The Question??

Well I am in Dallas to run the Rock N Roll half marathon on Sunday. This is no big deal but everyone I run into insists on knowing what I am going to run it in. The truth of the matter at this point is that I have a high fitness level but not necessarily for this distance, at this time. My training is based on the time of year and centered on swim, bike and run. So, I am really not truly trained for a rode race of half marathon distance; however, I will get through it and still stand at the end of it. My long distance running has decreased on the past two years simply because the human body has a way of saying, enough is enough. After 65,000 miles of running, 44 marathons, who knows how many half's and many, many 10 milers and below, my enthusiasm for long slow runs has diminished. Not to say that my minutes per mile have increased and what use to feel good at 7:30-8:00 pace is now feeling the same at 10-12 minute pace. So, as I see people here at the race expo and packet pick up everyone will ask me, "what are you going to run it in?" Rather than say, well maybe somewhere around 2-2:30 hrs. I just have them revisit my personal best, while in my prime at 41 years of age(30 years ago) and that equates to a very swift 1:38:31. The rest of the story is that I still got beat by my most favorite training partner by 16 seconds. Ironically I am still trucking along and he has not run in years, so even though my pace is much slower now a days I am still very thankful I can chug along at any pace. So, when you ask my my pace or how fast I will run something in you will get the run around answer.

My real point here is that we should consider our current fitness level as the most important time of our life, since it is now and forward that we should be most concerned about. When I am ask my secret to healthy aging, I explain to 20-30 something year olds that there are no secrets. My comment to them is they must be preparing themselves NOW for the day when they approach their 60's and beyond and not wait until then to began taking care of themselves. A few weeks ago I took my annual physical and everything came out very good, my doctor even suggested that he would trade my test scores with his any day of the week. That made me feel good, but I also know I must really take care now since the body parts have been here a long time and they need daily care and attention. As I look around me I found very few things that are 71 years old and still functioning, i.e. my automobile, my television, my electric razor, by running shoes, my typewriter(now replaced by the computer), etc., etc. So, let's do things in a moderation level that equates to our state of fitness and attitude. If a person walks every day(which is really the best kind of exercise) then keep that routine up and not be obessed with other kinds of exercise that might stress the body too much. Not every one is built to go many miles on their feet, butt(bicycle) or swim. My friend Shanna Armstrong can go many, many miles as a truly ultra-endurance athlete(she warms up for Ultra-Man with an Ironman distance race the week before); however, the same type of training and racing for me would destroy my body. I know what my body can stand and I am satisfied with that level of exercise and competition. Bottom line here is that I will go my own pace tomorrow in the half-marathon and be a happy camper when I cross the line. Will I check to see how I did against the other 70-74 year olds in my age group? Well of course since I am still competitive driven but not really obsessed. I want to be doing what I do everyday at the level that corresponds with my bodies ability.

Remember, prepare for aging NOW because it becomes your partner in life way quicker than you can imagine.

greer