Ok so we all see those stories about people who are 80 running marathons but the reality is that as we age, we need some form of exercise but for most people, it isn’t going to be hardcore weight lifting or marathons and both of those can put a strain on your heart at any age so it is important to consider the right thing for you.
That said, as we age, we shouldn’t just enjoy our porch rocker or our lazy boy recliner. Activity is more important as ever as things like bone density (in woman AND in men) and balance both deteriorate greatly with age and both of those things are dangerous.
I have a few older clients who are over 80 and can still put up a deck on a house and I have a couple who are exhausted climbing the flight of stairs at the gym and are super frail. The importance as we age is to be wise enough to know which one of these you are and to try to improve your own set of circumstances — not to try to live up to someone else’s standard. I have run many marathons, half-marathons and a couple of ultra marathons. Those were rewarding to finish but one of my most enlightening experiences was volunteering at the finish of the Atlanta Half Marathon one year and this older man came across at a pretty good time. I gave him his silver blankie and he was nice and seemed like he wasn’t that smoked and off he went. Well he went by a few people who are “running fans” and they fawned over him so I asked them who he was and turns out he had won the Atlanta Marathon several times “back in the day”
Do you see where I am going here? He was an elite athlete capable of WINNING marathons. And as he has aged, he is still running but he has reduced the load. He now aims for his own goalposts (and probably wins his category since he was probably 75+) but he isn’t trying to be that young buck pushing harder and longer. He is super fit (fitter than most of you reading this probably will ever be — don’t worry — he is elite remember!) And yet, he is wise enough to stay fit and strong yet dial it back.
So whether you are in the “I am still 25” yet you are really 55 and need to watch for tearing your ACL and your shoulders because you are not actually 25 or whether you are the porch rocker type — it is important to use your wisdom to maintain an healthy lifestyle and fitness but at the point that you are injuring yourself, you are NOT being wise and need to look at doing some things differently.
Best of Health!
Dave