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Age Appropriate Training

Dive Bombers

Age Appropriate Training

He wrote about being a high school wrestler and the long, grueling workouts he went through and how strong and fit he was for wrestling competition. Today, in his 50s, he trains heavy but emphasizes short workouts consisting of basic lifts. He readily admits the kind of training he did as a young man, which was then very productive, would wear him down today.

Yesterday I pulled into a parking space near a park and saw a woman stuffing medicine balls into the back of an SUV. I asked her what they were for and she said she runs an outdoor boot camp that meets in the park. We each had a dog with us and they got to know each other while we talked for a few minutes.

She was a mature woman, I’d guess in her mid- to late-50s. We talked about fitness and she told me she preferred outdoor workouts to gyms. I told her I had led cardio-kickboxing classes into my late 60s. I said that at my age now (76) I couldn’t possibly handle the intensity of those workouts. She agreed that we all must adjust our training as we grow older. But having done that, the key then is to keep moving and never stop.

For years, I kept training logs. I can look back and see what I was doing five, 10, or 15 years ago. If I allow it to, knowing what I did then could be pretty discouraging when it’s compared to what I do today. So I try not to dwell on it. In those days, I would lead a kickboxing group one night, lift heavy weights the next evening, and hike on the weekends. Today I follow the same formula of one day of resistance training followed by cardio the next day. But the weights are minuscule compared to 10 years ago and the cardio is far less intense.

Of course I’d be outright lying if I said I don’t wish I could do all the things I did 10 years ago. Who wouldn't? But that’s life. My point is that what Brooks Kubic wrote, what the boot camp lady said, and what I say now is this: you must keep moving, but keep it age appropriate, and don't concern yourself too much with what used to be.

As we get older, higher repetitions with lighter weights usually make more sense, for example. And all-out one rep maximum efforts send your blood pressure through the roof. That is not at all age appropriate. Also be sure to take a little more time warming-up, and always taper off to cool down. Practice some gentle stretching too. But keep moving, and don’t spend too much time thinking about yesterday. Focus on today and tomorrow. In the wise words of Satchel Paige: "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you."

Dive Bombers

Here's short Dive Bomber video clip along with instruction in how to approach them.

Dive Bombers.

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Sincerely,

Logan Franklin
The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter
www.senior-exercise-central.com