Are you a fit CEO?
By Sean Callahan
Are you the world's fittest CEO? CEO Challenges, a company based in SEAN CALLAHAN'S BLOG (Feb. 22, 2010) -- Boulder, Colo., wants to know. CEO Challenges is known for staging events, such as triathlons, marathons and cycling competitions, for top level executives. Now CEO Challengs, along with Boulder's Flatiron Athletic Clubs is seeking the fittest CEO in the country. . . . keep reading...>>
|
Embrace the cold
By Sean Callahan
SEAN CALLAHAN'S BLOG (Jan. 9, 2010) -- There's an upside to the cold weather that has hit much of the country over the past few weeks. Exercise in the cold can help you burn more calories -- at least according to the January issue of the Harvard Health Letter. Here's an explanation: . . . keep reading...>>
|
Base desires
By Lisa Menninger
LISA MENNINGER'S BLOG (Nov. 18, 2009) -- formulate what is next and above all, take a much needed break from the rigors of training. This rest is essential to recharging the physical and mental batteries. It allows us to get some distance from the training so that when we feel ready, we can begin the process again. Without this break it can be hard to sustain quantity and quality in our regimens during the cycles of training. So give yourself permission to take the rest. It is an important to your training process as the hard work. . . . keep reading...>>
|
Medicine ball
By Sean Callahan
SEAN CALLAHAN'S BLOG (Sept. 11, 2009) -- I have a set of weights and a bench in the basement, but I rarely use them. The space is so small that when I do lift, I'm constantly hitting the walls and the washing machine with the barbells. I have to store the barbells, too, so it's a big production when I want to workout. I have to get the weights out from the closet, and then I have to stack them away when I'm done. Maybe I'm lazy, but I find that to be a big enough hassle that I don't workout as much as I should. As I've mentioned before, I started using a medicine ball earlier this year. . . . keep reading...>>
|
Partners in time
By Lisa Menninger
LISA MENNINGER'S BLOG (July 22, 2009) -- Back when I was at my fastest, I trained with people who raced at roughly the paces I raced regardless of distance. I regularly did track and long runs with a group of guys. It was always fun and definitely challenging. As time went on, I found I was training either on my own or with people who enjoyed a slower training pace and that did result in a slower pace for me in races. This summer, as I do each summer, I have spent several mornings a week with the local high school cross country kids. . . . keep reading...>>
|
A sprinter returns
By Don McGrath
DON MCGRATH'S BLOG (June 24, 2009) -- Gary Leigh is a 54-year-old sprinter from Kennett Square, Pa., who had several very successful years in high school and college track and field. He was honored as MVP four years in a row, and looks back fondly on his 6th place finish in the New York State high school track championships, and his 6th place finish in the junior college national championships. After college, Gary played and enjoyed volleyball and tennis for many years. About 12 years ago Gary turned back to running track following a marital break-up. Rekindling his passion for racing helped Gary through this tough period, and turned this negative situation into something positive that he has carried forward into the wonderful life he enjoys today. . . . keep reading...>>
|
Nature or nurture?
By Lisa Menninger
LISA MENNINGER'S BLOG (June 19, 2009) -- I turn 45 in December. I have a friend who turned 53 in March. We were chatting about loss of speed and/or fitness as we age and the culprits. Is it just changes in the body that come with age that cause this downward spiral? Or are there other, equally important factors? After doing some research, I came up with an answer that fits the bill with regard to my own process as well as others I know. Do we lose the ability to be fast? Not really. Well, we do a bit but it is a very small percentage compared to what most people think we lose. We can maintain speed but we will have a bit of a loss in VO2 max at about 1% a year over the age of 35. So going out and running your best 10k would probably not happen at 55. But this is not to say that your ability to run fast is gone. In order to maintain that speed as Masters athletes, we need to train the system a bit differently. . . . keep reading...>>
|
One of our bloggers writes about another
By Don McGrath
DON MCGRATH'S BLOG (June 11, 2009) -- Sandy Scott is a colorful 69-year-old elite cyclist who resides in Seminole, Fla., and who has managed to pack so much into his life that its density approaches that of a black hole, pulling you toward him to hear his stories. Sandy had a varied professional career, at one time or another being a police officer, in the military, a commercial airline pilot, a corporate sales executive, and an entrepreneur. Of all these, Sandy loved being a pilot the most, and because of this, says he would have done it for free. Sandy also has many other interests including chess, collecting all kinds of things, amateur radio, playing drums, martial arts, photography, skydiving, high-fidelity audio, logic puzzles, motorcycling, electronics, running, tennis, golf, and, of course, cycling. . . . keep reading...>>
|
Second wind
By Sean Callahan
