I have just been reading about Paula Radcliff who has now been dubbed the marathon mom in New York. Mark Foster is still winning gold medals at the age of 38. We all seem to get the idea that sport and competing is for the young. Once you get to around 30 you are over the hill - time to hang up the boots, gloves or track shoes. Who decided this?
We have been conditioned to believe that as we get a little older, we slow down. We cannot do the same things we did when we were younger. can remember when I swam competitively, it was recognised that at about the age of 25 you were finished swimming, and females did very little after the age of about 22.
I have started to train with weights, and am doing a bit of bodybuilding - and I am better now than in my younger days. I am 57 and plan to compete in the next all natural bodybuilding competition in May.
Age has very little to do with what you want to achieve - within reason. I have seen it with boxers fighting well after the age of 40 (George Foreman) and that is one sport that demands extreme fitness.
I really hope that our athletes decide not to quit too early and give the 2012 London Olympics a go. We have some great talent, and by training, they inspire other to get fit. Just think - if everyone decided to improve theirhealth, how much it would change the taxes etc. we have to pay for the NHS.
There is a great deal of benefit in getting into shape at any age.
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