How do we know that the effect is not the other way around? That people that are able to run recreationally for decades do so because they have the joints and musculature (through their genetics or whatever) to bear that work load. Rather than running causing good joints, is it not good joints causing good running longevity?
Respectfully your self described "mantra" is incorrect. You said "running does not make those muscles" strong. Running does build muscle and make them strong - depending on what kind of running you do. Running hill repeats is like doing resistance training for your legs, but instead of weights, you're working against gravity. Hill repeats build leg muscle & strength in your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves along with improving your neuromuscular coordination and power output. Half the battle once you get older is being mechanically (genetically) blessed, a lot of people have a predisposition for osteoarthritis, metatarsal bone stress, and other genetically driven issues.
How do we know that the effect is not the other way around? That people that are able to run recreationally for decades do so because they have the joints and musculature (through their genetics or whatever) to bear that work load. Rather than running causing good joints, is it not good joints causing good running longevity?
Respectfully your self described "mantra" is incorrect. You said "running does not make those muscles" strong. Running does build muscle and make them strong - depending on what kind of running you do. Running hill repeats is like doing resistance training for your legs, but instead of weights, you're working against gravity. Hill repeats build leg muscle & strength in your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves along with improving your neuromuscular coordination and power output. Half the battle once you get older is being mechanically (genetically) blessed, a lot of people have a predisposition for osteoarthritis, metatarsal bone stress, and other genetically driven issues.