Over the Next Hill Fitness

S3 Ep25 Owning The Word “Old”: What Happens When Women Redefine Running After Fifty

• Carla Coffey

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A Facebook group started after a post-marathon lull turned into a global home for older women who run—and the stories behind it will make you lace up. We sit down with Sherry, founder of Old Ladies Running, along with Erin and Diane, to explore how a simple idea grew into nearly 18,000 members who celebrate first miles, comeback races, and everything in between. The heart of it isn’t PRs; it’s the culture: questions welcomed, no snark, real experience shared freely, and support that feels as steady as a training plan.

We dig into why this space resonates where others fall short. Many over-50 groups skew male; many women’s forums skew young. This community bridges the gap with practical mentorship and warmth—gear tips that actually help, reassurance through injuries, and honest talk about pacing, recovery, and the mental game. You’ll hear how “pain-free plus three” accelerates safe returns, why run-walk can be as fast as continuous running with better next-day legs, and how strength training and dynamic warmups prevent nagging setbacks.

There’s momentum beyond the feed: after a rain-soaked but unforgettable meetup at Flying Pig, we’re organizing a West Coast gathering at Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego with multiple distances and an easy-to-reach venue. Members share travel hacks, hotel blocks, and discount-hunting strategies so more people can join. Along the way we reflect on growing up pre- or early-Title IX, claiming visibility as older athletes, and the quiet power of showing up for each other—whether it’s a turkey trot, a Disneyland 10K, or a London Marathon charity bib.

If you’re craving a kinder running space and a push to try the next distance—without the pressure—this conversation is your sign. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a quick review to help more runners find us. What goal are you setting next?

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SPEAKER_02:

Hello, and welcome back to Over the Next Hill Fitness Podcast. I'm Carla Coffee, your coach and host for the program. Of course, because who else is there, right? It's always me. This podcast is brought to you by Coffee Crew Coaching. If you need a coach, whether it's virtual or in person, if you're 45 miles within a radius of Madison, Wisconsin, I would love to meet up with you. But I do virtual coaching as well. So if you're interested, please hit me up, Carla at CoffeeCrewCoaching.com. Today's episode is going to be so fun. We have Sherry, the founder of Old Ladies Running Group on Facebook, and two of our members are joining us for the podcast. So I hope that you will be as entertained as we were and have a good time listening. And we'll see you at the end. Hello, gang. It's so great to have you here. So let's get started with some introductions. Let's start with you, Sherry. Hi, I'm Sherry, and uh I'm the founder of Old Ladies Running. You are indeed.

SPEAKER_03:

And I'm Diane. I've been running for only about two years. So I'm a newbie in this group.

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_01:

Hi, I'm Erin, and I'm an OG, old lady runner, and I've been running for about 20 years.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, fantastic. So, Sherry, let's start with you. Um now you and I did a podcast a while ago when the numbers were like at 10,000. So, first of all, tell us where the numbers are now and why you started the group.

SPEAKER_00:

Sure. Um, so we're at about not quite 18,000, 17,897 uh is what we're at at the moment. Um, why I started the group, so just about two years ago, and and November 15th was our actual two-year anniversary. And so we're recording this on November 16th. So this is really close to our birthday. Um, I had run the Marine Corps Marathon, and I was in that post-marathon lull of like, what am I doing? What's going on, et cetera? Um, and I was looking for community. Um while I was prepping for the Marine Corps Marathon, I stumbled upon the women of the Marine Corps Marathon Facebook page, and I really enjoyed that, but I didn't see a point in still being part of that because I was that was going to be a one and done on the Marine Corps Marathon. Uh, and so I tried spending time on some of the other running Facebook groups, and um they how can I put this politely? I I'm not sure I can. Um the over 50 groups were in fact um dominated by by men. Um, I guess that's the politest way I can phrase it. Um, and the running groups that were focused on women tended to be dominated by um young mothers, um, you know, 20 somethings, 30 somethings, maybe, maybe even 40 somethings. But I am an old lady. Um, I will own that. I'm 68 years old now. And so I just couldn't find anything that that fit the community I was looking for. And I said, well, how hard can it be to create a Facebook page? And um, while my husband was out playing poker that Wednesday evening, I Googled how do you start a Facebook page, and um the rest is history.

