EP 735: The Aging Athlete-Exercise Physiology
Trail Runner Nation
Trail Runner Nation
4.5 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 27 June 2025
⏱️ 78 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What does it mean to be a trail runner in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s—or even your 70s? How do years of pounding dirt, chasing summits, and chasing goals shape our bodies, minds, and identities?
Welcome to The Aging Athlete, a new Trail Runner Nation mini-series co-hosted by ultrarunning icon Krissy Moehl. Every 5 to 6 weeks, we'll dive into what it looks like to grow older in this sport we love—exploring how to train smarter, fuel better, recover more intentionally, and stay motivated through the decades.
In this second episode of the Aging Athlete Series, we speak with Dr. Scott Drum, an exercise physiologist and lifelong endurance athlete. We explore how training, VO₂ max, heart health, sleep, and social connection evolve as we age—and how understanding these changes can help runners continue performing and thriving for decades. Dr. Drum explains how we can maintain (and even improve) cardiovascular fitness into our 50s and beyond, and shares his personal experience with AFib as a cautionary but hopeful tale. The conversation blends science, personal insight, and practical strategies to help runners of all ages stay motivated, train smart, and run for life.
Check out Krissy's book in it's second edition, Running Your First Ultra
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Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | I go back to, there is no magic bullet, except lifelong activity and nutrition and sleep |
| 0:08.6 | all come into play and that social connectedness. |
| 0:11.4 | Your immune system reacts a lot to self-perception and having social connections really broadens |
| 0:19.8 | that and decreases stress about being alone because being alone does decrease lifespan. trail runs with all of you that are listening, we bring along experts that have fun stories |
| 0:46.8 | and scientific studies that are going to help us become better runners. |
| 0:51.2 | And maybe that will translate into us being better human beings. |
| 0:55.9 | We're on our journey of the aging athlete's got and it's not about getting old and running |
| 1:00.7 | it's about being able to run when you're older. |
| 1:05.8 | Trailrunners how many packs have almost worked, but bounced around, couldn't hold your |
| 1:11.9 | gear, or just didn't fit right. |
| 1:14.8 | That's why John G created the Revy Pack, the most technical and versatile day pack yet designed |
| 1:19.9 | to take you farther. |
| 1:21.3 | Its bounce prove thanks to a 4-point adjustable system and stole bowl elastic waist belt. |
| 1:26.4 | The Revy has pockets for everything too. |
| 1:28.6 | It can haul over 20 pounds without flinching. |
| 1:31.3 | Its weather resistant materials high contrast citrus lining and John G's signature sustainable |
| 1:37.3 | design makes this pack the one you'll reach for again and again. |
| 1:42.0 | And here's a kicker. |
| 1:43.1 | It's built with blue design approved. |
| 1:45.4 | What does that mean? |
| 1:46.4 | It has recycled materials because John G is just as committed to the sustainability as |
| 1:51.6 | they are to helping you crush miles. |
... |
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