10/3/11
Genes or Lifestyle Choices?
I recently ran at the Syracuse Festival of Races 5K on October 2, 2011. I was surprised to see some of the great running times of people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and even 80s! Often times, people complain that they are too old to do something and say things like, "Well, when you get to be my age, you won't be doing those things." Or "These old bones can't do what they used to." I guess my question is, are these people running such great times because of excellent genes or plain old hard work and active lifestyle choices? I suppose it could be a combination of both, but I'm hoping for the latter because I do not believe I'm blessed with good running genes. Take a look at some of the ages and times below and please comment on what you think to be the case.
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I believe it to be a bit of both. Some are simply born with the physical gift and can do a lot of things without the hard work or active lifestyle. Hard work can only enhance that gift to make you faster. At a certain point, however, age takes over and you will slow down. A long term active lifestyle helps these older people to run and to run well for their age.
ReplyDeleteI know of an older gentlemen who learned how to swim, bike and run just a few years ago. He completed an Ironman this July at the age of 66. He has always been physically active, but he must have some good genes as well to pull that off.
WOW, those are some really good times. I have no idea if its the jeans, but they are obviously running, so i'll keep doing it my self.
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