Sunday, May 26, 2013

Now It'll be In July!

Our June Sports Massage Course has been postponed to July.

The reason is because one of our course organizers, Gino Ng, was involved in a cycling accident. He sustained skull and spinal fractures. He is on the mend and expected to be back at work in July.

Sports Solutions Sports Massage Course July 2013


July 13, 14, 20, 21 (2 weekends)
Saturdays (13, 20 July): 9am to 6pm
Sundays (14, 21 July): 10am to 5pm

It will be held at Sports Solutions, 108 Amoy Street

Early Bird (till 31 May 2013): $1200
After 31 May 2013: $1500

Register now by calling 62236078 or emailing admin@sportssolutions.com.sg

Lecturers:
Ms Aized Noor (Master Sports and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (Uni South Australia), Senior Physiotherapist, Physio Solutions)
Ms Marlene Torrent Parker (National Cert in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork NCTMB (US), Massage and Bodywork Therapist)

This course aims to equip you with the basics of human anatomy and practical tecniques of sports massage.

How You Can Be 40 Years Old At 80


After reading my previous post, you probably think Ed Whitlock is a really great runner (and so do I), but please read on. I will show you a few more older (average age of 81) and yet fitter lifelong Nordic skiers published in the Applied Journal of Physiology last year.

In the study, this group of 9 skiers were compared to 6 remarkably healthy men of the same age but were not doing any exercises. In several key tests, including VO2 max and skeletal muscle health, the skiers scored more than 50% higher than the men who did not exercise.

The authors reported that the VO2 max recorded in this group of skiers is believed to be the highest recorded in humans above 80 years old and what's more; their results were comparable to non endurance trained men 40 years younger. This is definitely associated with lower risk for disability and mortality.

So after reading this far, you must be wondering how you can emulate them.

Well here's how they did it. On average, they've been training about 8 hours a week for the last 50 years. They exercised 4 to 6 days a week and never missed more than 6 months of continuous training at any one point. One of these skiers, who is 91 years old, won 2 gold medals at the winter Olympics. (Using his test results, this 91 year old would run a 4:10 hrs marathon -better than Ed).

Seems like a daunting task if you want to live longer and be healthier?

Well,  like I wrote last week, if you're not yet 81, keep exercising. If you're 81, keep going. 8 hours of exercise a week is definitely manageable, you just need to be consistent.

Email me if you want a copy of the article.

Reference

Trappe S, Haynes E et al (2012). New Records In Aerobic Power Among Octogenarian Lifelong Endurance athletes. J App Physiology. 114: 3-10.

*Picture by Anders Ljungberg from Flickr.com.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Running A 3:30 Marathon At 81


Well , after my recent bike accident and not being able to run or bike, and stuck at home, I was researching for articles on a group of octogenarians (or eighty something years old) super fit lifelong Nordic skiers since I can't work, I came across this link of Ed Whitlock.

Ed Whitlock is eighty-one years old (yes, you read correctly) and last October, ran the Toronto marathon in a supremely fast 3:30:26 hours, taking 16 minutes off the previous best time.

What was even more amazing was Ed ran 3:15:53 hours at the 2011 Toronto marathon, breaking his own 80 plus world record. The following month, he slipped on icy stairs outside his house and broke a rib. He ended up not being able to run for much of last year so maybe that explains why he "only" ran a 3:30 marathon.

Well , I guess the bottom line is if you're not yet 81, keep going. If you're 81, keep going. That gives me hope, so that when I get better, I will still be able to run.

So what about my article on the group of super fit eighty something year old Nordic skiers? Well, that will be my next post.


*Picture of Ed Whitlock from Runners World