You Run Like My Grandma

Ever been told "You run like a grandma"? Ya, me neither. But if it ever happens in the near future you can turn around and be proud to say "thank you!". Check this video out and you'll see why. Make sure to pay attention to the far right hand side of the roster....yep those are their ages.

How is it possible for 80 year old to get a better score than even some adolescents?!?! That's what I was wondering. So I sat in on my husband's Exercise Physiology class one day to find out. Here is what I found: it's due to the high intensity exercise routine sprinters engage in. But what do you hear now-a-days? 30 minutes of moderate exercise 3 times a week. Well, according to Dr. Langford (Austin's professor who is researching this topic), in couple of years you wont be hearing that recommendation from experts. You'll be hearing numbers like "frequent 40 minutes" and "high intensity cardio-vascular" used together in order to have an effective work out.

Now why should we change? You think you're doing great on your moderate schedule. Here is what frequent 40 minutes of high intensity work out do for you:

-Stresses and strengthens the heart in ways which cause longer lasting results
-Improves heart performance (aka you wont be on a ventilator when you're 70...you'll be running)
-Helps fight as well as prevent diabetes better than doctor recommended moderate exercise (#1 killer of Americans has to do with heart disease and is closely followed by diabetes)

And think about it, it makes sense. If you lift a 5 pound weight for 30 minutes 3 times a week...ya you will gain some strength in your arms, but if you up the intensity you will have better results. You heart is a muscle, it works in a similar fashion. Don't believe me, watch the video again. Ya, the video of that 65 year old woman kicking your trash. Any moderately exercised individual can b.s. a half marathon (I am living proof of that). But there is no b.s. in a 80 year old still running a 14 second 100 meter dash. I don't know about you, but I would rather be running at 70 then wheezing my way down the hallway. So you may want to re-think your exercise routine....I know I am!

Go ahead. Stress your heart. That way in 40 years you too can be proud to be told you run like a grandma ;)