The Race Against Time: Adventures in Late-Life Running

by Richard Askwith

In The Race Against Time , Askwith touches upon something larger than simply running or sport - he helps us to see ourselves ... Both inspiring and moving' - Adharanand Finn, author of Running with the Kenyans A quest for the secrets of happy, healthy whole-life running, and how runners can keep enjoying their sport, whatever their age What do you do when the sport that has been your lifeline to physical and mental well-being starts to slip away from you? Richard Askwith, a life-long running enthusiast, was sunk in mid-life despair. Plagued by injuries and demoralised by failing strength and speed, he was on the point of giving up for good. Then he came across the remarkable world of late-life athletics, and resolved to find out more. The result is a thrilling, life-affirming quest for the secrets of the happy few who keep on running all through life's later decades, culminating in a life-changing adventure at the World Masters Athletics Championships. It's a resounding message of hope for any runner who has felt their joy in their sport being undermined by age. Colourful, informative and inspiring, The Race Against Time is a story of cold science and heart-warming resilience; of champions and also-rans; of sprinting centenarians and forty-something super-athletes barely touched by age. Its heroes are experts and enthusiasts - scientists, coaches, runners - from many countries, each with a different story to tell. What unites them is a single that you don't have to take growing old lying down. This is a book for anyone who has ever felt the healing power of running. It is both a very personal account of one man's journey from despair to hope, and an exhilarating guide, explaining how timely adjustments to lifestyle and training can slow the progress of physiological decay, while sheer human spirit can, if you are lucky, keep you running happily and healthily, all the way into extreme old age.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Fitness

368 pages, Hardcover

Published January 12, 2023

Reviews

[Clive Grewcock2 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Right book, wrong time. I get why a friend lent this to me, as I'm an old duffer who still tries to run. A year ago when I was injured and struggling with running I may have found this inspirational. However, I'm in a gap between injuries and this turned into repetitive chapters listing oldies recounting how and why they still run, interlaced with a continual plea from author to be recognised as a decent runner. Not quite a DNF, but I skipped a huge chunk before reading the last chapter.

[Phil Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

not what I was hoping for

I was hoping for advice on how to go about running in later years.
It may be in there, but if it is, it’s well hidden in several hundred pages of rather repetitive anecdote.
I’m afraid I gave up looking, and gave up reading.

[Roger Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, helpful, informative and inspiring

[Andy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being just a bit younger than the author, this was the book that I had been looking for to help reduce a drop off in performance and inspire me in later life. And it did both, providing evidence based practical ideas for training and interesting case studies on people running into their 90s and beyond. I will re-read it !

[Hideo Imamura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is not particularly uplifting, though informative. I bought it as a companion for my runs but some content did not motivate me so much and I stopped the audio a few times since some stories are not for early morning runs. The chapter on a philosophy prof is ironical where he had to face his own near death. He taught his students to accept their fate but when his fate hit him, he could not accept his new reality. You can just check this from library rather than buying it. The book seems like a set of articles rather than a book which develops a story. Too much whining...

[Patrick Gannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you are a masters athlete and need to recommit…

I’m 72 male, been a pretty good runner for 40 years. Last 3 years I’ve been running 6 days a week but aimlessly. This book has reignited the athlete within me to rededicate myself to becoming a better runner. It’s reignited the passion in me to be “more” and “better” - however I choose to define those terms.

Bottom line? It’s brought me back to training… speedwork, endurance and recovery runs.

I believe it will do the same for you.

[Jan Geerling · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s an interesting book that struggles to find an ending. The last chapters are a bombardement of examples, and that get’s tiresome after a while.

At one point I also started to be irritated by the writers constant self doubt.