SPEAKER_02:

Fantastic. And I don't know about anybody else that's in that group, but I am so appreciative of it myself because I am too. Right? You it's nice to have people that have the same aches and pains as you, some of the same, you know, and like the the girls I run with, um, most of them have kids, but they're all 40. And one of the girls finally turned 30, you know. So while I like running with them, I don't have a lot in common with them anymore. My kids are grown. I have kids their age, and I have almost grandkids some of you know, their age. So yeah, it's it's tough. So let's um start with uh Aaron, let's get your story since you've been the the OG of the group, probably along with me. I'm not sure when you started, but I've been there for a couple of years now.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. Um, so uh I joined uh Old Ladies Remining Running. Um just randomly, it came up as a suggestion on Facebook. Uh just it'll be two years, I think, in January. And and it kind of stuck out to me. I mean, the name sort of hit you in the face, and it got my attention, and I was or I still am a member of several other uh social media groups to do with running, and I can definitely echo Sherry's sentiments about they didn't really resonate, and there was um a certain amount of you know, dominating by the guys and humble bragging. And it was, you know, kind of left me flat. And um I looked at this old ladies running, and after I kind of recovered from the shock of, you know, just the title, I thought, yeah, why not own it? Let's lean into it, let's see what this group is about. Um because you gotta have a certain amount of Hutzpa to go, yeah, I'm an old lady runner, whatever.

SPEAKER_00:

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01:

And and I'm still getting out there and doing things. And this Facebook group has, and I recommend it to my friends because I run with other old ladies in my town, and I I said it's the most supportive group, and the experience range is so massive, but everybody is cheering for everybody. It doesn't matter whether I ran my first mile or my first 5k and I'm you know I'm very happy with how I did to hey, I just finished a hundred miler. Um and everybody gives the same level of respect and support, and I think that's kind of rare. Um so yeah, I'm that's why I continue to be active and why I'm super excited for the in-person meeting um and race next year at the rock and roll in San Diego, because it's like yeah, let's get together and support each other in in real life too. Um but it's it definitely keeps you going, and people share share so much experience that I find helpful. Um there's never a snarky reply when somebody asks a question. Um people are happy to give their experience. Well, this happened to me. Well, this is how I approached it, rather than kind of passing off as like really, never that. Um, so this is an amazing group. And Sherry, I think you really um struck such a valuable chord in so many people. Um, that's why it's a great group.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you, Aaron. And and I have to reiterate that for the most part, people are that you know they take seriously that rule, you know, be kind and courteous. Every once in a while I I have to boot somebody or or reprimand them, but it's very, very infrequently, very infrequently.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, you know, it's interesting that you say that, Aaron, about asking questions, because I was in a group and have since left. I left almost all the groups I was in except for this one, and I think one other running one. Um, but someone had asked a question, and you know, it was a question that I've probably seen a hundred times. And somebody in the group said, put it in the search um window for this group, and it'll you'll get lots of other answers. Well, maybe they don't want to search or they don't want to scroll up. They want an answer like right now. Can't you just give an answer? You know, is it is it really that much skin off your nose to give an answer instead of being so snarky? And that I left that group that day. I didn't I was like, yeah, okay. That was and that was a while ago. But yeah, that so I do appreciate that as far as uh well this group. Absolutely.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, Dan. Diane. Sorry, Dan. Diane. Sorry, uh, Diane.

SPEAKER_03:

I have six brothers and sisters. I got called everything.

SPEAKER_02:

You are the newest runner to our group. You've been with us for two years and running for six years.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, basically both. Um, I started running kind of a fluke. Um, I've always been fairly um physically active, but in 2023 I had my first granddaughter. Um, and that made me kind of think, I don't want to be one of these grandmothers that can't even get off the floor when I'm playing with my my granddaughter. And then in July of 2023, my husband had a very bad, bad car accident. He was out of work for six months, really bad concussion, still has some aches and pains from it. Um, but I just needed a stress reliever, something to take my mind off of everything else that was going on in my life. Um, and so that November of 2023 um was just right after you know the pandemic, and our local town opened up the their turkey trot again. So I'm like, hey, I'm gonna do it. And I just did it with my my two two of my siblings, not siblings, I'm sorry, two of my um daughters, my son-in-law, and my little granddaughter at the time. We walked it, and I'm like, well, that was kind of fun, and then they had a sign up for a jingle jog. Um, and I'm like, I wanna try it. So I did it, I ran, I came in like 16th out of our my age group because I'm old, um, and I was like, okay, that was really fun, and then I was just hooked. I was, as I said, you know, kind of running on the treadmill in our garage just to release stress and everything. So I just kind of got hooked, and I've been running ever since, and I did find the group on Facebook. It was just a suggestion, and I'm like, and I had joined other groups, but Carla, as you said, they some of them were just not nice. You know, I I have asked, as I said, I'm a newbie. I have asked really stupid questions in this group, and everybody was like, Oh, do this, do that, do this, you know, and it was never, oh really? Why are you asking that stupid question? You know, like, you know, just basic like, how do you dress for running in the colder weather? I mean, I'm in Southern California, so it's not cold, cold, but it's still cold, okay? I mean, there's still 50 degree days and stuff. And I've got I got the greatest and suggestions, and it's just been such a supportive group. Um, I've even suggested it to a friend of mine also joined. She's not a runner, um, but she she loves it too. She's a walker. Um, and so it's just been the greatest group, and I just I love it. I go on there every day and I'm like, oh my god, oh my god, this is so cool, this is so cool. I just love it.

SPEAKER_02:

Don't you guys get so encouraged by seeing um all the things that other people are doing? It just blows my mind some of this stuff. Yeah, definitely. I'm so encouraged by that.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, I mean, I've only I've only done five K's. I did one 10K. Um, it was the Disneyland 10K. And um I just see you guys doing like 50s and ultras and and you know, and everything. I'm like, okay, well, maybe now I need to up my game from the 10K to do a half and stuff. You guys totally don't motivate me.

SPEAKER_02:

And it can be done. Anything you can dream, I feel like, you know, you all you gotta do is try and and and accept, you know, the challenge and the hard work that's gonna go into it for sure. Yeah, yeah. So you live in California, Southern California. No, Erin, you said you lived in Bend, Oregon. Um, what about you, Sherry? I forgot.

SPEAKER_00:

Columbus, Ohio. Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

So Sherry and I definitely run in the colder weather. I know it can get cold, right?

SPEAKER_01:

Because you have the snow, snow, ice, okay, yes. All right, it gets cold.

SPEAKER_02:

Because I just had to laugh because you said it gets 50, and I'm thinking we get 50 below.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, okay, I was supposed to have a race yesterday, but they canceled it because of we're I don't know if you guys have paid attention. We're having like the storm of the century. Yes. And um, they canceled it because it was lightning and the course was flooded. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, I I mean lightning will cancel a a anywhere. Right, exactly.

SPEAKER_02:

For sure. Exactly. So um last year in May, we did our very first in-person old ladies running race, and that was at the flying pig. Um, I was able to do my 50th state there. Uh, so that was really exciting for me. I got to meet Sherry in person. Uh, my son did his very first marathon there, so that was exciting. Um, and then Sherry, uh everybody was kind of badgering you. Let's do another one, let's do another one. And you found the rock and roll in San Diego to do. Tell us about um why you chose that and why you decided, yes, overall, why we decided to start meeting in person.

SPEAKER_00:

Sure. Um, so let me just walk you through the process for for landing on on that one. Since we did our first in real life in Cincinnati, Ohio, which I have to say was pretty easy for me since it was about a two-hour drive. Um, it it seemed to me that we should have a a West Coast for our next in real life. Uh so that was first criteria. Next criteria, it had to have multiple distances. So some people said, oh, well, you know, what about you know this? And well, that's only a marathon. That that's not gonna work. Um then so some people suggested, well, the Disneyland races are great. Yeah, I've heard they're great, not that I've run one, but they're almost impossible to get into. So that's not gonna work. So the the goal was to find a a race that was on the west coast or or a uh a group of races that was on the west coast that people could could register for without without a problem. Um, then the criteria became um how easy would it be for people to get to it from all over the country? So um I think Aaron, you had suggested in in Bend, and it was like, oh, that looked really good, really fun. But getting to Bend, Oregon, once I looked it up, that's not so easy. Um before although I still want to get there. It's um it comes out absolutely magnificent. Um but so so the goal was to, okay, now we need uh uh a race that has multiple distances, we need a race that people can register for, not you know, have it you know be be impossible to get into, right? And have it reasonably easy for people to get from all over the country. We have, and I I looked this up right before we were talking about, we have almost 16,000 members in the US. We've got folks from all over the the world, we've got nearly a thousand from the UK, um 330 from Australia, 329 from Canada. So we've got folks, and I don't know if any of our international members will will join us, but certainly with 16,000 folks in in the US, um I I really wanted it to be a place that was easy to get to. Um and uh when we when I started this process, so last May is when we did Flying Pig. I started this process and it was like, well, it can't be right away because people need time to plan, et cetera, et cetera. Um, that's eventually how it ended up being, okay, let's do the San Diego uh rot rock and roll. Then then the next challenge was finding a hotel. Um wanted a hotel that would uh give us a discount. Um wanted a hotel that was walking distance to the start slash finish. Um and we did get a we did get a group of rooms um discounted. The folks at rock and roll would not give us a discount unless I personally bought 50 spots and then had you guys buy them from me. And I was not willing to um, I was just not willing to do that. So we we could not get a discount for the race itself, but the the hotel is going to be discounted, and um, I can't wait to meet more people in person. Last year at Flying Pig, I think we had it was between 15 and 20 people who who came in person, and it rained the whole weekend for those of you who are not there. Um, Carla knows she ran her entire marathon in the rain.

