Your muscles believe in you
Some have done sport all their lives and are still at a top level at over 70. Others are just as old, but have never trained seriously. Researchers were therefore amazed at how well the muscles of these seniors respond to training stimuli.
People who reinvent themselves at some point inspire us all. In terms of sport, these are people like Fauja Singh, who spent his life as a small farmer and ran his first marathon at the tender age of 89. Or people like Hiromu Inada, who didn't want to live out his retirement in a rocking chair and finished as an Ironman finisher in Hawaii in 2018 at the age of 86. And then there are people like Johanna Quaas, who remain true to themselves and their sport throughout their lives. At well over 90 years old, she is still doing exercises that entire school classes would collectively fail at. Also fascinating.
All three are exceptional examples that show us that both are possible: getting fit in old age or staying fit for life. Anyone who has put off their good sporting intentions for a decade or two will therefore not spontaneously sign up for the next Boston Marathon (which probably wouldn't be a good idea either). But he or she might come to the realisation that "I'm too old for that" is not always the whole truth. There's often still something to be done, even when the home stretch of life comes into view.
The flesh is willing when the spirit is
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have investigated how the muscles of senior citizens react to training stimuli. Some of the test subjects were endurance athletes who had been practising their sport at a high level for at least 20 years. The other group consisted of untrained seniors. The effect of the same workout on muscle building processes was determined for all of them using tissue samples. Contrary to the assumption that a higher fitness level over decades pays off, there was no difference between the two groups. That's the good news: even if you've neglected them for a long time - your muscles still believe in you and are ready when you are.
Of course, there are physical limitations that can prevent you from exercising regularly. But we often fail because of our willpower rather than our body. No matter what age. Hiromu Inada, the late-coming triathlete, was also unable to make it onto the official list of finishers in Hawaii straight away. He dropped out of the time limit in 2015. By a whole six seconds. Instead of firing his running shoes into the corner in despair, he said: "I'll be back" - and one year later, he had achieved his dream. For the first, but not the last time.
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Simple writer and dad of two who likes to be on the move, wading through everyday family life. Juggling several balls, I'll occasionally drop one. It could be a ball, or a remark. Or both.
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