adventure that brought both soaring highs and unexpected bumps into my life. My journey into this world started when I hit my 40s and noticed my belly making itself at home.

Long-distance running flooded my system with joy, filling me with energy and melting away worries. It became my go-to escape, releasing a wave of those mood-boosting endorphins whenever life got a little heavy.

There was a twist. The very thing that had me feeling on top of the world also had its downsides — some pretty harsh ones.

The Tale of a Passionate Runner

Imagine a younger me in my 40s (three decades ago), enthusiastic about long-distance running. Each marathon I conquered fueled my sense of achievement, leaving me with triumph in my pocket.

For every finish line I crossed, I found myself battling a longer-than-expected recovery phase. It was like a pause button pressed on my life before I could dive into the next race.

Now, running wasn’t just about getting fit. It was my way of bidding adieu to the stubborn belly fat that had taken up residence around my midsection. I thought I was making strides toward a healthier me, but little did I know I was striding right into a pitfall.

The Double-Edged Sword

Running is like a two-faced coin. On one side, there’s nothing wrong with it — if done right. Our ancestors had a knack for it, and fitness science backs them up.

Anthropology studies, along with modern cardiologists and physiologists, give a nod to our ancestral running techniques. It’s the classic wisdom meets science situation.

Let’s turn the spotlight onto me. I had my hands full with my running routine, thinking I had it all figured out. But, I was wrong.

As I delved deeper into running’s effects, I realized I needed a significant U-turn on my approach. It was time to ditch the harmful and keep the good stuff for my health and fitness.

Running’s Yay and Nay

Running does have its perks — from torching calories to serving up an endorphin-packed mood boost. But wait, my personal journey gave me a backstage pass to its backstage.

The promise of a slimmer waistline sounded fantastic, yet the mirror showed something else entirely — my stubborn belly was sticking around.

After those exhilarating runs, I’d find myself in a bit of a pickle. Triumph was often followed by days of joint inflammation — oops!

It turns out my joints weren’t exactly thrilled with my running frenzy. Who knew that my pursuit of better health was giving my joints the blues?

Facing the Music: Joints and Hormones

In my quest to shape up, I stumbled upon two tricky side effects that had me scratching my head. First up, my joints decided to throw a tantrum, clearly unimpressed with my well-meaning running adventure.

Then, there was the cortisol situation — my body’s stress hormone was off the charts. Now, that explained why my muscles were waving goodbye despite the scale telling me otherwise.

High sugar, triglycerides, and cortisol levels in the blood with the impact of cortisol due to my poor diet and high stress played a sneaky game, making it impossible for my body to tap into fat stores. Instead, it treated my muscles as a buffet.

A Fresh Start with Lessons Learned

Beginning a redemption mission, I dived headfirst into research about running’s hidden dangers. Armed with newfound wisdom, I took the reins and changed my game.

Farewell to calorie cuts and long-distance running. I embraced nourishment and slowing down, giving my body what it needed.

In short, I waved goodbye to marathon-style runs and said hello to bursts of sprints (high-intensity interval training). It worked wonders.

I saw muscle gains and a diminishing of the stubborn belly. Well, they decided to play nice for once.

But life’s a journey, and mine wasn’t all smooth sailing. The pesky joint pain with chronic inflammation stuck around for a while, a reminder of my running days. So, I got creative and found an ally in walking on the beach — my joints’ newfound best friend.

The Final Mile to Share Wisdom and Dreams

So here I am with my wiser version in my mid-70s, laying my journey bare — not just as a personal story but as a guiding light.

My experience has uncovered the dynamic duality of running, revealing both its uplifting highs and its unexpected pitfalls.

As you traverse your own path, my hope is that my trials, errors, and hard-earned wisdom will serve as a compass to steer you towards a healthier route, especially if you find yourself caught in the grip of that intoxicating runner’s high, just like I once did.

Together, let’s redefine how we approach running, finding the sweet spot where excitement meets wisdom.

As we nurture a deeper connection between our minds and bodies, we can transform running from a potential burden into a source of rejuvenation.

In this journey towards fitness and well-being, we need to learn to embrace every facet of the experience, forging a road to enduring wellness.

Thank you for reading my story. I look forward to your feedback.

If you enjoyed my story, you may also check this inspiring story of Dr Mehmet Yildiz, my mentor, who made a similar fitness shift to mine.

I am a new writer, and as a giveback activity, I volunteered to be an editor for Illumination publications, supporting writers recently joining Medium like me. If you want to write for these publications, you may send your Medium ID via this weblink.

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Here are the links to my recent stories.