SPEAKER_02:

Um it was kind of dry once in a while.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, on occasion, right? Um, so we we did have um at the end of the the race, we had like a little booth, but um not so many people showed up because everybody was wet and bedraggled by the time there was a 5K, a 10K, a half, and the marathon. And um, but but met some folks um at the expo at the beginning, met you, Carla, met some of your family who were there to help you um help you celebrate your 50th state. So it was it was so much fun. It was like, well, we have to do this again. And then the question became where. So this year we'll do West Coast. Our next one will probably be East Coast or South. Some people are lobbying for, you know, some Florida or something like that. So we'll see.

unknown:

Sure.

SPEAKER_02:

And we can go as far north as uh Canada, seeing how we've got some international friends up there. So that'd be interesting.

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely. Absolutely. We have almost a thousand folks in Canada.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, wow. Well, we really appreciate all the uh legwork that you do. Um, so that being said, about um discounts, there is a Facebook page, and I think it's called Discount for Races. And there might be somebody on there that has a discount.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, that's worth looking at.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, and you just go on and ask, are there any discounts for San Diego? And people will say, Yeah, I have this discount. So that that's an option for us to put into a link in the page for us. So, Erin, what do you have coming up for uh your running? Do you have any races coming up? Are you do are you going to San Diego?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes. I'm absolutely enthusiastically coming to San Diego and registered and reserved the hotel and everything. And my husband, who's also a runner, he's going to be running too. Um I'm still distance are you doing, Aaron? I'm doing the half. Doing the half. Um, you know, it's half the distance and twice the fun. Sorry. Um, I've done marathons and yeah, I I have to work my way back. I um broke my ankle training for the London Marathon last spring. So there was no London running for me. So I just went and cheered on my husband and still had a great time. But after being in a boot for two months and PT for three months, I'm still working my way back with running, um finding that uh a physical and mental challenge. Um so uh I think you know, half marathon next year is great. Um I'm going to run the Eugene half marathon, which is the month before. And it's uh it's just a two-hour drive from where I am. So that's nice and easy. And then and then San Diego. So those are the the ones on my um 2026 race list, and then we'll we'll see how it goes. But um you know, the Facebook group has shared so much about overcoming injuries, um, dealing with injuries and overcoming injuries and what you do after that um that that keeps my um spirits up and my motivation. And I'm just I'm in there and working on it, doing um a lot more walking segments than I'm used to, but you gotta work on it, you don't quit. Yeah, so yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

