Why Women Runners Over 40 Should Do Pilates in 2026 (+ Free Monthly Tracker)
If you’re a woman runner over 40 (or beyond) who loves running, you probably know how important strength and mobility are for staying injury-free and feeling good.
But even when we know what helps, life gets busy. Motivation fades. Pilates becomes a “should” that’s easy to skip especially when you’re short on time or energy.
That’s exactly why I created This Month on the Mat a free monthly Pilates tracker to help you stay consistent, focused and supported in 2026.
And it all started with one of our own Studio 44 Pilates members…
Sally’s Story: A Year of Small Steps That Added Up
At the start of 2025, Sally a runner and leadership coach in her 50s set a goal to show up more consistently for her Pilates practice.
She didn’t aim for perfection. She didn’t overhaul her routine overnight.
Instead, she created a simple tracker. One page. Boxes to tick. Goals to set. A way to reflect and notice progress.
Here’s what she achieved over the year:
✅ 65 x 10-minute Pilates sessions
✅ 113 x 30-minute classes
🧘♀️ That’s over 67 hours on the mat
💪 And more than 3,000 press-ups from someone who could barely do a few when she started.
This wasn’t about doing more for the sake of it. It was about feeling stronger, building confidence in her body, and supporting her running long-term.
Why Pilates Works So Well for Runners Over 40
As we move through our 40s, our bodies start to change. Hormones shift. Recovery takes longer. The little niggles we used to ignore can turn into more persistent issues.
That’s where Pilates comes in.
It helps by:
- Building strength around joints (especially hips, knees and ankles)
- Improving core control and posture
- Increasing mobility and flexibility
- Supporting injury prevention and recovery
And best of all it works in short sessions, at home, with no fancy kit needed.
That’s the approach we take inside the Studio 44 Pilates membership: short, focused sessions (10 and 30 minutes), designed to work alongside your running not replace it.
What Is This Month on the Mat?
This Month on the Mat is a free, printable Pilates/exercise tracker designed to help you stay consistent, focused and supported throughout the year especially if you’re balancing running, work, family or life in general.
When you sign up, you’ll receive:
📥 A new tracker every month, sent straight to your inbox
🗓️ Space to set an intention and focus for the month so your Pilates supports what “you” need
✅ A simple way to tick off each session (live or recorded, 10 or 30 minutes)
✍️ A place to reflect on what’s gone well, notice your wins and gently keep momentum going.
Each tracker is designed with small, achievable steps in mind, so it never feels overwhelming or all-or-nothing.
Whether your goal is to support your running, build strength around your joints, or simply feel more in control of your body, This Month on the Mat gives you a gentle, structured way to stay on track.
📥 Download your January tracker here
This could be the tool that helps you finally stay consistent with Pilates not through pressure or perfection, but through small, regular actions that fit into your life.