Jumping for Seniors

For the past three weeks I’ve been crossing the finish line at the same time as Pam. Previously she’d been two steps faster in our weekly 100 yard, barefoot in the grass, wind sprints. The question is why are we now in a photo finish?

The answer is that for the past two months I’ve been playing with a concept called “band assisted vertical jumping.” As the name implies, this practice entails a power band that is draped across a pull up bar. The participant grabs hold of the band at both ends, drops down into a semi-squat position which stretches the band and helps (assists) them when they jump back up. It’s as if you immediately become 40 or 5o pounds lighter with the band assistance.  

As the result my vertical jump (along with the elasticity in my knees) has increased over the past several weeks. And I believe that my stride length when sprinting has increased as well. The added stride length along with the same stride-frequency has increased my speed and I’m now able to keep up with my beautiful 70 year old better half for 100 yards.

Also as the result, Pam has decided to start her own jumping in order to regain the two step lead that she enjoyed until the past three weeks. Staying two steps ahead of me in everything has always been a priority for my beautiful, 70 year old better half. That hasn’t changed a bit.

Resisting the Sunset

There are days when I have more energy than I have on other days. On those days when I have more energy I always try to make it my business to fit a sprint workout into my schedule.

On these days I not only want to run, I actually feel the need to run. I feel like I need to spend the excess energy that I’m experiencing. And when I spend it systematically, over time (say the summer months), I find that my energy actually increases. We used to call that phenomenon “getting into shape”

On the other hand, if I fail, or somehow I’m prevented (by other inferior obligations) from spending my excess energy, systematically, over time, I find that my energy actually decreases.  We used to call this phenomenon “getting out of shape.”

According to my own experiences then, when I spend it, I get more energy in return. When I fail to spend it, I gradually lose that excess energy. The feeling of overflowing energy, vitality, and potency that makes the day so worth living, will gradually fade off into the sunset until it’s finally gone. That’s the scenario I’m doing everything in my power to resist. And BTW, Pam is doing precisely the same thing.

Why? Why Sprint When You’re in Your 70’s?

Naperville, IL is a community that’s full of runners. And a high percentage of those people we see pounding the pavement this time of year look as if the reason they’re running is because they believe that running is the most effective way to lose or control their body weight. They also want to avoid cardio problems. They want to look good to family and friends. In other words, they do it because they’re convinced that running is good for their health and well-being.

From Rick:  I may be dead wrong, but when watching from the outside, it doesn’t look like they’re enjoying the running experience. It doesn’t seem to be a privilege, but an obligation. It doesn’t seem to be something they get to do. It seems like something they have to do. It’s another job, a duty. It’s not a recreational activity. It’s a test of their self-discipline, their internal fortitude, their will power. 

From Pam:  Rick and I disagree on this one.  I often perceive a lightness in the runners I see.  Sometimes I envy the effortless joy in their strides, hoping that maybe it seems that way to those who see me run past them on my neighborhood runs.  I’m exhilarated from the realization that I although I’m 70 years old, I’m able to run freely, at a pace that’s comfortable and even challenging at times.  But toss in a day of sprints and that takes it to a new level, I admit.  

Now on one hand, we both salute the fact that they’re out of the house, off of the couch, and actually doing something instead of nothing. On the other hand we’d like to suggest that running has the potential to be a celebration of human movement, an expression of joy and potency. And we think we most experience that celebration in the act of sprinting, working arms, legs, feet, and lungs to maximum capacity, if only for 50 yards, 100 yards, or 150 yards. If you’d like to stop working at it and start celebrating it, you might just consider sprinting…even in your 70’s!