Dan King, 65, lives by the “use it or lose it” mantra.
“If you’re not pushing yourself physically, you’re signaling your body to decay faster, to degrade faster, and I don’t want that,” Dan says. “I want this chassis to support everything I love to do for as long as possible.”
Dan is one of 4,000 athletes worldwide who competed recently in the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Gainesville, Florida.
The event, held every two years, divides track and field competitors into age categories starting at 35 and going as high as necessary.
Two of the oldest participants are a 104-year-old man from Thailand and a 96-year-old woman from New York. The Gainesville newspaper’s site has some great photos.
Fitness = Values
Dan, of Boulder, Colorado, values fitness as a personal value, which he treats with the same reverence as honesty, integrity, compassion, and reliability.
“The competitive aspect of running is the icing on the cake of a lifestyle decision,” he explains. “You know, it gives me something to build goals around and to use to create focus, and it focuses me on being a little bit cleaner with my diet.”
His muscular arms make Dan look like a multi-sport athlete. But the heavy lifting is for lifestyle, not running.
“I do lots of strength training and the reason I do it is not because I think it makes me a better runner,” he says. “I do it because I think it allows me to live a better life as a 65-year-old. It helps me live. It helps me ski and play golf, go on hikes with my wife.”
That is the value of having fitness as part of Dan’s culture. He doesn’t wallow in remorse when he loses a race. Dan is competitive, but he has higher goals.
“I want to age well, and I want to be fit,” Dan said. “I want to be able to do things I love as long as possible.”
National Senior Games Coming Soon
More than 11,000 athletes are expected to attend the National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa, this summer.
“Senior Games provide the camaraderie and challenge of competitive sports to older adults, promote health and well-being, and inspire participants to keep moving,” event organizers say on their website.
“We believe it’s never too late to get active,” the group continues. “Many Senior Games athletes try a sport for the first time in their 50s, 60s, 70s or beyond — and it changes their lives forever.”
We couldn’t agree more. It’s never too late to get fit, whether you want to compete in events like this or enjoy your life more.
We are here to help. See us today.
We help men and women over 50 feel better, look better, and age actively- because our life isn’t over as we age; in many ways, it’s just beginning!
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