SENIOR MARATHON TRAINING?

Is it possible to keep marathon-training sustainable as we age?

Let’s face it, people, our joints are not as tight and lubricated as they once were – sort of like the joints on the front end of a vehicle. Only difference is, a seasoned auto mechanic can skillfully replace the vehicle’s worn-out joints. The mechanic can even lubricate them prior to their death. This is certainly not the case with the human skeletal frame.

Oh sure, many capable surgeons often replace ailing knee and hip joints. They’ve even come up with new materials that advertise life spans of 20 to 30 years, maybe even longer. The recipients of these artificial joints, however, are not about to run or walk marathons, at least not in the short time-frame administered by most if not all marathon organizers.

And then there are the many knee injections touting liberating newness to that particular joint, or the popular cortisone shot offering temporary relief. Been there done that on both of these – all while age-related arthritis continues to ravage the joints.

Long-term usages of anti-inflammatory pills are out of the question due to the adverse effect they may have on the liver and stomach. Certain factors can increase the risk of liver toxicity from products containing acetaminophen and the risk of GI bleeding from the use of products containing NSAIDs.

Cross training, then, may be the only answer to keep oneself in the marathon loop. Not overusing any one joint most certainly sounds like an unfailing solution.

When we were in the fitness center yesterday morning, my butt was literally kicked by a shortened version of what I consider an acceptable marathon cross-training routine. Two miles on a treadmill, two miles on a stationary bike, and one mile on an elliptical trainer isn’t exactly a challenging endurance routine by any stretch of the imagination, even if I did do all three rather quickly.

Using yesterday’s joke of a workout as an example, I now know what must be done to maintain a fitness level high enough to endure distances of 26 miles or less.

And when the weather warms and our condo’s pool water doesn’t encourage embarrassing shrinkage, then and only then will I add swimming to the other three disciplines.

Longevity has its price!