What does it mean to be a trail runner in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s—or even your 70s? How do years of pounding dirt, chasing summits, and chasing goals shape our bodies, minds, and identities?
Welcome to The Aging Athlete, a new Trail Runner Nation mini-series co-hosted by ultrarunning icon Krissy Moehl. Every 5 to 6 weeks, we’ll dive into what it looks like to grow older in this sport we love—exploring how to train smarter, fuel better, recover more intentionally, and stay motivated through the decades. We’ll hear from veteran runners, sports scientists, strength coaches, dietitians, and everyday athletes who are navigating the highs and lows of longevity on the trails. From injury recovery to hormonal changes, shifting mindsets to redefined identities, this series is for anyone who’s ever wondered: Is this just what aging feels like—or is it the miles I’ve logged? And more importantly, how do I keep moving forward with strength, wisdom, and joy?
We don’t have all the answers—but we’re here to ask the right questions. Let’s age boldly, together.
Check out Krissy’s book in it’s second edition, Running Your First Ultra
Episode Sponsors:
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- Bear Mattress, get 40% off your first order with code TRAIL
- Wonderful Pistachios
- Oikos Triple Zero
- FREE! Trail Runner Nation’s Trail Triage app
Aging athlete? – I thought at last the needs of my demographic was going to be addressed. But no, 40s, 50s, 60s mentioned. At 78 years old, I guess I’ll have to keep waiting….
David,
Thanks for the comment. This is the first in a series of episodes, so stay tuned. We also have an episode coming up in the next week or two about running after joint replacement AND our anuual Western States prognostication episode will be talking about the many 70+ runners that will be racing this year!
Hi guys, your podcast inspires me!
You mentioned a term about the 7 good years of running. It sounded like “Satchak 7” or something similar, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. Can you provide a link or reference?
Thanks so much
Haha. Sorry for not clarifying. The reference is from Dr.Kevin Sawchuk, MD, an ultrarunner in Northern California. It is just something that he has said. There are no references or publishings.