Jody Smotherman May Be a New Runner But He Doesn’t Lack Perspective

Today I am going a few easy miles with Jody Smotherman.

Jody Smotherman

Jody is an adult onset runner. While he may not have as much running experience as others, he more than makes up for that with his enthusiasm for the sport.

As a father to 3 daughters, running has proven to be a valuable connection and source of communication.

Connecting With Running Mid-Life

It was only as recently as a year and a half ago that Jody could be found running.

He ran his first half marathon as a suggestion from a friend with only 5 months of training.

Trails are where his heart lies.

Road racing and trails are both enjoyable to him, but they are completely different experiences.

As an adult onset runner, he has learned that there is a learning curve for everything:

• Recovery
• Nutrition
• Training

Becoming a runner mid way through life has given him a different perspective than if he had started running in his 20’s or 30’s.

He has learned to pay more attention to what his body says than what his Garmin says.

This Episode is Sponsored by: Altra

A Family Affair

When Jody first began running, it was a solo endeavor.

Not too soon after, his oldest daughter ran with him to supplement training for her other sports.

What began as a way for both of them to stay in shape turned into much more.

Training together turned into doing races together.

All this extra time spent bonding over a similar interest strengthened their communication.

Their love of running spread to the rest of the family.

The running community has embraced his children with open arms at races further deepening Jody’s passion.

Jody Smotherman, Running with His Daughter

Balance

Running at this stage in his life has taught him some lessons he hopes other new runners can avoid.

Listening to your body is even more important than ever as you age.

You can still push your limits and set goals, but keep the balance in training and life.

The two best pieces of advice he got from experienced runners were:

• Don’t increase your weekly mileage by more than 10% at a time.
• Never judge a run by the first mile

Running can unearth some aches and pains occasionally.

Meds such as ibuprofen can help deal with pain, but be cautious not to rely on such aids.

Symptoms may be masked if taken regularly.

Also Mentioned In This Episode:

Follow along on Jody’s Blog to see what adventures he encounters while running and fathering 3 girls.

He can also be found on Twitter and Instagram @j.s.smotherman and @grace.grit.growth.

Jody Smotherman is an adult onset runner that like many has fallen in love with the sport and received many benefits in return. What he lacks in first place medals he makes up for in enthusiasm. He has a unique perspective having been a… Click To Tweet

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