Over the last 5 years I've been fortunate enough to be accepted into another cult called parkrun. I'm rather at the upper end of the age scale but I can tell you by the end of running a 5k on a cold morning you become very conscious of every single breath as you strain for the finish tunnel.  And that when you stop and join the rest of the veterans for a coffee and cake it feels great and the endorphins enough to lift you for the rest of the day.  My wife just park walks as fast as she can and gets the same.  

All claims around special knowledge of life and special techniques that some know and others don't are -- and always have been bullshit in my opinion.