What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Running at 50

What I Wish I Had Known Before I Started Running at 50

Spoiler Alert: Running isn't the hard part. Learning everything that comes with it is.

There is a quote that says:

"The best time to start was years ago. The second-best time is today."

Whew. That one hits differently now. Looking back, I'm not sure I would have listened to that advice twenty years ago, but I sure wish I had started this journey a lot sooner than the ripe old age of 50. About a year ago, I casually asked my husband if he wanted to do a race at Disneyland. I expected an immediate "No," but after thinking about it for about thirty minutes, he came back and said, "Alright, let's do it." Was he excited?

Not really.

Was he convinced this was a good idea? Probably not. But he agreed.

My daughter, on the other hand, heard the word Disneyland and was instantly sold. A half-marathon didn't scare her one bit. The confidence of youth is truly something magical.

My son? Well... let's just say his response is not fit for publication.

And just like that, our running adventure began.

Back to the Treadmill of Doom

I had technically trained for a race before. Back in 2017, my son and I did the inaugural Avengers 5K at Disneyland. Since Avengers was his favorite thing in the world at the time, I happily signed up. The difference was that in 2017, I wasn't dealing with the same body I had in 2025.

I didn't have ten years of sitting behind a desk.

I didn't have the hip pain.

I didn't have the mysterious aches that seem to appear after age 40 for absolutely no reason.

And I definitely didn't make weird noises every time I stood up from a chair.

So when training started for that first half-marathon, reality hit me hard.

Running Is Great... But Strength Training Is the Secret Sauce

If I could go back and tell myself one thing, it would be this:

Do the strength training.

Seriously. Running alone wasn't enough. Years of working a desk job had weakened muscles I didn't even realize were important. My glutes had apparently retired without giving notice. My hamstrings were barely showing up for work. My hip flexors were filing complaints daily. When I first started running, I thought the answer to becoming a better runner was simply running more. Turns out, my body had other ideas. Once I started adding strength training, everything began to improve. My balance got better. My endurance improved. My aches and pains started calming down. Who knew my backside was so important to moving forward?

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Let's Talk About Snacks

If you've followed Grumble & Grind for any length of time, you already know this:

I am absolutely here for the race snacks.

The medals are great.

The community is amazing.

But let's not pretend those aid station snacks aren't part of the motivation.

When I first started running longer distances, I had no idea how important fueling was. I figured I would just eat breakfast and hope for the best. That strategy worked exactly zero times. As the miles increased, I learned that nutrition isn't just something you think about before and after a race. It's something that helps you survive the race.

I've tried gels.

I've tried chews.

I've tried liquids.

I've tried enough products to stock a small running store.

And honestly?

Most of them are awful.

For me, the winner has been waffles and honey-based products. Give me a honey waffle, and I'm happy. Hand me a gel, and I start questioning all of my life choices.

The point is that everyone is different. What works for one runner may not work for another. Don't be afraid to experiment during training until you find your perfect race-day fuel.

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Hydration: My Lifelong Enemy

Now let's discuss my complicated relationship with water. I have spent most of my life believing water was trying to rust my insides. I know. It's ridiculous. But hydration has always been a struggle for me. I also hate carrying things while I run.

Running belts annoy me.

Hydration vests annoy me.

Handheld bottles annoy me.

Basically, if it isn't naturally attached to me, I don't want to carry it. Unfortunately, dehydration doesn't care about my opinions. After a few training runs where I felt dizzy, sluggish, and completely depleted, I learned my lesson. Now I carry hydration whether I want to or not. Do I still complain about it?

Absolutely.

Do I do it anyway?

Also yes.

That's called growth.

What Running Has Really Taught Me

The biggest lesson I've learned isn't about pace. It isn't about mileage. And it definitely isn't about finishing times. It's about consistency. It's about showing up even when you don't feel like it. It's about doing something hard because your future self deserves it. When I started this journey, I thought I was training for a race. What I was actually doing was rebuilding my health. I was rebuilding strength. I was rebuilding confidence. I was proving to myself that age doesn't determine what you're capable of doing. Today I can hike longer. Walk farther. Run farther. Recover better. And most importantly, I feel like I'm living life again instead of watching it from the sidelines.

If I Could Give One Piece of Advice

Don't wait.

Don't wait until you're younger.

Don't wait until you've lost weight.

Don't wait until you have more energy.

Don't wait until life gets less busy.

Because life rarely gets less busy.

Start where you are.

Walk around the block.

Go to the gym.

Try a trail.

Sign up for a 5K.

Then keep going.

One day you'll look back and realize that those small steps completely changed your life.

And if you're lucky, you'll discover that race medals, snacks, and Disney races are a pretty fun bonus too.

Your journey begins the moment you decide you're worth the effort. We've got this—together. See you at the next run. 🏃‍♀️✨🏅

Medical Disclaimer: As a medical professional and fitness trainer, I occasionally share health, wellness, fitness, and weight-loss topics based on both professional knowledge and personal experience. However, the content on this blog is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered personal medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any exercise program, nutrition plan, medication, or lifestyle change.