SHOOTING YOUR AGE

For all of Tiger Woods' impressive accomplishments, there's one feat he probably won't achieve for at least another 30 years. Only then will Woods be about ready to join an elite club of players who've shot their age, an accomplishment that requires both impressive skill and longevity. "Obviously, shooting your age really depends on both how old you are and how good you are," said nine-time major champion Gary Player (pictured at right). "I would say that a pro should be able to shoot his or her age in their mid-60s and an amateur in their early- to mid-70s. If you're a weekend hacker you simply may never do it."

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One for the ages For all of Tiger Woods' impressive accomplishments, there's one feat he probably won't achieve for another 30 years. Only then will Woods be about ready to join an elite club of players who've shot their age, an accomplishment that requires both impressive skill and longevity. "Obviously, shooting your age really depends on both how old you are and how good you are," said nine-time major champion Gary Player. "I would say that a pro should be able to shoot his or her age in their mid-60s and an amateur in their early- to mid-70s. If you're a weekend hacker you simply may never do it." . . . keep reading...>> Pick-up artists They are the original "Lions of Winter," aging warriors who tape up old sticks, old equipment and old joints for another spin around the ice. And another … and another. "I do it because I can. I pride myself in not acting 62 and not looking 62. Part of it has to do with the sheer love of athletics, and the object of my affection always has been hockey," says Craig Walker of Beverly, Mass., fresh off a Saturday workout with the North Shore Skating Association outside Boston. "It's just something between people who play the game. It's really a passion. I think the sport feeds both the body and the soul. I'm not very religious, but if I have a religion, it's hockey. To me, it's my fountain of youth. It's my place to escape." That, in a nutshell, is what draws people to hockey -- good-natured but keen competition, a good sweat and afterwards a cold beer. . . . keep reading...>> Q&A with Senator John Kerry John Kerry, the Democratic nominee for president in the 2004 election, remains in politics as a senator from Massachusetts. He also remains active, and cycling is still one of his favorite sports. He talked with Masters Athlete about what he loves about the sport, the potential of cycling to fight obesity and other problems, and his dream tandem partner. . . . keep reading...>> More

