This week on runladylike.com is about authentic voices in running and in writing. All week, I’m sharing insightful and inspiring running articles by women who epitomize what it means to be authentic. While I’m hiking, rafting and camping my way through the Grand Canyon, their voices will remind us about important lessons in life and in running. In case you missed it, check out the first Authentic Voices article Letting Go of Goals by Laura Norris and the second installment Missing My Runner’s Body by Christine Yu.

Today’s authentic voice is from Amanda Loudin, a freelance writer, mother of two and recovering blogger. You can read her work in Competitor magazine, Runner’s World and more, and you can find her on Twitter and Instagram. Today, she’s getting real about running at 50 and beyond.

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At the age of 50, I’m guessing I’m older than most of you reading this. And that I’ve been running longer (19-20 years?). So I’m in a different place than most of you — a place you might dread: The time of the slowdown; the time of rearview PRs; the time of “I just don’t care very much anymore.”

But I want to let you in on a secret: It’s a marvelous place to be.

I know it’s hard for you PR chasers to believe. It was for me, too, even as recently as three years ago.

I was always an intense runner and competitor. I worked hard to go after big numbers. The 40-year old me thought that there would never be a time in my life where I didn’t want to compete for great times. I set goals, and I did whatever it took to make them show up on the clock.

When I didn’t hit those times, I was deeply disappointed and would do all it took to figure out why. Rinse, repeat.

I’m not sure how or why I got beyond that place with my running. Somewhere, somehow, something shifted. Suddenly, I was still racing, but not for specific times. I was still training, but not as intensely.

When I recognized this new version of my runner self, I did a bit of introspection. Was this really where I wanted to be? Or did I want to dive back into heavy training, racing, caring?

I realized, none of the above. I’ve had that time in my running career. It’s now time for something new.

Let me tell you, folks, it’s a very freeing experience. And I believe that after all these years, I am enjoying my running more than ever.

If you’re skeptical, I get it. But let me tell you about this new place:

• I follow no training plan — my weeks are mine to plot out. I do them loosely based on upcoming (less competitive) races, ensuring I get in the miles and some speed work. Let’s say I do enough to remain respectable when I race.
• I do speed work, but it’s not by time. It’s 100 percent by feel. This is the BEST thing on the planet. I do exactly what my body needs me to do on any given day.
• Easy runs are easy and again, my body sets the pace the entire time.
• I spend more time on trails than I used to. I love being out in nature, and it’s so rewarding.
• I try new and different race types and distances. See above.
• I run with my kids any opportunity I get. Those runs may not jive with what race I have coming up, but it’s not even a trade-off. It’s a win all the way around.
• Now and again, I skip a run and sleep in. Or pick some alternative form of exercise. I would never have done this before. A run was a run and it was going to happen.
• I spend more time invested in strength work and stability work. If this requires fewer miles due to time constraints, it’s all good. I have discovered a love of barre, TRX and boot camp classes.
• At the same time, I’ll sometimes run a couple of extra miles if it means I can fit my dog into the picture. She loves it and lives for it and I’m not hurting myself or my running if I add a few on.
• Runs and races with friends, especially to fun locations like Napa, rule. We make the most of this time, and if that means a little wine that night before a marathon, then so be it.
• I sometimes just run races, not race them. And enjoy every step.

I get it if this all sounds like blasphemy to you at this stage. But my hope is that someday, you’ll lower the bar a bit, relax into your running and enjoy the journey. Because if you ask me, THIS is the place where all of the joy in running is found.

What resonates with you most about Amanda’s story? How do her words compare to where you are in your running journey right now?