The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is hoping that people approach their mid-life crises with a running start — literally.

To that end, the AARP has recruited people like Barbara Hannah Grufferman, author of “The Best of Everything After 50: The Experts' Guide to Style, Sex, Health, Money, and More,” to highlight some of the healthiest ways to stay fit. The video above demonstrates some basic tips by Grufferman for people over the age of 50 who want to start running.

These include:

  • Eating healthy before runs and staying hydrated during them.

  • Keeping your feet low to the ground to reduce the risk of injury

  • Knowing your limits (“If you’re huffing and puffing, you’re going too fast,” notes Grufferman.).

  • Taking plenty of breaks to walk instead of run. If anything, the runs should briefly interrupt the longer periods of walking.

Though running is often seen as a young person’s sport, there’s no shortage of individuals who have kept their jogging shorts on into their 60’s and 70’s. And there’s plenty of good that can come from it. Regular running and exercise can slow down the worst aspects of aging — and contrary to popular belief, may protect against rather than worsen joint or other skeletal problems. A 2014 study found that even individuals who first started to exercise in their golden years at least once a week experienced significant health benefits, such as a reduced risk of major chronic disease, depressive symptoms, and physical or cognitive impairment.

So whether you’ve been renewing your gym membership for decades or just decided on a whim to start training for a 3K race, there’s no age where a little jog can’t do wonders for your health.

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