Running and Aging: Running as Hedonism

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[Author’s Note: This article is part of an occasional series on the unique opportunities and challenges of growing older as a runner.]

On a recent trip back East, I dusted off my old copy of John Schubert’s book, “Running: A Celebration of the Sport and the World’s Best Places to Enjoy It,” and read it cover to cover. Published in 1992, this book is Schubert’s paean to his beloved sport. A 1974 Swarthmore College graduate and a decorated cross-country runner, Schubert’s inspiring words paint a picture of a simpler time in distance running. Sandwiched between the 1970s running boom and the current explosion in running’s popularity, Schubert’s book provides timeless insights and provocative ideas into what has made running so special to so many people.

Schubert’s main message is that running does not have to be about winning, racing, or even achieving an impressive time. In fact, he believes that for many, the opposite is true. It can simply be a satisfying way of being physically active and experiencing the world around us.

A Hedonistic Activity

In one of the most poignant sections of the book, Schubert describes running as something that can become pleasurable for its own sake — what he calls a hedonistic activity — when approached in the right spirit and attitude.

That theme is notable as Schubert himself was a serious and competitive runner. As he bounces from topic to topic in the book, the through line traces his own development from his early days as a sprinter through his longer-distance running and ultimately marathoning. His experience provides the framework for explaining what happens when someone becomes increasingly committed to the sport while wondering why it has such a powerful grip on so many people.

One of the more appealing aspects of the book is that Schubert recognizes that runners have very different ambitions and come to the sport from countervailing perspectives.

You don’t have to run a Boston qualifying marathon. You don’t need a bunch of fancy running gear. You don’t even have to run a race. You just have to put one foot in front of the other and run.

Schubert implores us all to embrace the fact that you can run because you like being outdoors, because it clears your head, because you enjoy the physical sensation it provides, or simply because running makes you feel better.

To me, the essence of Schubert’s message is: You can run because your life is so much better with running in it than without it.

These days, I am often asked about my own running and how I have remained active in the sport long after my competitive days. And, for me, the answer is simple: Running is not only what I do, but it is also who I am. I have become a better person through running. I have learned valuable life lessons about patience, resilience, discipline, and purpose through running. Through running, I have been able to confront some of life’s biggest challenges, and I like to think that through sharing those experiences with others, I have helped others do the same.

In the end, running has given me pleasure, provided me with hope, and has been steadfast as a promised land that I will forever strive for.

Bottoms up!

AJW’s Beer of the Week

This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Deschutes Brewing Company in Bend, Oregon. Tropical Fresh IPA is a delightfully playful IPA. Blending flavors of pineapple and mango with classic Pacific Northwest hops, Tropical Fresh is a fantastically refreshing take on an increasingly crowded variety.

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Running and Aging: Running as Hedonism by Andy Jones-Wilkins.