I just wrote a blog um about uh coming back from an injury because as a coach, I often tell my uh athletes, okay, you hurt this, so now let's do this, this, and this. But I don't always listen to my own advice. I'm kind of like, do as I say, not as I do. But you know, um, I after that HundredMiler um that I just did in October, I waited two full weeks, no running. You know, I'm I'm a big advocate of being pain-free. And, you know, I always tell them pain-free plus three, right? So get pain free, then add three days, and then you can try to run. So I was pain free after a week. I could go up and down stairs, no problem. But I said, but give yourself another week, right? Because I was still kind of puffy in places, you know. Um, and so I went for a run and the that one Saturday, and I only did three miles. I said, I'm just gonna do one loop of this dirt track that's uh kind of by the house, and I felt great. Then following Wednesday, I went with one of my athletes on her run, and it was three miles, but it was on cement, and I felt good during the run. I got in the car. By the time I got home, I couldn't bend my leg. It was just so swollen and irritated. And I was like, what is happening? So I gave myself two more weeks off, and I just did my first run again yesterday, and I did only two miles, and it was all on gravel, and I felt great. I'm like, all right. So I still did my compression boots and all my recovery stuff that I do, and I went today, right before now, and I did two miles. Um, I did 2.3 miles, right? So just add it on just a little bit, and I felt good. And I'll I did a little bit of my PT before we we got connected here. Um, and so I wrote a blog about it yesterday about sometimes you got to listen to what I would tell people and do it, you know, fully. And I I felt like I did pretty good, just for whatever reason, that that three miles with her on that cement was just not good for me that day. So I'm gonna stay on the dirt for a little while. Um, I may link that blog um to your um page if that's okay, Sherry, so people can can uh read it too. But um, and I'm not much of a blog writer, I don't blog on my um Facebook, well, on my website very often, but it's so important that we follow the PT, Aaron, and do that PT for the rest of your life. Like I had um some planter problems several years ago, and I still do my PT and I don't have any planter issues, but I'm afraid if I stop doing it, that's when it's all gonna it's gonna hit the fan. So now I keep doing all the PTs over and over. So keep doing your PT, even if you feel good.

SPEAKER_01:

I I have been. I have been. I've got I've got these little exercises with the band, you know. I'm a clamshell queen at this point every day. Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

So all right, Diane. So what do you have coming up? We we know that you're kind of new to running, but you're doing races coming up.

SPEAKER_03:

Um yeah, I've you know, I counted before we got on. So between 2024 and 2025, I've done 44 5Ks and one. Oh my goodness. So you know, yeah, so I like really hit the ground running basically. Um, so um I've got you know the turkey trot coming up, you know, the Thanksgiving, um, and then I've got a race in December, and um then I'm doing um the Disneyland 5K because I couldn't get in as a charity runner. Um I couldn't get in as a because those registrations go so fast, and um, but I could get in as a charity runner for off um autism speaks. Um so I'm doing that in January. Um then in February and March I really don't have anything, and then April I have a couple um and stuff, but I I don't know. I just really have enjoyed running and I don't know. It's just been a great time. Um and I am gonna be there at the rock and roll marathon. I was so excited, I was just like, yes! I don't have my hotel booked yet, but I got it, and I actually was thinking about maybe because I just registered for the 5k. I was thinking about maybe I need to up my game and I don't know if I'm ready for a half, but you can do it, you can do it. I should just do it. You have plenty of time. I know I should just do it, right?

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, we haven't registered, but my husband and I did talk about it because I do have my 100 miler the week after. So if I came, I would have to probably do like the 5K, and if there's a maybe a 10K.

SPEAKER_00:

There's not a 10K, unfortunately. I I wish there was because that's a sweet spot for so many people.

SPEAKER_02:

But I could do the 5k because I'll be at a taper and like when I taper, I I taper, like I almost don't even run, you know. I'm just saving up my legs and what and I just eat. So but we haven't uh we haven't nailed that down yet, but um, hoping to be there too.

SPEAKER_00:

That would be great. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

And um, so you you're doing the half, Sherry?

SPEAKER_00:

I I'm signed up for the half, so I was actually l listening uh carefully to to you, Aaron. I am supposed to do London this this year. Um I I'm running for uh a charity, um, and I've been plagued with injuries, and I have been doing my PT and um I have my fingers crossed that it's gonna happen. Um I uh yeah, it's I've I have my fingers crossed. So that's the London, um, our our local 5k for Thanksgiving, and then our the rock and roll half. It that's all I've got signed up for for this year. I say that's all. Um when Carla interviewed me the first time I was training for the Columbus marathon, and I did get injured along the way and and was not able to run that. And so I my my goal is to get to the start line of of this race. I um fingers crossed. You can do it, you can do it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, you know, one of the things that I find with some of my athletes, like I have a girl right now that, you know, and I can't make you do anything, right? I can write it in your plan, and I can highly suggest that you do strength training, and she just will not do strength training and she's injured, but not badly injured, but she'll have little niggles every couple weeks. And it's like, you know, I'm taking you at a very slow pace. And if you would do the um strength training I give you, you wouldn't have you wouldn't feel so crappy, and she also won't warm up. Now, granted, she's only I think she's 35. And at 35, you feel like you don't need to warm up. Well, I let me tell you, I do a dynamic warm up before every run, and I've even now added in isometric warm up because that's I feel what really saved my knee, brought me back sooner. Um, and she won't, and she doesn't, she barely does foam rolling, and I just sent her a video today on how to do grastin on her leg because she's achy again and didn't join me today. So it's you know so if not any of you aren't um and that goes for listeners too if you're not strength training you need to be strength training and you need to be doing single leg strength training single leg stretches single everything because when we run it's a series of hops right so you're you're you're absolutely right although sadly my my current injury seemed to have been uh caused by doing some single leg RDLs and uh um I I think my form was not on point and um shame on me uh so it was not a running injury but it has impacted my ability to run.