[Sorrento · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a year older than Richard and having enjoyed reading two of his previous books this one caught my eye as I was browsing in an Ambleside bookshop. I'm glad I bought it as just like his other classic works this is full of marvellous story telling about amazing older runners such as Jo Pavey who at 41 won the 10 000 m gold medal at the 2014 European Championships. There are also a host of other much older characters who star in the book who make Jo Pavey look like a spring chicken.
In the book Richard tell us his own story and as the book moves along we get the idea that he is talking to these inspirational older runners who are still competing in world championship master events in order to get some advice on how he can run faster as a veteran runner. Then towards the end of the book he tells us the one about how he came to enter a world championship 10km race in Finland including his struggles to get fit for the race and the struggle through the race itself. Another brilliant book to go alongside "Feet in the Clouds" and "Today we die a little". As an ageing orienteer who runs regularly with much older and faster people and at the other end of the age scale the grandchildren I wonder if Richard might find rich pickings in telling the stories of some of the fantastic characters who take part in our sport.

[Mur McEwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd read a number of the author's other books, and was interested to delve into his latest offering ~ not least given his age (early 60s) and gradual dawning of mortality faced through a decline in running performance. There's a lot written about "very elderly running legends". Interesting how some of them take everything so seriously (diet, training, split times etc etc). Others are so laid back on these things as to be almost horizontal. Metaphorically speaking, if not literally. The message seems to be that after we pass the age of c 40 we will get slower; but there are lots of ways of reducing the pace of that slowing down, and coming to terms mentally and emotionally with the inevitability of it all. So there are grounds for optimism. I didn't find it quite as riveting as some of his other books (eg Zatopek); so I gave it 4 stars, probably 4.5 stars if that was an option.

[Andy Parkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone was technically already in masters age groups when I started running and since discovered master athletics this felt like it was worth a read seeing as I'd enjoyed his previous book about Emil Zatopek

The book is partly centred around the author and trying to figure out how running fits into his life as well as giving the reader details about people who have successfully become really good runners in later life with a bit of training advice thrown in

If you're already doing regular training you may not get too much of this some stories about some interesting figures people but if you're someone who ran previously it could certainly help with inspiration for getting back into it

[Peter Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational book recounting the running achievements of people in 60s and older, even well over 100 years old.
Explores the different training regimes (very varied) but does not provide a clear “training plan” - i found i need to draw my own conclusions - My conclusions: lots of strength and conditioning, very short, very hard efforts with long recovery once a week/fortnight(?), and for long runs, keep them slow.

When tslking about himself(which he does a lot), he comes across as quite negative and sorry for himself which is quite wearing at times (in comparison with his interviewees who seem very positive and emphasise how enjoying whatever you can do is so important)

Recommend for anyone runner or not, who wants to enjoy a healthy old age, but especially us runners who have been unable to shake off injuries as we got older.

[Alex Tilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to everyone, whether you run or not. It is a fantastic and thorough consideration of the breadth of the science of ageing and exercise, and not to overstate it, but it may add years to your life.
Askwith also manages to deliver a very engaging, personal and accessible account of a topic that could be depressing or morbid. The heroes of the story are nearly or very much pensioners, but they are brave and mighty and awe inspiring - some in spite of horrendous life histories.
To cap it off, the author manages a philosophical and even up eating ending, and an encouragement to us all to continue, no, to relish pushing that Sisiphusian boulder up the hill.

[Nancy Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Refers to the softcover edition.

Focusing on the science of athletes who compete well into old age, this book is a near 180-turn from Askwith's previous "Running Free". Where the former celebrated the pure act of outdoors running for running's sake, "The Race Against Time" delves into stats and technical jargon, along with many anecdotal profiles of Masters athletes, track runners in particular.

Tbh, as a runner who picked up the sport at age 49 and peaked a couple years later firmly mid-pack, I'm probably not the target audience for this particular book, which seems aimed at serious competitors looking to stay competitive as they hit middle age.

[Matt Trounce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was somehow quite sobering and yet still incredibly inspiring. Askwith chronicles the decline in our bodies as we age, quoting extensive scientific research. He also tells the stories of amazing masters athletes who are continuing to compete into old age, some past the century mark. He concludes with some philosophical musings about mortality. One that will go on my shelf to reread when I'm old(er).

