Jenni Falconer, known for her passion for running and hosting the RunPod podcast, reveals the key fitness change she made after turning 50: committing to strength training to support her running and long-term health.
- Strength training helps prevent running injuries and supports recovery.
- Muscle loss and bone density decline accelerate after 50, making strength work critical.
- Simple bodyweight exercises can effectively build strength without gym trips.
What happened
Jenni Falconer has long identified as an avid runner, often sharing her enthusiasm for running through social media and her podcast. However, after turning 50, she recognized that running alone wasn’t enough to sustain her fitness and wellbeing. She began integrating strength training into her routine to address muscle weaknesses, particularly around the glutes, which were contributing to injuries.
Despite not always enjoying strength workouts, especially leg exercises, Jenni made it a priority to incorporate them several times a week. Her approach balances running commutes of about eight miles with targeted strength sessions aimed at improving both performance and long-term health.
Why it feels good
Strength training offers significant benefits beyond supporting running. For women approaching and surpassing 50, muscle mass naturally decreases and bone density can decline due to hormonal changes such as menopause. This can increase risks like osteoporosis and slow metabolism.
By committing to resistance exercises, Jenni not only reduces injury risk but also helps maintain stability, balance, and overall functionality. This proactive approach means she is investing in her ability to stay active and independent well into older age.
What to enjoy or watch next
Jenni often shares strength exercise routines tailored to runners, including bodyweight circuits of squats and lunges that require no gym membership. These simple, accessible workouts can be easily integrated into any fitness plan, making strength training approachable for all.
For those inspired by Jenni’s journey, resources like Runner’s World UK’s feature on her and Good Housekeeping’s Fit (Enough) Club provide expert workout plans and guidance to build strength safely and effectively after 50.