I used to hate running. I would complain that my shins would hurt, that I got bored, that I didn’t enjoy it. I found that I loved lifting, so I just did that, and avoided running. Who needs cardio anyway? Walking is just as good, and my shins don’t hurt.

My first step towards becoming a runner was the discovery of barefoot shoes – shoes that protect your feet from the ground, but give no support or lift. My first pair were, like those of most people, those funny-looking Vibram shoes – more of a conversation piece than anything else. I bought a second pair of Vibrams with a conventional top, and nobody ever remarked on them. But I was hooked on the flat sole. Amazingly enough, having had flat feet all of my life, I found that I do much better with flat shoes! No more shin splits. Well, I also avoid running on concrete, that helps too. Who knew?

Once the Vibram craze was over, I could no longer easily find them here in Winnipeg, and I started looking at other brands. My trainer at my former gym wore Xero shoes, and I got hooked on those. They recently offered me a gift because I’ve bought so many of their shoes. I have everything from snow boots to dress shoes to huarache sandals, all with the same thin, flat sole. I adore them all. If you are considering a pair, here’s my link. 

I used to run outside only in the summer, going to the gym for cardio in the winter, because I found running on a treadmill incredibly boring. Then, of course, we had a pandemic. I started running outside that spring, and when fall and winter hit, I found that my Xero snow boots were just as good for running in as my Xero runners – because of course they all have the same sole. So I kept running, even in cold weather. I was afraid of slipping on the ice but my grip has been surprisingly good. I haven’t fallen while running yet. I’m still leery of doing cardio in the gym, so running it is.

But that is how I am able to run so well at my age. The more interesting question is why. What is it about running that makes me want to do it in all weathers now? I’m one of those people who gets endorphins more from lifting than from running – I don’t really get a runners’ high, although maybe that’s because I don’t run very fast or very far. But I do find that it’s important for my mental health to get that time outside, by myself, breathing the fresh air (although with the recent smoke in the air I’ve been running with a high-quality mask), greeting the people and the dogs, listening to audio books or podcasts, getting up a good sweat and looking forward to breakfast when I get home. It’s a good time to sort out my thoughts, conclude any internal debates, dream up new content and fresh ideas. There’s the satisfaction of working my way through a running app, even though I will never hit the 10K it thinks I’m doing.

I’m grateful that I can still do it in my sixties – it’s a big part of my self care, both physical and mental. 

How about you, what do you do to take care of yourself?