SPEAKER_00:

For sure and you pull your red string yeah uh tweaked it I'll say I I'll say tweaked it um and then you know the then you're at a kilter and then nothing is good and but be that as it may I I intend to to run London um in 2026 because who knows if I'll ever get a chance like this again.

SPEAKER_02:

I am jealous of two of you going to London.

SPEAKER_01:

I've probably yeah um we actually got in because it's it's nearly impossible to get in particularly when um you're not a UK citizen. London is one of the largest London Marathon is probably the largest fundraising event in the UK and having stood on the sidelines in my boot cheering for people for like five hours um I can tell you that about two-thirds of the runners who pass by me seem to be wearing shirts associated with one or another charities. That's how people get in. The other way uh people largely get in from outside the UK is through um travel agencies that specialize in um you know group marathon experiences. And that's how my husband and I got in and um even with that travel agency they have their own sub lottery because it's that popular um they will never say how many guaranteed entries are available you have to express the interest and then they prioritize like how many trips you've done with them etc and then you kind of have more tickets into their sub lottery that's that's how we got in um sherry it's an epic race my husband had the best time it was perfect weather it's just absolutely wonderful and I hope to work my way back that in another couple years I'm ready to actually go and run the London marathon.

SPEAKER_03:

So so do it and and Diane uh you can do a half you can do a marathon you've vlogged a lot of miles I have yes yeah I have I have no doubt so I kind of expect to see you at the starting line of the rock and roll yes I do have a lot of just have a great time I do have a funny that was it was I think it was sometime during the summer I can't remember what month there was a small race and it was a 5K I just and they had a 5K a 10k and a half and I just signed up for the 5k and it was a very I think last minute put together race because they're like okay so the 5k people you'll see this big white flag and you turn there the 10k you will see a yellow flag and everything. Well when I was running kind of keeping up with the same people and everything and the water was on your right side so I stopped and grabbed some water. Well I missed that that the white flag was over on the other side and that I was supposed to turn so I keep on running and I'm like the heck where is this turnaround? It seems like I've been running forever and I checked my watch and it said I had gone like 4.9 miles. I'm like okay this is ridiculous. So I just turned around and ran back and when I got back to the start and the guy goes because it wasn't a timed event you just kind of you know told them they're your time and they're like okay so you did you know whatever it was and I'm like actually I did a 10k and they're like oh oh but you only signed up I said yes I missed your white little flag that was on the right on the other side of the water and after that I was like okay yeah I guess I'm ready for the 10k at Disneyland which it's not really a 10k because there's so many people and all the character stops and stuff like that but I I think I can do it.

SPEAKER_01:

I just have to like the bullet yeah you totally can yeah you just have to bite the bullet and do it.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah there's no time limit right Sherry so she could walk as much as she needed to I do do the Galloway run walk thing so I do now as well I I didn't used to but after my my last uh bout of of injury I I've and I'm a believer I I can do the half just as fast as run walking as continuous running.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah so I did I oh go ahead I'm sorry I was saying I did meet Jeff Galloway at the Disney race I was just like I just went up to him hugged him I'm like I love you you're the one that made me run yeah so I interviewed I was so excited I forgot to get a picture of it of him with me but you know so I didn't used to do run walk either um and then uh so I always find it interesting that I hire a coach even though I'm a coach to help me through difficult things right so when I did my Iron Man, you know I I didn't know how to swim. So obviously I had to have a swim coach. But my coach that I had for running he said all right for the hundred miler you're gonna have to do some walking I'm like what he's like you can't run the whole thing you got to walk so you can eat because you have to bring your heart rate down right so he introduced me to walking um it was longer walks so I would run for seven minutes and walk for three and I I don't that's when I had kind of heard about Jeff Galloway. So I had him on the show and was asking him questions about you know when do you do shorter runs and longer runs and shorter walks and and that and so it was from him that I got my um time that I do and you know it it does it works and you know I can run and not stop but why yeah exactly yeah at my age you know if I recover so much better so the next day when people can't go down steps or get off the toilet or whatever after a marathon my husband and I if we're somewhere in another state we go sightseeing and I'm fine you know so there's something to be said about the run walk I I thoroughly enjoy it and and and recommend it.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah it's been great.

