By Magda Lewy-Boulet

Next week I will be tuning 38 years old and many people have been asking me how I keep getting faster with age….well, I say to them that each year I get wiser and stronger.  It’s mostly strangers that ask that question because those who know me well will probably say that it’s about time that I set some new personal bests. A 2:26 marathon last year and a 31:48 10k this year makes me feel at the top of my game.

Some people may think that an athlete of my age will not improve anymore and that those performances were a fluke. Well, guess what?  Never for a moment do I believe that.  My heart beats stronger then ever and my legs move faster then they ever have before.  By now I have also figured out what it takes to keep improving and how to continue to enjoy the process by having fun doing it every day.  Yes, I mean actually have fun training every day, twice a day.  You might ask what do I really mean by having fun, right?  I train hard, just as my fellow competitors do and yes there are days where training is not as much fun.  Actually, there are days and certain workouts that cause me anxiety and make me wish I could delete them from my training.  There are mornings where I don’t want to get out of bed and run in the pitch dark or rain.  There are plenty of evenings where I don’t want to do any more stretching and apply more ice on sore muscles after putting my son to bed, but I do it anyway.  And why?  Because the journey is what I live for, because I feel unstoppable, because I love to set goals, I love having the mindset to achieve them and most of all because I am still having fun.  95% of the time I wake up in the morning with an ample amount of passion to get out the door to go run, to go train and to do it better then last week, last month, or last year.

With at least a decade of professional running behind me and many more ahead of me, I have learned a few things over the years that allow me to keep improving.  Here are 5 examples of how I became wiser, stronger and faster with age.

1. TENACITY:  Stay in the sport long enough and you will out run (pun intended) most of your competition.  Many athletes don’t have the patience to rough it out when injuries & challenging obstacles get in the way.  Many young athletes leave the sport much earlier then what their potential indicates.  Working through the injuries, learning and overcoming challenges is what will make you a wiser and stronger athlete down the road.  There is no instant gratification in running.  You must embrace and live the journey.



2. STRENGTH WORK:  I like to do daily strength exercises that include an ankle weight routine, AIS (assisted isolated stretching), and lifting.  I do a little bit each day.  I have noticed that now it is even more important to do more of the little things in order to stay healthy but also improve my running efficiency.  Prehab is the way to go!



3. NUTRITION:  I love to live a healthy lifestyle.  I cook all my meals and embrace each chance I get to share a home cooked meal with my family and friends.  I fuel my body with healthy choices not only to support the hours of training I put in on daily basis but because I want to keep doing it forever.  Injuries, sickness and quality of life depend on the nutritional choices we make.   Every day and every meal I make includes fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, legumes, and whole unprocessed grains. Cooking yourself eliminates many unhealthy ingredients and gives you control over your health.  Don’t be afraid to give it a try…you are worth it.



4. MIX it UP:  Season after season, year after year I find the urge to find new places to train.  I love my home and my trails in the Bay Area and I believe that that is where I am the happiest, but traveling to training camps a couple of times a year is critical. It provides a refreshing feeling, new & exciting places to explore, the opportunity to meet new people and most of all a renewed appreciation for home in the Bay Area.



5. FRIENDS, FAMILY, COACH, SPONSORS & TRAINING PARTNERS:  That’s right….I couldn’t do it without my supports system because it wouldn’t be fun.   All those individuals believe in my dreams and remind me daily that the sky is the limit. They don’t think of me as an age but as a fellow friend and runner.



“When you embody enthusiastic anticipation for something, it creates positive receptive energy that opens your mind and heart to possibility. When you’re open, you’re dynamic, energized, upbeat and ready for inspiration and success.”

Live It Up…as my coach Jack Daniels reminds me every day.