Would I be crazy to take up running at age 60?

[malkin]

Don't your feet hurt?
I used to ice my feet after runs when I was in my 30s, and quit shortly after that.

I miss it sometimes.

[Trek420]

Go for it! Sister Madonna Buder ran her first Ironman at 55 and as far as I know has not stopped running since.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_Buder

[OakLeaf]

+1 on Chi Running and not too much shoe. If you don't get started with the built-up shoes then you don't have to wean yourself off them.

I think there are a lot of us here who started running in our late 40s or early 50s. I can't speak to 60 yet, but why not try? There's plenty available about injury prevention (a lot of it boils down to strengthening your feet and your hips), and I don't see why that should be any different at any age - younger people heal more quickly and can sometimes get away with more sloppiness, but it's really not an excuse for them to continually injure themselves.

[Dogmama]

+1 on Chi Running and not too much shoe. If you don't get started with the built-up shoes then you don't have to wean yourself off them.

++1 on Chi running. I took a workshop a couple of weeks ago and am absolutely AMAZED at how I am now running without the usual aches & pains. If you can find a workshop, go for it & consider it your running coach!

I used to have hamstring, hip, lower back, knee and even arm pain (being too tensed up probably because of the other pains! ) Last week I ran a 10K for the first time ever, outdoors on a trail. I figured I'd pay for it big time the next morning - and nothing. My leg muscles definitely knew they'd been used in a different manner from cycling, but after I moved around a bit I was fine.

Oh, and I just turned 56 & have arthritis in many joints - mainly knee and lower back. I can't say enough about Chi running.

[PamNY]

So this chi running is what we are talking about?

There is a Level 1 workshop coming up. Well worth the price if it truly helps avoid injury. Are they serious about not using your legs for propulsion?

I am quite tempted to do this.

Then if I need more help there is no shortage of running coaches.

[OakLeaf]

They're totally serious about that! Now, it's a matter of degree, and I don't know if anyone truly doesn't use their legs at all - certainly not me!

I learned at a workshop also and I highly recommend it. At the time I was running 3-5 miles one day a week and just that little bit beat me up like a jackhammer. I'm now training for my second marathon...

[Dogmama]

They also teach you how to land mid-foot rather than heel first. A mid-foot landing is much less jarring to backs, knees, etc.