While running across the lifespan can help to slow the rate of decline of cardiovascular capacity and strength, as a runner enters the masters years they will experience an inevitable and unavoidable progressive decline physiologically, biomechanically and also in performance.

Here are 5 tips to help the runner who is looking to stave active:
.

1. KEEP RUNNING! Running across the lifespan has been shown to add years to runner’s lifespan compared with non runners
2. STRENGTHEN YOUR CALVES! Between 20 & 60 yrs, runners will experience approximately 1/3 reduction in power generated at the calf when running...and your calves 
3. CHANGE UP YOUR SPEEDS!  It’s important to not get stuck in the ‘mid & comfortable running pace’ rut. Running at speed can assist with building tissue tolerance and running body resilience-which may be injury protective (when done with wisdom)
4. STRENGTH TRAINING! From 20-80yrs 30% of muscle mass is lost- resistance training can help to offset and even reverse this change .
5. MIX UP INTENSITIES! Adopting a hard: easy approach can assist with optimizing tissue health, thereby assisting with the development of a chronic training base while not being interrupted through injury 

TAKE HOME: By adding even just one of the above tips you may assist your running (P.S. Still very helpful also for runners sub 40yrs) 👍🏻

​Brad Beer, a physical therapist and owner of POGO Physio in Australia, wrote the following post.  He has tons of great information on his blog and Instagram.  Follow him @brad_beer

It's well established that aerobic exercise improves health, but a new study suggests that better cardio fitness leads to a longer life, and that the benefit may help older adults the most. The results were published online Oct. 19, 2018, by JAMA Network Open.

The Journal of the American Medical Association conducted a study and Harvard Medical School posted this article.

In the study, more than 120,000 people (59% of them men) underwent exercise treadmill testing periodically over 14 years. The researchers found that increased cardio fitness levels were directly associated with longer lives, and that people with the highest aerobic fitness levels lived the longest, especially among those over age 70.
The participants first underwent stress tests and were then classified into five groups based on their current fitness level: elite, high, above average, below average, and low. Elite performers, defined as the top 2.5% in their age group, had aerobic fitness levels comparable to endurance athletes.
​
When all the subgroups were analyzed by age, the association between higher aerobic fitness and longevity was observed in all age groups, but the benefit was greatest in people older than age 70. The researchers speculated this was most likely because the people were already fit and continued to commit to their fitness as they aged. They added that although it may be tougher to work on cardio fitness in older age, the payoff appears to be well worth it.

This article is from the Harvard Medical School in the Harvard Men's Health Watch in Feb 2019.