The Wright Stuff When you have been treating your knee or hip pain yourself and getting no relief, it is time to seek medical care. You must be careful, however, that your sports doc understands that you are a Masters athlete and does not simply tell you to act your age. Many docs are as behind in their expectations of aging athletes as those people you meet who think you are crazy for pushing yourself so hard. If you can't get your doctor to treat you like the athlete you are -- look around. This sounds harsh but as one of the only sports docs focusing both research and clinical time on the care of the Masters athlete I know it is true. First, Joint Injections: Two main types of joint injections are given for arthritis pain and swelling. These are steroid injections and joint lubrication. Steroid injections have been around a long time and consist of injecting the joint with a mixture of numbing medicine, such as lidocaine or marcaine, and steroids. The point of this injection is to decrease the pain and inflammation of arthritis. Although used commonly, these injections usually last an average of three weeks and most physicians will give only three a year to any joint. I tend not to use steroids unless my patients have acute, excruciating pain. I prefer to use joint lubrication with a class of injection called hyaluronic acid. . . . keep reading...>> The Irongeezer Chronicles As we get older, it is strange that snippets of songs and poems return to our minds with new meaning: Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" and Frank Sinatra's "My Way" dropped in unexpectedly, after reading an article about the prevalence of regrets in people of a certain age. We will call this the "would've-could've-should've syndrome." It seems that many people, 40 on up, are afflicted. What's a 40-something to do when regrets keep him awake at night, ruminating? The solution seems clear. The prescription is action! . . . keep reading...>> Geezerjocks It's taken me awhile, but I'm finally on pace again to swim more than 50 miles this year! I'm entered in U.S. Masters Swimming's "Go the Distance" program, where fitness swimmers like myself are recognized for swimming various distances in a single calendar year. My goal is 50 miles -- the lowest that the program recognizes. Got to start somewhere. I began the year well, and by Jan. 4, I was on pace to swim 59.79 miles. A minor operation kept me out of the pool for about a month, and by Feb. 3 when I was swimming again, my projected mileage for the year had plunged to 12.92. . . . keep reading...>> Stone on track Three years ago, I reviewed the first documentary film devoted to Masters track: "Racing Against the Clock," which followed five women in their championship season, ending at the 2003 World Masters Athletic Championships in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Last month, I reviewed something even more unlikely -- the first novel to revolve around Masters track. And coincidentally, the book also concluded at Puerto Rico worlds. As a work of literature, it has problems. But I still celebrate it as a Masters milestone. The author is Cornell Stephenson, who five years ago won four M40 sprint medals at Puerto Rico. He named the book "That Masterful Season," and its 212 pages include photos of him and his friends at worlds and other meets. Despite its fictional flaws, the novel does justice to the Masters track experience. But as I wrote Cornell on my other blog: "You're a hell of a better author than I am a quarter-miler." Written over a series of months, "That Masterful Season" is mainly intriguing for its characters -- all of whom were inspired by real life. I easily picked out a half-dozen characters based on real people. Some are barely disguised. The fictional doubles of USA Team Manager Sandy Pashkin and M40 hurdler Darnell Gatling have the same initials. "That Masterful Season" mashes up real experiences and events (as well as people), but it creates situations as well. One that daunted me: several references to drug-testing of Masters record-setters at the Penn Relays. . . . keep reading...>> Training with Lisa I just finished training some folks for the Boston Marathon. They unanimously said they sometimes feel like they train to taper. That made me giggle. I've felt that way too at the end of several months of intense marathon training. Tapering into a big race is vital. But I find there are misconceptions about what makes a good taper. I coach my clients so that taper involves a reduction of volume (the race distance and the athlete's experience dictates how much) but a sustaining of intensity. For example, I taper my marathoners for three weeks rather than two. The first week's volume reduction isn't that severe. But during weeks two and three, it is much more noticeable. During those weeks, I will increase the intensity on shorter workouts; short bursts of work within a shorter distance or timeframe. . . . keep reading...>> The Villages Life The Seal Fitness Challenge was held on March 29th. There were over 100 participants including about 12 residents of The Villages, of which I was one. The swim was first and not a problem; in fact, I even finished before some of the young men and women participants. After that it was a real challenge for me. I did the pushups and sit-ups, but not the minimum amount in the allotted time. As for the chin-ups, they helped me up so I got at least one in. I also completed the run. The other Villagers, both men and women did very well, a number of them completing most of the required exercises. When receiving my participants t-shirt, I told the young SEAL, "Not bad for a guy on Medicare!" . . . keep reading...>> World Masters Rugby Blog It's been a week since the St. Patrick's Day rugby tournament in Savannah, Ga., and the hangovers have subsided while the bug bites still linger. I shall bravely soldier on and give all a rundown on America's second largest rugby tournament (www.savannahrugby.com) as well as the second largest St. Patrick's Day celebration. Savannah is simply an excellent small city to visit, and it seems by the growing number of visitors each year as well as the population growth that many agree with me. It is one of America's most historic cities and has a definite small town atmosphere. I'd recommend a summer trip there with the kids if you're looking for ideas.....just bring plenty of bug spray! On my way up from the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., area I stopped in for my yearly overnight buzz with Dave "Ongowa" Pirrung of the Jacksonville RFC. Dave lives in the Neptune Beach area (pretty hoppin') and is known by many as "Florida Dave" of the SFCA RFC (Speed Freak Clowns on Acid). He promises that one of these years he's putting down his tree surgeon stuff and heading north with me to partake of the tomfoolery but just is too busy playing Tarzan right now. . . . keep reading...>>

Ambassador Navratilova News about people, places and things in Masters sports...File this under D for "Duh": Masters athletes will not be surprised by the results of a recent study by Cambridge University, which found that people who don't smoke, eat their veggies, exercise regularly and drink alcohol in moderation tend to live an extra 14 years on average. What's been ignored in most press coverage of the study is that those extra 14 years are more likely to be lived in good health -- not in a nursing home -- because if you keep using your body and treating it right, it will, in turn, stay useful and treat you right. . . . keep reading...>> A core question Dear GeezerJock Doc: What are your thoughts on core strengthening for overall health? The GeezerJock Doc responds: That's a great question. Core strengthening is the new buzzword in nearly every sport. Which raises two key questions: What is the core? And how do we strengthen it? Most agree the core is the group of muscles that supports and surrounds your trunk and pelvis. Others believe the core also encompasses the muscles of the shoulders, chest and upper back. . . . keep reading...>> Heiden at 50 Eric Heiden is a man of firsts. First to earn five Olympic gold medals for the U.S. in a single Winter Games (Lake Placid, 1980), first to set four Olympic and one world record in a single Olympiad, first speed skater to receive the annual James E. Sullivan Award, first U.S. Pro champion bike racer, and first in so many races as an elite athlete. Heiden has mused about returning to competition as a Masters athlete. While he may not possess the sculpted thighs and conditioning of his Olympic days, there is something to fear about Heiden's return and it is this: in the past three decades, no one has been able to match Heiden's singular determination to achieve at the highest level of competition. A role model's model, Heiden is the guy that Lance Armstrong and Apolo Anton Ohno call for advice. As an orthopedic surgeon, Heiden says that his most significant achievement was his medical studies and not the five gold medals. (He practices in Murray, Utah, and is married with two young children). As an athlete about to turn 50, Heiden gave Masters Athlete his take on aging, exercise, and competition. . . . keep reading...>> More