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Turning 40 doesn't mean your best running years are behind you — it means the way you train has to change. In this episode, we sit down with MY running coach Nick Klastava (USATF & RRCA certified, head coach of Running Explained and co-host of the name sake podcast) to break down what the science actually says about masters running, and how to build a smarter training block after 40.
We cover:
🌀Why aerobic fitness decline after 40 is real, but mostly optional if you keep training
🌀How training should change for runners over 40
🌀Appropriate goals for runners over 50
🌀His approach to my training as a 45-year-old mom going for her fastest marathon time (low 2:50s)
🌀Why your ceiling — VO2max, lactate threshold, even PRs — stays highly
Whether you're chasing a running PR over 40 or just trying to keep showing up strong, this episode gives you the science-backed playbook for training smarter, not less.
RESOURCES:
IG: @runningexplained & @nklastava
Website & podcast: runningexplained.com
Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com. When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs.
