Runners often have wrinkles for reasons other than running itself. Many runners spend long hours outdoors without proper sun protection, so the wrinkles are a result of sun exposure. Runners are also often people who have lost a lot of weight, so the wrinkles are from the skin that was previously filled with fat.
Some believe years of repetitive bouncing during a run cause the facial skin to stretch and sag over time. However, this is an urban legend. No studies prove the theory that bouncing causes skin to stretch.
While we can't stay young forever, new studies suggest that running and other forms of aerobic exercise really can reverse some effects that come from sedentary aging. In fact, a regular aerobic routine can make our hearts look 30 years younger by the time we reach our 70s.
What is runner's face? If you haven't heard the term, you've likely seen it. It is the face of a lifelong runner with leathery, saggy skin and a gaunt appearance. It is the result of lots of sun exposure and little body fat.
Running increases the production of human growth hormone—your body's natural youth serum. "This helps you produce new cells, which can make your skin look a lot more youthful," says Webb.
The data show older runners only decline gradually after age 40, before finally slowing down more dramatically in their late 70s. The study models also predict that people slow down at about the same rate — about 1 percent added to their times each year — whether or not they're elite runners.
A distance runner's body is typically lean and thin, with toned lower legs and a slim upper body. It is built for endurance and is hallmarked by a low body mass and low body fat percentage.
What is runner's stomach? Runner's stomach refers to the gastrointestinal (GI) distress that occurs during a run or bouts of exercise—resulting in cramping, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and pain. Runner's trots and runner's belly are other common names for these symptoms.
Extreme workouts can result in fat loss throughout the body as well as the face. This subsequent decrease in facial fat and volume is one of the main reasons why exercise makes you look older, especially for anyone over the age of 35.
That's a finding from a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, which concluded that people who run on a regular basis—consistently, but slowly—have a longer lifespan than those who are out pushing it to the line every time.
O'Keefe says there is no definite age cutoff at which running is no longer good for you, but curbing it with age may be a good idea. “Many people find that their joints feel better if they do brisk walking rather than running after age 45 or 50,” he says.
Wear A Hat And Sunglasses
To protect your head and eyes from the sun, wear a hat or sun visor when running outdoor. This not only helps shade your face but also soaks up the sweat, making it for a comfortable run.
But there's good news, middle-of-the-pack runners, because we may have the last laugh: New research shows that while elite runners peak at age 35, the rest of us may not peak until we're 50. These are the results of a new study that examined 16 years of data from the Chicago, New York and Boston marathons.
Aerobic exercise is also is a great way to increase circulation and blood flow throughout your body, including to your skin, which translates to a more glow-y, radiant complexion.
Runners often have wrinkles for reasons other than running itself. Many runners spend long hours outdoors without proper sun protection, so the wrinkles are a result of sun exposure. Runners are also often people who have lost a lot of weight, so the wrinkles are from the skin that was previously filled with fat.
Studies show that elite athletes in their fifties and sixties often have a decades-younger “biological age,” determined by how well their body functions.
Anti-Aging Cardio Workout
The Brigham Young University study found that people who ran 30 to 40 minutes at high intensity five days a week were consistently biologically younger than those who followed more moderate exercise programs, or who led sedentary lifestyles.
"Aerobic exercise such as running, swimming or rowing raises metabolism during and after the activity, making it less likely that calories will be stored around the abdominal area, or anywhere else, as fat," Sutton says.
The symptoms of runner's diarrhea will typically begin during your workout and may continue in the hours after you're done running. Runner's diarrhea shouldn't last for more than 24 hours. If you get diarrhea during a run and your loose bowel movements don't stop, it may be a sign of another medical condition.
“The GI tract tends to slow down, and it's not going to move that air through as well,” says Freedburg. That's going to cause it to build up in your lower abdomen; hence, bloating. To combat this, rather than gasping for air when you run, which can lead to more stress, you'll want to focus on belly breathing.
Runners sometimes gain weight because they change their diets along with their mileage, or because other factors, such as hormonal fluctuations, come into play. And, occasionally, extra pounds are actually a sign things are going right.
“What we call 'runner's face' does indeed often correlate with a runner's body type and lifestyle, but running does not specifically cause one to have a gaunt face.” The urban legend that's coined this look is actually caused by loss of volume and skin elasticity.
Even if you're a regular runner who is watchful of what you eat, it's still possible to have belly fat that you just can't shift. In many cases, this can be down to diet. Even experienced runners can make misguided dietary choices.