I just wanted to toss this out there.
I'm 56, had a brain-stem stroke 7 years (and 5 days ago-but who's counting?), 5"10 and about 200 lbs. I have been running about 3 miles every other day for about the last twenty years. I was lifting some pretty good weights, squatting 500 and benching 320 a few days before my stroke. (My current medications make lifting darn-near impossible.)
Since the PT test for our SWAT team (and the occasional PT test for everyone on patrol) doesn't require anything more than a half mile run, I switched from going 3 miles at a whack to 1/2 mile runs- I run for a 1/2 mile, walk for 4 minutes, and repeat the 1/2 mile. I do that four times for a total of 2 miles, and have considerably improved my times.
Anyway, I have been reading up on "rucking". A few weeks ago, starting easy, I tossed on a 40 lb pack, and took off for about 4 miles. It didn't seem to hit me until about 3 miles, when I could tell my legs were warming up pretty good. My feet were ok.
The next morning I couldn't hardly get out of bed. (I do this on my days off-which wold be either 3 or 4 days in a row.) This is in addition to my regular running/pushups/situps/pullups/stretching.
I am up to about 5-6 miles, and still at 40 pounds. I have times myself on my 1/2 miler's and have knocked off a little time there, too! And everything I read about how important shoes (boots) are turned out to be true.
In a few weeks, I am going to up the weight 10 pounds for a few weeks, and then up the distance. Every other two weeks I will either increase the weight or distance.
Getting old sure ain't fer kids, that's fer damn sure.
Anyone else?
