A couple weeks ago I found the new book Older, Faster, Stronger (What Women Runners can Teach us All About Living Younger, Longer) by Margaret Webb.

OMG, this is my kind of book.

Since deciding to run the Mighty Niagara half, I have been looking for info on older runners. How does age impact your training, what to expect, what’s important?

More importantly, if I’m going to spend all this time, what’s the return on my investment? You get the obvious (and that’s worth it) but is there more? Long term?

This book wraps up much of what I was looking for into a nice box with a pretty bow. It’s not a training plan book, rather the current state of research that helped Ms. Webb weave through a year of working to achieve the fitness of her collegiate athlete years… at 51. It shares the story of those women who have been there, and still are! And dispels some myths.

If you’re good with the details of it all, go buy this book.

Topics of nutrition, motivation, training, physiology, genetics, examples and experiences all nicely wrapped up in an easy-to-digest package. We are introduced to the research in all the areas that touch a running athlete and to women (and men) living an athletic lifestyle will into their 90’s.

If you’re a runner, you’ve noticed that the number of octogenarians running today seems to be growing. Honestly, I never really paid much attention because it wasn’t on my radar. Newly minted 50, my goal is to spend as many days in fantastic health as possible. It’s on my radar now! Running, besides keeping me sane, lets me eat and apparently is a stellar choice to keep me healthy. Healthy down to the mitochondrial level. Whoo hoot, talk about details.

Thank you Ms. Webb for sharing your experience and even more for sharing the highlights of the current state of research on the impact of training on aging. I wanted to type the current state of running on aging but… it’s more than that. It’s the full Christmas Tree, the ornaments, garland and lights topped with all the pretty presents underneath. She meets with leading researchers and shares their work in words that won’t scare away us non-scientists.

I’ve recommended this book to friends – both men and women, and family – young and older; and now I’m recommending it to you!

No spoiler here! My read was the Kindle version from Amazon. Go grab it to find out how Ms. Webb’s year ends!