Paul, this is a wonderful article, form of encouragement and education. You my friend are an athlete. With your squash racket background you may achieve your tennis goals. What I might add to the conversation is after 50 the first motivation must be health and wellness. You happen to have the athletic background and base of skills to compete. My 10 cents is most people do not and too many people forego being fit and active beyond a 30 minute walk because they were not an athlete. My encouragement for the masses and those who would say I was never an athlete is becoming active and fit has nothing to do with your skills but instead live to be active and fit in a way that works for your body. You can become an athlete (fit and active) by developing fitness, outdoor and indoor activities that you can become proficient in, experience transformative growth and key…enjoy. Note, final commenting thought would be a common goal for every person over 50 is to enjoy this lifestyle right up to the point of physical death well past one’s 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. 😎
Tom, you words are wise. I've written about how athletes can manage their fitness habits and accumulated pain. I've written about how non-athletes can build up VO2 max and balance for longevity. What I need to write about next is the process of becoming a midlife or late-life athlete, however one defines that term.
I agree, walking is great. Is it enough? Maybe, but developing some upper- and especially lower-body muscle strength is also a big advantage for late adopters of fitness regimens. Thanks for the idea.
Alessandra, thanks for your note. The most important first step is to cement the intent. Which is what you seem to have done. The RIIP Reps is, indeed for organizations only, very unfortunately. I amended my post to say so, after seeing your comment. Apologies for leading you a bit astray on the app. I don't know how to get invited, other than forming an "organization" of you and a few friends and petitioning the app owners to give you access. Not even joking.
Good essay! Being in nursing school is like being a walking version of the cliché person “holding a hammer,” in that everything looks like a nail…but I’ve been struck lately by how often the goals we set for patients at the start of a shift are “avoid injury,” “keep pain to a 0,” “avoid falls.” Then we come up with interventions to do those things. I feel like this can apply to being a midlife athlete just as well…but doesn’t mean you can’t also set ambitious positive goals at the same time.
Anna, I appreciate your note. I think the “keep pain to a 0” ship sailed on me a while ago. But i’m a regular passenger on the “avoid injury” train. And that’s about it for metaphors for the evening.
The shift from power-based training to neuromuscular training is such an importan mindset change. Pattern recognition and movment efficiency are real advantages that get overlooked. Seven surgeries is a powerful reminder that pushing through isn't always the answer.
This is great. I’m certainly more in tune with my body at 54. I have to be smarter with how I exercise. I do a HIIT class once a week, a pilates class once a week and Lagree once a week. Just started a couch to 5K to build cardio. After hearing Stu McMillan talk about adding in skipping as part of the jogging interval gonna try that tmrw.
Skipping as in what kids do spontaneously to travel across a schoolyard or playground? I love that, Mike. I can't remember the last time I saw a "grown up" skipping without a child in tow. But you're right: why aren't we? It's fast, efficient and is terrific neuromuscular training. Damn it, I'm skipping home from the office tomorrow....
Great information and very good reminder to myself. Thank you! I’m a 66 year old female listening to your post while engaging in a jump training session! Feel strongly about maintaining power and ability to decelerate. Grateful I can still leave the ground; however, I also need limitations as it can be a great deal of impact to joints and tendons. Your post was a good reminder.
Ce, even the cheetah knows when to stop chasing the gazelle out of reach, conserve energy and hunt the prey it can catch, instead of that which it can't. Be a cheetah!
Paul, this is a wonderful article, form of encouragement and education. You my friend are an athlete. With your squash racket background you may achieve your tennis goals. What I might add to the conversation is after 50 the first motivation must be health and wellness. You happen to have the athletic background and base of skills to compete. My 10 cents is most people do not and too many people forego being fit and active beyond a 30 minute walk because they were not an athlete. My encouragement for the masses and those who would say I was never an athlete is becoming active and fit has nothing to do with your skills but instead live to be active and fit in a way that works for your body. You can become an athlete (fit and active) by developing fitness, outdoor and indoor activities that you can become proficient in, experience transformative growth and key…enjoy. Note, final commenting thought would be a common goal for every person over 50 is to enjoy this lifestyle right up to the point of physical death well past one’s 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. 😎
Tom, you words are wise. I've written about how athletes can manage their fitness habits and accumulated pain. I've written about how non-athletes can build up VO2 max and balance for longevity. What I need to write about next is the process of becoming a midlife or late-life athlete, however one defines that term.
I agree, walking is great. Is it enough? Maybe, but developing some upper- and especially lower-body muscle strength is also a big advantage for late adopters of fitness regimens. Thanks for the idea.
so good to read this. i’m seriously needing to redesign not only my training strategy but my expectations about what i can still do. thanks!
(the RIIP Reps is only for schools or organizations, do you know how can one get invited?)
Alessandra, thanks for your note. The most important first step is to cement the intent. Which is what you seem to have done. The RIIP Reps is, indeed for organizations only, very unfortunately. I amended my post to say so, after seeing your comment. Apologies for leading you a bit astray on the app. I don't know how to get invited, other than forming an "organization" of you and a few friends and petitioning the app owners to give you access. Not even joking.
Good essay! Being in nursing school is like being a walking version of the cliché person “holding a hammer,” in that everything looks like a nail…but I’ve been struck lately by how often the goals we set for patients at the start of a shift are “avoid injury,” “keep pain to a 0,” “avoid falls.” Then we come up with interventions to do those things. I feel like this can apply to being a midlife athlete just as well…but doesn’t mean you can’t also set ambitious positive goals at the same time.
Anna, I appreciate your note. I think the “keep pain to a 0” ship sailed on me a while ago. But i’m a regular passenger on the “avoid injury” train. And that’s about it for metaphors for the evening.
The shift from power-based training to neuromuscular training is such an importan mindset change. Pattern recognition and movment efficiency are real advantages that get overlooked. Seven surgeries is a powerful reminder that pushing through isn't always the answer.
Really appreciating this reframe. Thank you, Paul!
Heather, I'm so glad you find this helpful. Keep going.
This is great. I’m certainly more in tune with my body at 54. I have to be smarter with how I exercise. I do a HIIT class once a week, a pilates class once a week and Lagree once a week. Just started a couch to 5K to build cardio. After hearing Stu McMillan talk about adding in skipping as part of the jogging interval gonna try that tmrw.
Skipping as in what kids do spontaneously to travel across a schoolyard or playground? I love that, Mike. I can't remember the last time I saw a "grown up" skipping without a child in tow. But you're right: why aren't we? It's fast, efficient and is terrific neuromuscular training. Damn it, I'm skipping home from the office tomorrow....
Yep like when we were kids! Stu explains it as doing plyometric bounding because most adults can’t actually sprint.
Great information and very good reminder to myself. Thank you! I’m a 66 year old female listening to your post while engaging in a jump training session! Feel strongly about maintaining power and ability to decelerate. Grateful I can still leave the ground; however, I also need limitations as it can be a great deal of impact to joints and tendons. Your post was a good reminder.
Ce, even the cheetah knows when to stop chasing the gazelle out of reach, conserve energy and hunt the prey it can catch, instead of that which it can't. Be a cheetah!
Looks like you need to be part of a team before you sign up
Alan, thank you for that. Yes, I amended my post to reflect the unfortunate lack of access to the app for individuals.