SPEAKER_01:

Aaron I wanted to ask you you said you've been running for 20 years what got you started running well um I just got bored of walking um seriously um I was still working at the time and I would uh we have a gym at work and I'd walk on the treadmill on my lunch hour and you know real epiphany there hey you know if I ran I could go farther in the same amount of time of course um so after I had that little epiphany I uh I thought well I better get good shoes right because you don't want to get hurt and you know have hurt knees and hurt feet I'll go to the local running store. So I go to the local running store and um came out with a new pair of shoes and signed up for this half marathon training group because the salesperson who was like a senior in high school this girl ran track and cross country you know maybe I reminded her of her mom or something. She fitted me and everything and she's like you should really sign up for our our half marathon training group and it starts this Saturday and I'm like I don't know about running a half marathon I don't I don't know about this. No no you should do it. And then I thought well I'll learn something and that will help me enjoy running more and I don't really care if I sign up for a race or not but I'll learn things about running and I'll meet some people so okay so yeah I come home and I springless on my husband and he's like who are you um so uh and I had a great experience and I'm still friends with some of the people that we were in that first training group together. Um and that was kind of the gateway drug actually I did wind up signing up for a half and it was a little local half that was nothing to get excited about and I was totally exhausted my husband's driving home and he goes you know that looked kind of fun the next one you sign up for I I think I'll sign up too and we can we can train you know we can be in a training group and I'm like sitting in the car going I don't know that there's gonna be a next time I'm done um and uh of course there was a next time and another next time and another next time and I just I I found that I really love to run and I really love to run with people um and I love to run fast and I love to just run anything. So that's kind of what got it started for me. This high school girl working at the local running store. That's awesome but you know runners are the worst though because we have some terrible ideas of yeah let's run a marathon let's do and everybody that's around us goes yeah you should do that or yeah let's do that and they push you and they are definitely drug pushers yeah yeah it's it's tough with um other runners you know you might have coffee after a run or maybe you'll meet for happy hour and you'll come home and go, God, what did I just agree to you know and I I've sprung that on my husband before yeah you know I'm like oh yeah hey this would be great well you don't have to do it if you don't want to honor and he's like he's such a good sport he's like all right well I'll just run that too you know so we have a good time bigger pusher in the house I think I have been known to be very persuasive yeah yes well given your running experiences and um this group that we're in the old lady running group um Diane what would you like last little thing maybe I didn't ask or you want the audience uh these listeners to know about you about the group about your future um the group is fantastic as I said previously it's just I was asking stupid questions like when I'm running do I face the traffic or away from the traffic because one day I was running you know going facing the traffic and people were flipping me off and honking saying I'm running the wrong way so I asked in the group and you it it was just all it's so it's so uplifting you know whenever I you know whenever had I had a problem or anything you you guys just were they were just so fantastic um and everything.

SPEAKER_03:

Um it's just Sherry you you've done a fantastic job keeping it fantastic I don't know I don't I can't even say and I'm so I can't wait to meet you in uh San Diego. Erin are you going to San Diego? Yes absolutely perfect and Carla you're not sure yet oh Carla you gotta come you gotta come you gotta come Carla let me talk you into it Carla yes come on drug pushing here and Carla your podcast is fantastic. I found it about the same time I found the Facebook group uh group and one weekend when I was weeding our backyard because it was overgrown from the winter I stringed everything I just put my headphone in and out there weeding pulling things listening to your all the episodes it's it was it it made me and it's like okay now I really want to go out and run.

