Pushing back Father Time

An inspiring event happened last week in Bend, as the state's most seasoned athletes arrived for the Oregon Senior Games.

The senior games provide a testament to longevity the athletes possess for an active life. It's a showcase of refusing to succumb to the preconceptions of aging. It's a group of people who don't allow small setbacks or natural declines to stop them from enjoying the game; a pure showcase of sportsmanship.

An aging body begins show signs of wear and tear. Aches, pains, and loss of muscle mass. Decreased performance and sharpness of reaction. While these are all truths, there are ways to slow or halt many progressions which many believe are to be inevitable.

A Norwegian university recently published data that aerobic fitness (heart and lung endurance) is directly correlated to longevity. They proceeded to develop an algorithm to chronologically score someone's fitness age considering a variety of health markers. This awards an age depending on health and fitness that can be used to figure someone's overall expectation of longevity.

This algorithm was used to look at participants of the Senior Olympics. A remarkable number of data points was selected - over 4,200. The results surprised: with the average age of these athletes being 68, their fitness age score was 43. A full 25 years of youthful health. A remarkable correlation showing that a healthy active life is worth the time and effort.

The authors of this paper also note that many athletes weren't superstars - or even consistently training - until middle-aged. Many existed in busy family life with 9-to-5 workdays. This lifestyle didn't promote structured training. It wasn't until the freedom of retirement that many began to flourish.

How does one continue to stay fit or even compete at a comparable level?

I spoke with local triathlete coach and founder of Lucky Dog Racing Jaime Dispenza who told me: "Racing fast is still a possibility even for the aging athlete. They need a little more recovery between hard efforts in the form of light-intensity work. Many plans prescribe much more intensity than is feasible. This is why a great coach can help balance this recovery."

Sharon Fetrow, a Sisters woman who didn't start her athletic endeavors until around age 60, has competed in more than 60 organized runs and races in the last four years. Her biggest piece of advice was not to get discouraged.

"The first time I ran, it was agony, my joints and muscles were in such distress," she said. "Now I can't imagine stopping because I don't want to have to start the process (of building fitness) again."

She also recommended that a person speaks with their doctor about medications.

"I battle high blood-pressure, and the meds really make a difference in how I feel running," she said.

Her last piece of advice: "Seek professional help; I have worked with a personal trainer and specialists that have helped a lot. A knowledgeable professional can work within someone's limits, assess their personal needs, while addressing injury prevention and longevity. "

More advice, this time from a longtime weightlifter and gym-goer, aged 69 - Frank Deggendorfer.

Frank told me his best asset is a partner he can trust and rely on. He has been working with the same partner for over 12 years. Frank, like Sharon, also echoed the virtue of consistency; they both said someone doesn't need to do a lot, but to take it one step at a time and to listen to the body.