Reddit Tales: I started running at 44. Here’s what I’ve learned after a year.

In today’s episode, I read a personal story that celebrates one full year of running — starting at age 44, with no athletic background, four kids, a full-time job, and zero intention of ever becoming “a runner”.

What began as a curious experiment with a Garmin watch slowly turned into a life-changing habit. In this reflective episode, I share the highs, lows, lessons, and honest realities of beginning running later in life, in cold Canadian winters, and with absolutely no clue what “zone 2” even meant.

If you’ve ever thought “running isn’t for me”, this one is for you.

• How he went from no running experience to completing consistent run/walk sessions
• Why running initially made no sense to him
• How a fitness tracker motivated him to start
• Training through a Canadian winter, illness and family demands
• His first goal: preparing for a 5K at work
• The moments that changed how he viewed running