SPEAKER_02:

I don't want to weed anymore I want to run so I appreciate that it's it's a lovely for me. So Aaron uh what last little things would you like the audience to know other than for me to go to San Diego?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes everybody else oh everybody everybody come to San Diego you can do it um I've been reflecting on why this Facebook group is so successful Sherry and I know you do a lot of work to keep it successful um but I thought about where we're coming from as a group of old ladies and we grew up pre-Title IX or just after Title IX was active a lot so there wasn't a whole lot of support for being an active female um being an active female was looked at like you're strange it's an anomaly what are you doing that for and you know over time obviously an active lifestyle has you know been proven to be so healthy for everyone um but this group of women who are active on this Facebook group um are really leaning into no it's not an anomaly that I'm older and I'm active it's it's perfectly healthy it's a good thing to do and it helps me stay mentally healthy and happy and just it's it's such a positive thing. And I think that's part of the reason why we're so supportive is because growing up society was not that supportive of people our age um having such an active lifestyle um and yeah so you for everybody if if you have a notion to try a distance or an activity whatever get out there and give it a try don't don't stress about like oh I'm gonna be the oldest one in the drop in run in my town just go out and get out there because the amount of respect that us older women runners get um is really motivating too um yeah I I love it and I'm I'm super stoked to meet more of the group in real life in San Diego because you you carry that power of positivity uh you know even after you go home it's it's a really good thing um we are a we are a power uh a powerful positive group and you know two years running and let's keep going.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes definitely yes yeah you know funny you should say that Aaron um I work in a predominantly male um shop and they were looking for volunteers and people who already had been um first time responders they needed to get recertified if they want to do it again and they were looking for more people and so I went up to my supervisor and said I'll be a first responder and he went really just because these two huge guys came and said you know re-sign me up I'll get recertified you look at me like really I went yeah so I was I was kidding but it's because of that because it's predominantly male and I think you know all the athletics for years and years were predominantly male but you know I pass a lot of guys when I run that makes me feel good so yeah yeah same yeah yeah oh yeah if you've checked a guy it feels so good no disrespect anybody out there is a winner but you know it does kind of make your heart sing a little bit it does there's there's this guy that I always see at um the various 5Ks by us and we're always like neck and neck and sometimes he gets ahead of me and sometimes I get ahead of him and and at the end of the you know when we cross the finishing line we're all like high-fiving each other going hey we both did it both yeah this time you won't but next race I'm gonna win all right Sherry wrap us up what would you like the uh listeners to know to um any last minutes of wisdom that you would like to give them uh take us home yeah w wisdom I I don't have but um I I really do hope a lot of people do come to San Diego because seeing I mean just seeing you guys on on on video now it is better than just doing it on Facebook and what we learned when we gathered the smaller group of us in Cincinnati for the first in real life meetup that was even better and I I'm fortunate that there are a couple of women that I run with um well I'm the oldest but but they're close in age to me you know 50s and 60s early 60s um but I know that a number of our members are like the only old ladies they know that run. And to see and be with one another in real life I think is so powerful. And it it it's so affirming and it's like you're not just this strange person doing this. And and yeah I just think it'll be fun. That's what I'm excited about. And I'm excited about the group being as strong as it is right now two years down the road because when I I mean I had absolutely no expect expectations. When I started it I thought if we get a hundred people I was going to be thrilled and then you know it just kept growing and growing and growing and and it it just it just feels good to know that you're not alone whether it you're not alone um as an older woman um being active um you're not alone getting injured and you're you're not alone in that your pace is not what it used to be. So just that you're not alone um I think really is is a wonderful thing.

SPEAKER_02:

I agree about that a lot okay all right friends well thank you so much for being with me today I really appreciate it and uh I'll look forward to maybe see you guys in San Diego. Yes definitely for sure for sure thank you Carla thanks for hosting us thank you bye all right well thanks for listening in I hope that you enjoyed that episode as much as we did a recording there were so much other things that were said offline um but good fun stuff we had. So please follow share and rate the program please give me five stars helps me climb up the podcast ladder because there are a lot of fitness shows out there. If there's uh somebody that you think should hear this message about coming to San Diego please share it with them. If you want to be on the show you have a great story that you just know everyone is going to love please hit me up Carla at coffeecrewcoaching.com follow me on the socials uh I have a blog out there that was pretty good this time I don't write one every month um but yeah you can go over to my website coffeecrewcoaching.com and get emails and such from there when I do put something out. But again thanks for listening and have a great day

Contributor

Carla Coffey

Host