Runners Over 50

It always kills me that in running circles, technically, I am a grand master. I won the grand master award in a race a while back, and I felt like looking around to see if there was another Debbie Voiles whose name they had called. 

What? Grand master? Are you kidding? That just knocks me out. Seriously? Come on!

When I was still a teacher, teaching 9th graders, I was in far better physical condition than most of the students in my class, and I'm just as fit now, years later.

Yeah, yeah, I'm 58, but I run only a little slower than when I was in my 30's, and I do many things better. I couldn't run a marathon then and certainly not an ultra marathon.

I feel great, too. I think 50 is the new 40, and 60 is the new 50 and so on. Actually maybe 60 is the new 40. 

I'm not even upset about turning 60. In fact, I'm looking forward to it. I try to remind myself that I'm not supposed to look forward to it, but my overwhelming thought is that it will be a cynch to qualify for Boston.

That's a runner for you. Always seeng the positive in every situation. I'll be darned if I just can't seem to get worked up over my age. The main effect it has on me is that it motivates me to take care of myself in every aspect, including eating well, getting the recommended checkups, making wise financial decisions, and, as you know, keeping very active. I am driven to do all this because I've still got an extremely lengthy bucket list, and while I'm pretty good at moving through it, I'm even better at adding to it. The longer I live, the more I realize I want to do with my life. My biggest worry is that I'll run out of time.

I am a work in progress. I wonder if all runners feel that way? 

Frequently, people tell me they're too old to start running. They think 50 is old. For most of them, I'd say it's time to start living, really living. If they can't conceive of being that active, they need a mind reset. 

Wouldn't it be great if people had a reset button? Oh, I'm not saying I want people to be like robots, but I do wish there was a way to get people to clear out cobwebs and give every part of their life a fresh look.

As I get older, I am more and more delighted to discover great stories of what older people are doing, and as a result, I've decided to start a separate page of this website devoted to master and grand master runners. Watch for it soon.

Today, I came across this video of an 86 yr. old gymnast. Love it! 

Get Younger By Running

Did you know that physical activity is the one thing that has been proven to reverse the effects of aging? That is not an idea but a fact (Fries). Did you know that many people run and do marathons well into their 70's and 80's? Did you know that many people start running in their 50's and 60's?

Several months ago I had the good fortune (in the person of Barbara Murphy) to connect with actor Liz Vassey and husband/videographer David Emmerichs. You would most likely know Liz from a recurring role over the last five years on the TV show CSI. 

Liz, a runner herself, had been doing some research into the effects of running on people as they age. In particular, she was impressed by a study by Dr. James F. Fries, professor emeritus at Stanford University.

Fries and his team studied 500 runners over age 50 over a twenty year period. The results are fascinating; so, be sure to read this article. Perhaps most striking is that 19 years into the study, 34% of the control group had died compared to 15% of the runners.

The day I first chatted with Liz, she mentioned that study. Coincidentally, at the time I was finishing up my book After Your First 5k, and I had just referred to that study in the book that very day.

Liz and I share a keen interest in the effects of running on aging.

Several weeks later Liz and David spent three days in Tampa, interviewing runners over 50; below is the link to the trailer for the documentary. You will surely recognize some of these faces: Dr. James F. Fries,  Torami Williams, Carol Pressman, Velma Radloff, Joe Burgasser, Frank Helfrich, Bob Meissner, Emery Jewell, myself, Frank Spicer, June Leland, John Pyle and Sally Smith.

http://shotgundigital.com/clients/vassey-emmerichs.html

The running footage is at a Run Tampa group run on the Bayshore and at a Run Tampa Coaching Group workout.

I look forward to one day planning a viewing party for the premiere of the completed documentary. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this trailer. I've watched it many times, already, and I am struck each time by the staggering potential of this film to educate both young and 'older' about the unmistakable effects of physical activity.

Thanks to all who agreed to be interviewed and to Liz and David. If this brief 5 minute trailer is any indication, the full length film will be incredibly powerful.

Click here to see the study referred to above: "Reduced disability and mortality among aging runners: a 21-year longitudinal study."  http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.168.15.1638