Lordy, Lordy, Looks Who's 40

I had a birthday last weekend.

A big one.

The big "4-Oh!"  As in, Oh-my-god-how-did-THAT-happen?

It was an event which snuck up on me, so much so that I’m embarrassed to admit I didn’t readily have anything monumental planned (save for spending the day with good friends and loved ones). No trips to Paris. No big birthday bash. Nor did I have any epiphanies about Life which I believe a person should have at such milestones.

Sounds pretty lame, huh?

Not quite.

You see, over the past 5 years I’ve done my soul-searching. I’ve survived the un-survivable. I’ve learned who I am. And more importantly, who I’d still like to be. I’m a Runner. A lover. A sister. A daughter. And I still hope to be so much more in Life. While I’m not perfect, I’m proud to say that as I blew out the candles this year, I’m happy with where I’m at, what I’ve learned, and how far I’ve come. I am at peace.

So, now there’s nothing left to do but Run.

And why not? The news is over-the-hill-good for chicks like me looking to turn back time. Studies show that Running actually slows the process of aging... even in Runners who start later in life, even as late as 50. Research also shows that as you age, Running can actually increase the growth of your brain cells, reduce memory loss, and even ease symptoms of depression and anxiety (helpful when staring down those 40 candles!)

In fact, a study from Stanford University tracked a group of 50 runners for 20 years and found that over the course of that 20-year span, Runners in the group actually had fewer disabilities as they began to age, they experienced longer life spans, and were only HALF as likely as non-runners to die of early deaths. For those Runners that did develop illness or disabilities, it occurred an average of nearly 10 years later in life than it did for the non-Runners in the group, who became ill earlier.

As for the long-held myth that Running creates more osteoarthritis later in life and thereby the need for surgeries like knee replacements? That has now been debunked by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine which reports that Running is not associated with a higher risk of arthritis nor knee replacements. In fact, when Running occurs in its proper form (straight ahead in a forward motion), the results were to the contrary: relatively few injuries, a decrease in muscle loss and a decrease in bone loss and osteoarthritis as the Runners aged. Great news for Runners like me who were always told that blowing out more candles might just mean also blowing out a knee.

The research is enough to convince me that the best way to commemorate good health during my 40th year on this planet is to run “40 in 40” --- 40 monumental runs that are life-changing, meaning 40 running excursions or races which I hope to recommend everyone run at least once in their lifetime.

I'll make the first announcement from my "40 in 40" list this week.  As I sit my old bones down and begin to compile the list, I welcome your suggestions. So go ahead, lay it on this old broad. After all, the research proves I can take it.