Alisa Harvey wins the masters division at the Thomas G. Labrecque Classic 4 Miler.

Eight years ago a runner in her mid-forties told me that when she turned 40 her training and performances suffered. She was an accomplished elite runner. As she spoke to me, I recall thinking that I had no plans on running after the age of 35, and why would anyone consider racing at that age. She had been struggling with her running since turning 40 and had given up competing on the track and road.

In September 2005, I celebrated my 40th birthday. I had been anxiously awaiting the milestone with curiosity and dread. I had just completed two years of track and road racing and was looking forward to maybe two or three more. I wondered how it could be possible that the day I turn 40 I would begin to struggle with my running.

Two days after my birthday, I ran in a road race. I took it easy from the start-no tempting fate. The speedy elite women distanced themselves from me immediately in the first 800 meters. I was cautious with my moves on the two-lap 5K course. I was challenged by a few youngsters-they passed me, I passed them back. With about 400 meters to go, I sprinted in and finished in 17:47. Much to my relief and pleasure, I finished third overall and was the first masters division finisher while setting a new masters record at the Paul VI 5K in Fairfax, Virginia.

Since my inaugural masters race, I am pleased to announce that I am happy with my running! I've competed successfully in various road races across the Washington, DC area. I'm happy and relieved to state, for the record, that being 40 does not mean the end of my running.

I train once a day, usually after work. On the weekends, I do track workouts or a race on the track or road. I run on the treadmill if the weather is bad or if my kids are sick. When I find a quiet moment I get in a set of pull-ups, squats, or curls- my pull-up bar and weights are in the laundry room. Before I go to bed, I do some yoga, abdominal crunches, and push-ups.

My body weight is consistently five pounds heavier than it was in my twenties and early thirties. I attribute the gain to my two pregnancies. I put on 50 pounds with number one and another 60 pounds with number two. I gain weight much easier now than I did as a youngster-I think it has to do with that fat-cell- memory thing. My diet has never been strict. I don't count my calories. I have always taken vitamins. I eat meat, dried fruit, nuts, and sports bars. I drink water, sports drinks, soymilk, and prune juice-no coffee or caffeinated teas-no alcohol.

My old bones and joints are staying together pretty well-though, I do have to tape my feet every morning. I have been bothered by plantar fasciitis off and on for six years now. Arch supports, good shoes, and a couple of strips of sports tape around my socks keep me going pain-free. My muscles are well taken care of. I believe in complete rest days, and take at least one day off per week.

Just the other day I gave a few words of advice to a 23-year-old runner. I told her to avoid poor habits like disordered eating, heavy coffee and alcohol consumption, and over-training. I warned that when she becomes my age she wouldn't be able to go back and undo the damage from making poor choices as a young woman.

I've seen many athletes come and go during my 25 years in the sport. Many running careers ended far too soon, in my opinion. I certainly did not think that I would still be running and racing at my age, but I'm sure glad I am! I figure that I have maybe 80- plus years to live on this earth; I may as well make the good times last as long as I can.

Editor: Alisa Harvey will attempt to break some U.S. women's indoor masters middle-distance records: 2:16.01 in the 800, set by Rose Monday; 4:48.40 in the 1500, set by Kathy McIntyre; and 4:53.91 for the mile, set by Joan Nesbit. We wish her the best of luck!

Update: Harvey reached two of her goals and crushed the American masters records for the 800 (2:11.04) and 1,500 (4:41.34) at the Armory in New York on December 30, 2005 in her first track meet as a 40-year-old (as reported by Steve Nearman of the Washington Times). Congratulations, Alisa!