In fitness and in love, it’s not about the finish line, it’s about the journey. – Unknown
Introducing The Hendersons
Words and photographs from Susan.
The handwriting is on the wall, in large capital letters: The glory days are behind us, way behind us. But as prolific distance runners and competitors in the day—30 marathons for me topping out at 2:43, and 44 marathons for Matt, getting down to 2:27—and so many races and miles under our belts, we know what we have to do … just keep it moving. So, here’s what we’re able to manage doing in our late 70s.
Let me interrupt here. That sentence seemed awkward to me at first glance. “Here’s what we’re able to manage doing in our late 70s.” Like many first impressions, perhaps erroneous. On closer inspection, I saw this. Here’s what we’re ABLE to MANAGE DOing in our late 70s. You have to be able and you have to manage and you have to do.
You also have to be willing.
Susan:
Miraculously, I can still run, but not more than three times a week, sometimes just two. Four miles is my go-to distance, but the other day I did five miles, a shuffle to be sure, but I did it. Very exciting. Suffered a bit the next day. The low back of a 78-year old former distance runner isn’t pretty, at least from what a couple of MRIs have shown. A recovery day is a nice long walk or hike on one of Bend’s beautiful trails. I do an online Pilates class two times a week. That helps with my core, which helps with those low-back issues that I have been able to just keep at bay with Pilates, lower lumbar notwithstanding.
I love lifting weights; I’ve done it my entire life, so that’s still in the mix and probably pretty good for me. In decent weather, I’ll ride my gravel bike 20-25 miles, nothing technical but I like to push it a bit. And both Matt and I go XC skiing when it’s not icy. No headers needed for us.
Aging Athlete’s Training Tip:
An aging athlete’s training tip that used to work but has now become harder but still useful: If I’m out running and I hear someone running up behind me and they’re gaining (as they always are these days), I know for sure I’m going to be passed, but it triggers my competitive instincts. I pick up the pace to the best of my ability and at least make them work harder to pass me. It certainly gets my heart rate higher and, as the “Passee” I’m giving the “Passer”a workout, too. Or at least I like to think I am. But most people reading this still have that competitive instinct. Might as well put it to some good use.
Matt:
He still runs, too. He gets closer to five miles two or three times a week. He has swimming in his back pocket (I don’t), so he also swims three times a week with the Central Oregon Masters Aquatics (fittingly known as COMA). Matt often competes in the pool and in open water events in lakes near Bend and around Oregon, sometimes disappearing into the ocean (when we’re near it) for a scary amount of time. And then he rides his gravel or road bike, too, but more often and longer distances than me. He likes the occasional multi-day organized cycling rides (supported), which appear in my view to have major elevation gain every day (thousands of feet). And he’s a gym rat … spinning indoors, if necessary, lifting weights, some jawboning with other gym rats (that helps keep you in the game, too).
Both of Us:
Hanging on like a dog, slowing down but we’ve made peace with that, aware that the other foot could drop at any time. We are doing what we can to stay in the game … at least in our own heads, which is where it counts the most.
Thanks so very much to Susan and Matt for sharing their senior fitness tactics. Can’t run nor snowplow myself, – old dog hanging on – but overjoyed for those who do. ‘Nothing about this is easy.’ And that is no reason to quit. Find what works for you and move it.