I adopted a new fitness strategy in my 40s that's helped me run half-marathons, hold handstands, and do pull-ups as I age

At 61, I did my first unassisted pull-up — something I considered impossible just nine months prior.

It was the goal I’d challenged myself to achieve in my 60s, following a pattern I’d established in the two previous decades. In my 40s, I wanted to finish a half-marathon, and in my 50s, I set out to hold a handstand. I accomplished both.

Reaching a physical milestone as I age spills into every area of my life, particularly when there are curveballs. Whether I’m helping one of my children through an issue, dealing with a health scare, or mourning a lossI tap into the same mindset I use to do a pull-up, hold a handstand, or run 13.1 miles. It’s one of grit and consistency.

For me, setting physical goals at the top of each decade has improved my perspective on aging.

I first started seeking physical challenges in my 40s

Exercise has always been my anchor, and I’ve relied on it to navigate mental health struggles throughout the years. As I grew older, exercise and movement evolved into a means of coping with the effects of aging.

Instead of fixating on how my postpartum body looked or how my skin saggedI started to focus on how my body felt and what it could do.

In my late 40s, a friend who is 15 years my junior coaxed me to do a half-marathon with them. By then, I’d gone through a divorce and rebuilt my personal and professional life.

Running helped me stay afloat through all the hard moments, so I decided to give 13.1 miles a go. Without realizing it, I’d set my first major goal. When I crossed the finish line, I cried.

I’ve found that the harder the goal is, the more motivated I am to accomplish it

I knew that I wanted to challenge myself further as I get older, channeling my strength through the highs — like marrying the love of my life and launching a new business — and the lows — like a close call with colon cancer and parenting struggles.

I picked physical goals that were completely new to me. Even when I did gymnastics in school, I couldn’t do a handstand, yet that’s what I worked toward in my 50s.

It took me years of tireless training, but I did it. The day I finally stood on my hands was a spiritual experience. Time felt like it stood still, and nothing else mattered.

Training for these challenges has given me a healthy perspective on aging

The goals I set have never been about achievement, though I do get a confidence boost when I master them. In my book, the win is working toward something that feels like a long shot and still staying the course.

I’ve found that when I’m running long distancesstanding on my hands, and doing pull-ups, I focus on my endurance, strength, and stamina — not the skin sagging on my knees or the veins on my hands.

There’s so much in life I can’t control, including the inevitability of aging, but I can control how I approach it.

Working my body in new, challenging ways as I get older reinforces that I can be strong and visible, no matter how old I am. It also helps me feel better physically and mentally.

Yes, I have aches and pains, but listening to them and working around them is an art. I enjoy each step of the process.

Brainstorming what’s next is also half of the fun. At 62, I can do three overhand-grip, full-range-of-motion pull-ups. Because I want to see how far I can push myself, I hope to do five consecutive pull-ups by the end of the year.

As I look ahead at my 70s, I’m already eyeing a hike along The Camino de Santiago in Spain, where I was born.