Smart fitness for grown-ups: 11 Tips for the over-40 exerciser

Get comfortable. Yes, in your own (running) shoes, but also in the setting where you work out.

Find activities that are right for you. Do what you like to do. Do what you can—whatever fits into your schedule.

It's not all about aerobics. There are so many changes that happen to our bodies when we age, and changes to our heart are only part of it. Be aware of the need for strength-training, flexibility, and equilibrium-building exercises.

Start slowly. No matter how experienced you are, a good warm-up becomes more essential as you age.

Change it up. You're vulnerable to injuries, not to mention boredom, when you do the same thing every day.

Make it a priority, and don't make excuses. People need to treat exercise the way they treat other essentials in life. We schedule office meetings, so why not workouts?

Don't underestimate yourself. If you're a newbie, don't think you can't make giant leaps in your fitness; plenty of age-group champions in running, for example, never laced up a pair of shoes until their 40th birthdays were well in the rearview mirror.

Speed up. That means you are not consigned to a plodding pace.

Get social support if you need it. Local running, walking, cycling, and swimming clubs offer a chance to do a normally solitary sport with others, while classes at the local Y or gym can give you built-in companionship.

Mind old injuries. Work within the bounds of your health.

Don't obsess over weight. Try thinking of exercise in terms of the other, less visible health benefits it's providing, like reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer. And there are other bonuses, like helping you get better sleep, feel strong, or enjoy the moment