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Confessions of an Aging Adrenaline Junky

By Dennis Carroll

I'm Starting to feel my age. I'm ready to turn forty nine and I ride dirt bikes. "Yeah, so do a lot of other people so what?" Well I guess it is not that big of a deal, but my story illustrates my point and the corresponding concept around aging and training.

So I started riding when I was turned forty, almost nine years ago. And I've grown to love it. The "rush" I experienced the first time I cleared a double (a type of jump) was intense (that was the first time I tried, I wasn't so lucky the next time. Now we all know dirt biking is a young man's sport, but I have no intention of giving it up. I see opportunity to improve and to ride at a higher level yet to come. That means I will have to learn more skills.

So let's look at the learning curve. Learning, in most cases, comes with trial and error. Riding dirt is no different. When I make a mistake riding, often (and I mean often)the result is a "get off"(slang for crashing). Most times when I ride, I'll experience one or more get offs( if I had a little brains, I might find a different hobby).

I'm almost fifty. I ride my dirtbike as hard as I can, and I crash regularly. What is my point? (And you thought I'd never get to it, about time!) For those of you still awake, my point is this: I train to ride. In the gym, I design my exercise regimen to support my ability to ride, and to ride hard (adrenaline...mmm.).

One of my clients,who is in his mid-forties, is getting dropped from a helicopter to go skiing (my adrenal glands are salivating). Now I've never done that type of skiing so I had him simulate the different types of moves that will help him get down the mountain. We broke those moves into components and together created a program to enhance his ability to ski hard and to have the endurance he will need to not make mistakes from being tired. Out there mistakes could be bad, very bad(Why does that make me want to do it?). Then we drill away incorporating fast twitch and slow twitch movements and flexibility movements. Additionally, because his cardio- respiatory system will need to acclimate to a higher altitude where there is less availabe oxygen, I have him perform some exercises breathing only through a straw(this must only be done undersupervision and with medical clearance). By the time he gets to the slope, his only worry will be an avalanche (Mmm...avalanche, I'm getting giddy).

The number of professional athletes still competing into their forties(and fifties)is growing. I saw a report on Martina Navratilova a few years back. I was amazed at the intensity if her workouts. Being the macho weight lifter type I thought, "It's only tennis after all." Martina continued to compete professionally until just a few weeks before her fiftieth birthday (I was humbled).

The great wide NFL wide receiver, Jerry Rice is 45. Olympic swimmer and silver medalist Dana Torres is 41. NHL legend Gordie Howe played all eighty games of his final season at the tender age of 52. In 1997, at the age of 70, he played one game on contract with the Detroit Vipers.

The list continues to grow. Arguably playing the best football of his career at 39, how long does Brett Favre (how do you say that?) have left? You think he doesn't train? And of course, Phillies own Jamie Moyer, who pitched the third game of the world series at the age of 45.

My piont is this: at a time in life when many people belive it is time to "give it up" I say, "NO way!". And you should too. Whether hiking and climbing, tennis, golf, soccer, helicopter skiing or whatever, you can train to play better, harder and more often. You can be in the shape to do what you love and to live with passion. That is what quality of life is all about.

About the Author:

Dennis Carroll is founder of Premier Personal Training in West Chester. He is a nationally certified fitness expert and contributing author to the Fitness Experts Network. He can be reached at . His website is http://www.premier-personal-training.com