fitness, strength, and wellness over 50
Banner photo above by Howe Stern; Loretta Tobolske-Horn at Desert Solstice, 2020. “I’m almost 50 and I’m not getting slower. I’m getting smarter...” In this “blogcast” I talk to ultrarunner and coach Loretta Tobolske-Horn. Loretta turns 50 next month, which is close enough to make her a 50 is the New Forte role model! Photo... Continue Reading →
I know summer is not over, yet. Technically, we're barely halfway through. But so much of it has zipped past me, and so many Fall things are looming, that I feel like I've already missed it! Last year's work and school "shut-down" - challenging in so many unpleasant ways - at least created more opportunities... Continue Reading →
Since January, I've been participating in the Full ON CVNP challenge, organized by the good folks at Western Reserve Racing. The challenge is to cover all 115 miles of trails in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) by May. It's a great way to experience the park, get outside, and get or stay fit in... Continue Reading →
First up, a few role models: I'm a few years (ok, 5 years) behind the times, but Bollywood actor and ageless eye candy Milind Soman treated himself to an Ironman* Triathlon for his 50th birthday in 2015 (*that's an event featuring a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.22 mile run). He apparently... Continue Reading →
At 70 years of age, Joan MacDonald was overweight, badly out of shape, in pain, and on blood pressure medication. Her daughter Michelle was deeply concerned, and challenged her to start working out, and to join an online group of women trying to develop healthy habits. I'm now three years into my journey and I... Continue Reading →
Oiselle makes running and exercise clothing I can't really afford, but I do love this: they are sponsoring a team of 3 runners, all over 70 years of age, called the Elite Grannies. Two of them started running at age 60 or older! (The article dubs this "adult onset running." 🙂 ) Read more about... Continue Reading →
(That awesome photo of Peggy Oki is by Kevin Steele.) This wonderful article about former Zephyr skateboarder Peggy Oki took me back a few years. When I was in the 7th, 8th, and maybe 9th grades, I fancied myself a skateboarder. I bought skateboarding magazines and cut out amazing action shots of all the cool... Continue Reading →
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJAW8STfiko This is a great short documentary about 52-year old Nicky Spinks, one of the last two women standing at this year's bonkers Barkley Marathon in Tennesee. For the second year in a row, nobody completed the race - five soul-sucking laps of 20 miles in treacherous terrain and wild weather. In fact, in 33... Continue Reading →
More evidence that it's almost never too late to start running. In this most recent study, individuals who began running in their fifties exhibited - within ten years - similar lean muscle mass, body fat, and running speed to same-aged runners who began running decades earlier. That's encouraging!* I'm having to contemplate either proceeding with... Continue Reading →
Submitted for your approval: biker shorts that "imbue average people with superhuman walking abilities." I can see the therapeutic possibilities for restoring mobility in people who have lost it, which helps to redirect my thoughts from their otherwise inevitable trajectory to "The Wrong Trousers." Moving right along... I don't know how I missed this in... Continue Reading →
I met Suez Jacobson when I sat (briefly) on the board of directors for Great Old Broads for Wilderness, at the same time she did. We bonded immediately over our shared commitment to wilderness preservation, writing, outdoor sports, teaching, and hand-written letters. When I started thinking of “everyday athletes” in my circles that I would... Continue Reading →
Part of me says "hey, wait for me!" And the other part says, "oh, H*** no!" Watch this mesmerizing look at cold open water swimming, featuring the "swim twins," Kari Furre and Kate Rew. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB3THSHPLuQ Read more about Kari Furre and her Outdoor Swimming Society here. The weird thing about this video coming across my... Continue Reading →
