"Niners" may be finer!

Are you by any chance on the cusp of entering a new decade in your life? Are you a niner?  That is, are you 39, 49, 59 or better? If so, here’s a little information that may surprise you.  Beware: It may not apply quite so accurately to nine-year-olds. According to a paper recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science and reported in the June 2015 issue of Double Runner magazine, “niners” are more likely to “run a marathon, have an affair, or take part in other behaviors that reflect an ongoing search for meaning.”

These behaviors, the article by Laura Young, MD continues, can cause either constructive or destructive behavior as people reflect on the upcoming new decade in their lives. A series of six studies looked at people in 100 countries and found that this sort of behavior, ranging from seeking extra-marital affairs to committing suicide, held true world-wide.

The study used data from Athlinks.com to learn about the behavior of runners. They found that an exceptionally high percentage of first-time marathoners were “niners”. They also learned that all road runners were more than two percent faster in their races than they were in races two years before or after their “niner” year.

What’s up with all this? Perhaps it is logical that runners might up their mileage and train a bit harder in anticipation of entering a new age group where they will have the advantage of being among the youngest in the division.  Is this “niner” issue something we all recognize and acknowledge, or is it a sub-conscious thing?

Are we better off to embrace this phenomenon it or blow it off as a silly notion? Since it is going to arrive anyway for all of us, perhaps it makes sense to use it for good. Instead of having an affair, offer your partner or spouse a little added attention. Instead of vegging out in front of the TV, see if you can’t incorporate a couple more miles into your weekly training schedule. And if you’ve never addressed the challenge of running a marathon, maybe this is the year to give it a go. The same applies to a 5k or 10k, a challenging hike or bike ride.

It’s interesting to think about what it is that motivates human beings to decide to do difficult things. The fact that preparation is often uncomfortable, even painful, expensive and time-consuming does not deter people once they set a goal. Sacrifice seems to be part of the deal. It would be informative to know the ages of individuals  when they rowed solo across an ocean, climbed Mr. Everest or jumped out of an airplane for the first time. There’s another opportunity for a Ph.D dissertation.

I’m about to enter a “niner” year. But I’m approaching it forewarned, armed with the results of a study that just might make it appealing to do something crazy. How about you? Whatever your age, it’s never too early to be making some plans.