“The God who has girded me with strength has opened wide my path. He made my feet like the feet of deer, and set me secure on the heights.”
– 2 Samuel 22:33-34
You don’t just wake up one day and decide – Hey, I’m gonna be a runner! – Or do you? It takes years of dedication, sacrifice, hard work and sometimes struggling to stay focused and I say that for even the casual runner, because even so, over the years running would have demanded something from even you. And so, you don’t just quit. You can’t. There’s this current school of thought running around that approaching 40 years is major. It claims that you’ve now attained full maturity and peak form, you’ve never looked nor felt better; your best years are ahead of you.
It is said that all the work you’ve put into who you are up to this point is about to blossom into the most beautiful flower you can possibly imagine. I think it’s a great metaphor for your running potential going forward. In all honesty, and for most people, 40 can be quite scary. You either look back with horror and forward with trepidation or, you look back with satisfaction and to the future with hope. Depends, I think, a lot on your perspective and where you stand, but what I can tell you is this.. the past is in the past, what you did or didn’t do is done for. However, what you do now and can do is totally determined by you. It is absolutely true that you’re now at your peak: fit, healthy, strong, beautiful and determined. Indeed you’ve never felt better; this is the result of your sustained effort and hard work and so at this point you can look forward to enjoying rewarding running.
You have running down to a science; a tried and true method. You’ve established where you are on the running scale and feel pretty confident about your abilities. Whether you’re facing your first marathon, ultra, triathlon or Ironman, you can do so confident in what you have to give. And so it follows that it only gets better from here on. Your experience, wisdom and knowledge of running will inform and fuel your runs and give you the opportunity to impact the sport and community in a unique and lasting way. So whether you’re staring at 40 in a couple of years or whether it’s right around the corner, you can do so with confidence and ease, you’ve earned it. Now go out there and show’em!
runningwithfaith 
Aug 14, 2014 @ 09:10:06
Just to say I really like your blog – I came across it via WordPress. I totally agree that turning 40 is no big deal when you are fit and healthy and know you’re going to continue doing what you enjoy. I’ll be turning 50 in 5 months time. I’d love to be 40 again!! Reading this post made me think of a British Runner Jo Pavey – not sure if you follow athletics – who in the last two weeks has won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal and a European Championship gold medal in the 10,000 metres and she had a baby only 11 months ago. She is a true inspiration! She had never won a gold anything before this one and she is the oldest woman athlete ever to have won gold at the European Championships.
Aug 14, 2014 @ 23:25:35
Thank you! Stories lke Pavey’s continue to inspire and amaze me..thank you for that reminder. We are never too old to follow our dreams. And don’t wish to be 40 again..you’ve been there, done that. From your words I’m guessing your 50 will be fine if not your best turn of age ever. Each milestone comes with its own nuances, challenges and adventures..Just keep moving ahead one step at a time.