{"id":468,"date":"2017-04-01T07:03:15","date_gmt":"2017-04-01T07:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.runningforrealestate.com\/?p=468"},"modified":"2017-04-10T05:42:59","modified_gmt":"2017-04-10T05:42:59","slug":"running-later-life-running-keeps-us-younger-healthier-happier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/runningforrealestate.com\/index.php\/2017\/04\/01\/running-later-life-running-keeps-us-younger-healthier-happier\/","title":{"rendered":"Running Later in Life and How Running Keeps Us Younger, Healthier, and Happier!"},"content":{"rendered":"

It takes courage and determination to change at any age, but taking up running later in life to increase one’s health and fitness level is not what the every day person does.<\/p>\n

Meet five incredible\u00a0athletes all in their 70s who are\u00a0not interested in joining any senior’s classes soon. Their passion and joie de vivre: running.<\/h1>\n

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Last year while training for California International marathon, my third marathon since I started running, I had the pleasure and honor to meet these four amazing women Charlyn, Barbara, Carolyn, and Linda all in their 70s – so driven, radiant, humble, and truly inspiring.<\/p>\n

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Big 70 to 74 age group winners at Valentine 4-mile race this year. Carolyn in the red, Barbara in the middle, and Charlyn next to her.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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We met during our Fleet Feet Fit track workouts led by our amazing coach Chad Worthen. Being the\u00a0 gregarious and curious person that I am,\u00a0I made friends with them and started asking questions. Charlyn amazed me first, as I\u00a0talked to her and learned about her transformative and inspiring fitness journey . I even used her story on my mom to get her moving, which worked. My mom started running with me short half a mile distances\u00a0the \u00a0summer of 2016. I have to say that her form was perfect\u00a0 and that she did not want to run slowly.\u00a0In 2017,\u00a0a few months later after getting to know all these wonderful women, I have decided to interview them and learn about their extraordinary journeys.<\/p>\n

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Charlyn Frazier’s\u00a0beginnings and progress as a runner<\/h1>\n

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Charlyn Frazier started to run in February 2011 <\/strong>at the age of 66<\/strong> after joining a local gym.\u00a0She had played a lot of tennis in Southern California in the\u00a070s and 80s, but after moving to\u00a0Sacramento in 1990,\u00a0she became inactive and\u00a0put on a\u00a0lot of weight in the next 21 years.\u00a0 Luckily, her trainer at the gym suggested that she kicked up the cardio and try running.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Charlyn ran her\u00a0<\/span>first 5K\u00a0race in 39:33.\u00a0It was so exhilarating and\u00a0she couldn’t wait to do it again.\u00a0 Soon after that, she ran her\u00a0first 10K in July 2011,\u00a0her\u00a0first half in October 2011, and\u00a0her first marathon California International Marathon in 2012.\u00a0 This was just the beginning of\u00a0her enthusiasm and passion for running.\u00a0As of\u00a0February 2017, Charlyn has run 104 races, four of which are marathons.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Charlyn finishing CIM 2016 with a big smile on her face. Another marathon in the books. Marathons are actually her favorite distance and she loves to train for them.\u00a0Charlyn\u00a0admits that\u00a0\u00a0even though she is not nervous on race day, she is as excited as a child on Christmas Eve.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Her breakthrough in running came in <\/span>January 2014 when she decided to join Fleet Feet Fit program. She immediately loved having coach Chad Worthen hold her accountable and give her positive feedbacks, while reminding her to get in her miles and stay focused\u00a0during workouts.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Charlyn wearing bib number 70 to match her age at the Urban Cow half marathon in Sacramento. What a joy!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0Charlyn’s advice to other new and seasoned runners<\/span><\/h2>\n

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  1. Taking up running for the first time\u00a0means\u00a0to start out slow with short distances<\/strong>\u00a0and work\u00a0up from there.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Be ready to be amazed at how quickly your endurance and pace will build-up<\/strong>. For example,\u00a0Charlyn finished\u00a0her first 5K\u00a0on May 30, 2011 in 39:33 and less than three months later\u00a0finished a 5K in 36:08.\u00a0Note that she set 5K PR\u00a0at\u00a0Run to Feed the Hungry\u00a0in December 2016\u00a0with a time of\u00a027:58.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. It is very important to have a network of running buddies<\/strong>.\u00a0It was a major step for\u00a0Charlyn in her running journey when she joined up with Fleet Feet\u00a0to train for\u00a0her first Urban Cow Half Marathon.\u00a0The camaraderie in a training group is a phenomenal motivator for setting that clock and meeting up on the road on a cold winter morning.\u00a0 <\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Meet and run with other runners who can inspire you to become the best you can be.<\/strong>\u00a0 Charlyn has become friends with Barbara, Linda, and Carolyn all featured in this blog.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0 Charlyn’s greatest accomplishments as a runner<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

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