SEAN CALLAHAN'S BLOG (June 8, 2009) -- The message of Lee Bergquist's "Second Wind: The Rise of the Ageless Athlete" is right there on page 1: "Exercise will hold back our inevitable deterioration." With a newspaper reporter's eye for the telling detail and gift for a breezy narrative, Bergquist, who writes for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, tells the stories of Masters swimmers, sprinters, triathletes, cross country skiers and bodybuilders who prove that message over and over again. Bergquist's book, which is published by Human Kinetics, examines some of the usual suspects -- there is, of course, a chapter on the greatest Masters athlete of all time, Philippa Raschker -- but also some athletes, such as Race Across America cyclist Randy Van Zee, who undeservedly have labored out of the spotlight. . . . keep reading...>>
|
Interview No. 1
By Don McGrath
DON MCGRATH'S BLOG (May 29, 2009) -- Carl Bamforth is a 51-year-old highly motivated and competitive in-line distance speed skater, who lives in the "Garden City" of Victoria, British Columbia. Carl has participated in various sports at different times since age 16 including soccer, running, hockey, baseball, cycling, triathalons, as well as in-line skating. In his early 40s Carl tried on a pair of in-line skates, and never looked back. Carl is currently focused on training to set the over 50 world records for the 1 hour, 6 hour, 12 hour, and 24 hour events. If you want to be inspired to up the ante in your training, visit a log of Carl's weight workouts... . . . keep reading...>>
|
Age's effects
By Don McGrath
DON MCGRATH'S BLOG (May 28, 2009) -- The effects of chronological age on our bodies are undisputed. There are changes that occur in all of our bodies systems that affect our ability to participate in sports and other vigorous physical activities. The changes seen in typical healthy adults are quite dramatic and include loss of muscle mass and tone, loss of muscular power, loss of aerobic endurance, increase on body fat, and overall decrease in functional capacity to do physical work. The effects observed in highly trained older athletes are significantly less than that see in the general population. The following paragraphs provide facts about some of the changes we experience as older athletes as well as how training and nutrition can modulate the effects. . . . keep reading...>>
|
Getting speedy
By Lisa Menninger
LISA MENNINGER'S BLOG (May 7, 2009) -- Speed work is daunting. I know that. And as geezerjocks we want to strike the right balance between working hard and getting results; and recovering properly so we don't get hurt. It is a process, and there are some definite guidelines, but embarking on and pursuing a program to improve your speed will not only help you get faster but it will strengthen your cardiovascular system. But first things first. Check with your doctor. This work, while it starts reasonably, builds in difficulty. You need to make sure your heart and lungs are up for the task. They probably are but don't you want to be sure? Get a check up and have your doc give you the thumbs-up before starting. . . . keep reading...>>
|
Money and motivation
By John Disterdick
JOHN DISTERDICK'S BLOG (May 1, 2009) -- Maybe some of you are in the same boat as me -- you just can't afford all the events you enjoyed in the past. So far in 2009 I have had to miss three of my favorite events due to the current financial struggles, including the CRASH-B World Indoor Rowing Championships, a triathlon I've always enjoyed and a 100-mile bike event. I have competed in the last three National Senior Games but will have to also pass on it this year due to the expenses with the event on the West Coast. What I did is list the events I enjoy and began to remove the ones I couldn't justify based on finances. . . . keep reading...>>
|
Proper exercise progression
By Bob Bresloff
BOB BRESLOFF'S BLOG (April 27, 2009)-- Part of our modern American culture is the idea that "more is better." This mentality is possibly responsible for more exercise injuries than you could imagine. When an individual starts an exercise program, there are many different theories out there. In fact there are so many, how can they help not being confused? One "guru" says this and another says that and and so on until the individual is so confused that he or she will often, especially in a health club environment, seeks out the person who looks the best. Big mistake! . . . keep reading...>>
|
Exercise: The cure for high blood pressure?
By Cliff and Tatjana Eggink
THE IRONGEEZER CHRONICLES (April 1, 2009) -- We culled this from a pretty good source: The Mayo Clinic. Take a look. Having high blood pressure and not getting enough exercise are closely related. Small changes in your daily routine can make a big difference. Your risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) increases with age, but getting some exercise can make a big difference. And if your blood pressure is already high, exercise can help you control it. Don't think you have to run a marathon or join a gym. Instead, start slow and work more physical activity into your daily routine. . . . keep reading...>>
|
Muscle imbalances
By Robert Bresloff
ROBERT BRESLOFF'S BLOG (Mar. 23, 2009) -- Let's take a look at fitness machines. Clubs usually have one or more machines for every muscle group, making up a circuit that is designed to work the entire body. Most clubs have two each of the machines that work the facilitated muscles (muscles that are commonly stronger in most people)--two pectorals, hamstring and bicep machines. Why? Because, they are usually the most popular machines in the club, and people will complain when they can't get on them. Exercisers work most what they can see (which leads me to question why people are constantly pounding away at their poor hammies). If you continue to work already facilitated (naturally stronger) muscles, they will only get stronger at the expense of the much weaker opposing muscles. . . . keep reading...>>
|
|
Video
