NE65+: A Running Club That Proves You’re Never Too Old to Run
For many new runners, getting started can be intimidating. You may wonder if you’re too old, too slow, or simply too inexperienced to fit into the running community.
The NE65+ Runners Club offers a different perspective.
You’re never too old to be a runner.
The New England 65 Plus Runners Club is a very active organization with approximately 1,000 members. Its members come from throughout New England and beyond, and they represent a wide range of running abilities—from highly competitive age-group runners to those who simply enjoy getting out and running or walking.
And that’s one of the things that makes NE65+ special.
It’s Not About How Fast You Run
You don’t have to be an elite runner to be part of the club.
Some members compete for age-group championships. Others are happy simply to finish a race and enjoy the experience.
The club recognizes runners in five-year age groups, giving older runners an opportunity to compete against others in their own age group.
That can provide a whole new reason to run.
Instead of asking, “How do I compare with everyone in the race?”, you can ask:
“How do I compare with other runners my age?”
And sometimes the most important competition isn’t with another runner at all.
It’s with yourself.
A Community That Keeps You Running
Running can be an individual sport. You put on your shoes, walk out the door and run your miles.
But being part of a running club can make the experience much more enjoyable.
NE65+ provides that sense of community. Members see each other at races, share their experiences and celebrate each other’s accomplishments.
The club also keeps its members connected through its monthly newsletter, Forever Run.
Forever Run provides updates about club activities and gives members an opportunity to share their own running experiences. Members submit stories and photographs from races they have run, and the newsletter features pictures of NE65+ runners who participated in those events.
For members, seeing familiar faces and reading about the experiences of other runners can be a great source of motivation.
You aren’t running alone.
There are hundreds of other runners out there who understand why you keep putting on those shoes.
The Stories Are Part of the Inspiration
One of the best things about a running club isn’t necessarily the races or the competition.
It’s the stories.
Someone runs their first race.
Someone sets a new age-group personal record.
Someone comes back from an injury.
Someone runs a race with a friend.
Someone simply keeps running year after year.
Those stories remind us that there isn’t one definition of a successful runner.
Success can simply mean continuing to run.
It’s Never Too Late
The NE65+ Runners Club is a great example of what can happen when runners refuse to put an age limit on their goals.
Your pace may change as you get older.
Your training may change.
Your goals may change.
But that doesn’t mean you have to stop.
You can still set goals, enter races, meet other runners and experience the excitement of crossing a finish line.
And if you’re a new runner, remember that you don’t have to start by running five miles—or even one mile.
Start where you are.
Set a small goal.
Take the first step.
Then take another.
Find Your Running Community
If you’re 65 or older and looking for other runners who believe that age shouldn’t stop you from running, the NE65+ Runners Club is worth learning more about.
Visit NE65+ Runners Club to learn about the club, membership, races and activities.
And if you’re not 65 yet, don’t wait until then to find your running community. Find a friend, a local running club, or simply someone who will encourage you to keep going.
You don’t have to be fast.
You don’t have to be young.
You just have to start.
Every Step Counts
At JustLike2Run, that’s what we believe.
Every runner has a story. Every goal starts with a first step. And it’s never too late to take it.