The best exercise as we age
As a former marathon runner and an almost daily runner for decades, I have pounded a lot of pavement. I ran my last marathon at age 50 and gradually phased out running by age 60.
What takes the place of something you loved to do for a significant portion of your life?
For me quitting, the running at age 60 turned out to be a wise move as I got out before the knees, hips and back gave out. Also at age 60, I was able to semi-retire with more time to pursue other interests. My retirement gift was a bicycle and a new love of biking began.
I gradually increased my miles and my love affair with the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), which carves its way through the mountains and valleys of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The scenery on the trail is simply beyond description. Wildlife abounds. I have seen eagles, bears, foxes, and, of cours,e deer, hawks, numerous small animals and many birds. Wildflowers carpet the forest floor and now as we transition from spring to summer the tree canopy becomes dominate.
Each year, the mileage increased until at age 75 my total for the year was 4,024. I am well over 40,000 miles since retirement; however, as the age curves starts to catch up my mileage is beginning to decline and a recent injury has kept me off the trail for over a month.
Today, I was able to get back on the bike and enjoy a small ride up the trail and back. I was hesitant getting back out, but things went well and I have noticed that over the years bike riding is actually a soft exercise with plenty of benefits and little stress on the body. Trails like the GAP or the Sheepskin Trail also keep a rider off city streets where you have to compete with cars and trucks.
I usually ride with my friend Joe who has been my constant bike companion for a number of years. Joe and I ride the Ohiopyle to Confluence section of the GAP and, along the way, we solve all the world蘑菇视频 problems before we stop for breakfast. With my bad foot and the aches and pains of age, our ride is a bit shorter these days, but as Joe always says, 鈥渢he important thing is to keep getting out.鈥� The amount of miles is not that important. Staying active is vital to the aging process.
Another nice feature of the bike trail is the people you meet along the way. Everybody has a pleasant greeting perhaps inspired by the setting of nature. A fellow passed me and after the usual good morning, I noticed the saddle bags indicating a long distance rider. A few quick turns of the pedal and as I came up aside of him I found out he was on his way to Pittsburgh. We chatted for a few miles and I learned he was a researcher doing work in the Gulf of Mexico on the effects of climate change. We stopped for a coffee and a great discussion and once again a scientist confirms that something big is going on with our climate that will require more than just talk.
Perhaps it蘑菇视频 time to get the old bike out of the garage and take a ride on the trail. It蘑菇视频 a great way to exercise. Don鈥檛 have a bike? You can rent one for a few hours and if you enjoy yourself, a new one will only cost a few hundred dollars. Used bikes are also very inexpensive.
See you on the trail.