I didn’t run in college.  Well, I didn’t run for a college.  With above average prep results I could have gone and ran after high school.  But I found myself at a Division I school where I was NOT going to be able to compete.  A variety of factors led to this. Financial considerations, future lifestyle, major, comfort on campus, connections, and frankly talent.  But I have been running competitively for a long time.

Looking back at results, most of my PRs came in 2008.  Five years out from college, no kids, running with two guys who were way faster than me.  I set bests in the 5k, 10k, half marathon, and full marathon.  But one of the elements of my running that I am most proud of is my consistently in my running the better part of the last two decades.  Running times that a younger version of myself would be proud of.  With a bit of perspective now (maybe more than a bit, though I hate to admit it), I’ve been trying to figure out why this is.

While it is possible that my times weren’t that great to begin with, that can’t be the whole reason.  I’ve been running these times for years.  A leading factor has been my willingness to do a whole variety of racing.  You will find me on the roads, on the track, cross country, and even trail running.  Distances from 1 to 50 miles.  I have challenged myself with variety.  Just like in the movie Dodgeball, I’ve got to keep the body guessing.  Put whatever cliché you want to in there.  Variety is the spice of life.  Whatever.  But one of the most important factors of competitive distance running is not getting in a rut.

A close friend and training partner of mine is a mid-d freak.  But he set a PR in a marathon this past Spring.  Moving away from 400s and 800s and looking at long runs stresses totally different elements of the running body.

Which is how I found myself, a 37 year old far past his speedy prime, in the elite section of the Lincoln Mile Road Race.  Likely better placed in the age group heat, I wanted to challenge myself.  I didn’t expect to even come close to competing at the front (and it played out that way).  Heck, I first ran this race when some of my competitors were barely born.  Despite my other obligations, I lined up (in the back of the speedier guys and gals) and went after the race.  Falling short of my goal time was tempered by a doughnut, perspective, and the knowledge that I didn’t just sit in my comfort zone.

So find something that is not your usual.  Different course, different distance, just something different.  The experience of change will add that extra element to keep you lacing up for years.