[Andrew Collier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was simultaneously inspiring and depressing. Inspiring to read the profiles and achievements of so many Masters athletes. Depressing to be reminded in excruciating detail about how our bodies and performances necessarily decay with age.

I found the author's personal story to be interesting and enjoyable. The chapters which focused on the profiles of other athletes were slightly heavy going, being packed with too many details for easy consumption.

[Paul Kulyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sort of like Outlive by Peter Attia if you stripped out all the nonsensical inferred from basic science junk with no clinical evidence and potentially dangerous "medical" advice. In this case, the book is about embracing aging rather than fearing it. I loved it.

I had no idea about the famous Canadian masters athletes. Olga Kotelko was particularly interesting, with her also being a Saskatchewanian of Ukrainian descent.

Looking forward to finishing Feet in the Clouds next.

[Maksim Kulichenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in how long I can run. This book made me realize that I can do this until I die :)
From a practical standpoint the most valuable thing for me was that I learned that mobility work is actually effective before a workout and stretching (which I did for all my running history before that) is detrimental.
A read was a little bit dry at times, especially while enumerating all the records these veterans have achieved.

[Ray George · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, as always, from Askwith that blends helpful guidance with personal experience that any older runner or athlete can relate to. And so many inspiring stories of senior athletes and accomplishments, many only starting after retiring. An inspiring, entertaining, and informative read for athletes of any age.

[Martin Mcshane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Race against time: a meditation on ageing, life and joy in exercise

I wasn’t sure what book I had bought when I started to read this one. As I settled in I realised it would show me through other lives how age should never be a deterrent to going beyond what you believe you might be able to do. It is reflective, philosophical and a journey. It also got me running again (at 66)!

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simultaneously inspiring and a little daunting, since this guy is only a few years ahead of me and seems to have been in much better shape than me to start with but he's really struggling. The idea of age as a limit to be pushed against is good though. It's a more positive message than maybe you should just lie down and not do yourself an injury.

[Fred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having been introduced to the world of running at 84 years of age after many years of cycling, it was interesting to read about others who have been running for much longer. It wasn't long before I experienced knee trouble which toned down the initial enthusiasm for 5 km Parkruns. Read the whole book. Gave three stars - narrative too repetitive to give any more than three.

[Land Heintzberger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting anecdotes and information, but everything in this book could have been boiled down to a 10 page article. The last 100 pages really dragged, and the author endlessly repeated the fact that we're all getting older, and slower, and we're all going to die in the end. And that is a really mediocre runner. He mentions that on nearly every page and it gets so tedious.

[Christos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read this cover to cover to be honest. It reads like a really long newspaper article on running in later stages of life. Personally I found it interesting but to an extent. It is obvious that the author is a journalist and a very good one at that. But it is too much detail and too much information for me. I want the juice and the soul not the numbers and the names.

[Elena Macia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I’ve read a couple of excellent running books - The Art of Running Faster and Born to Run. My sister bought me this as a well meaning gift, but it’s a mixture of depressing, self indulgent and boring. (Sorry!) The odd interesting bit, but mainly wish I hadn’t wasted so much time trying to plough through this. Onwards and upwards.

[Phil Whittall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting exploration of late-life runners and running. Askwith is a droll, self-deprecating and honest narrator and you can tell he's struggling with his own mortality which gives this book an existential edge beyond tips about living long and strong, but also about the fact that one day we won't be living at all.

[JC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 - Audio.

This is a look at running in later life (60s+) and what it involves. I may not be there yet but it is a good insight into that world, what it takes and how it is never too late.


Would I recommend? Yes. Especially for runners
Would I reread? Yes but not for a while.

[Little legs · Rating 3 out of 5]

May start it again as I think it was just the wrong time to try and read it.

[Tony Kettle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are an aging runner, read this book. After you have finished reading, you will find it infinitely harder to stop running. You may even win a medal.

[Trio25 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I abandoned at half way, just was getting a bit samish for me.

[Andrew Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read