Many Folks In Their 50s And Older Are Not Just Staying Active, But ...

From Greenville Online?..

Tama Brynes of Simpsonville has always been active in some way or another ? whether it was playing sports in college or working out with exercise videos while a stay-at-home mom.

But she never imagined herself cycling up hills, running 12 miles and participating in a series of triathlons. The 56-year-old mother of three and her husband, Steve, are fitter than a lot of folks half their age. Earlier this year, she placed third in her age group in the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships in Burlington, Vt.

?To be in good health, it takes more than talking about,? Brynes said. ?It?s about challenging yourself.?

With widespread reports of obesity, rising health care costs and people living longer, such challenges are becoming more important, now more than ever, say experts.

Physical activity is important for any age group but it?s particularly essential as you get older,? said Julian Reed, associate professor of health sciences at Furman University.

?I think people are realizing: ?Whoa, I?m 50 now. I?m not in my 30s or 20s.? If I want to continue to have a productive and active life, I got to get into some regular physical activity,? Reed said.

And for today?s older generation, there?s so much more available resources to help increase awareness about lowering the risk of getting heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other ailments, said Jim Gillespie, conditioning supervisor at the Life Center on Grove Road in Greenville, where about 35 percent of members are 50 years and older.

?I think the education is finally getting out there and reaching more people in our community,? Gillespie said.

Michael Burchett, president of the Greenville Track Club, said he?s seen a proportionate increase in older members in the past few years.

?We have over 1,200 members and we have definitely seen a proportionate increase in the number of middle-aged and older runners, runners who are over 40, over 50. Those are actually some of our most competitive age groups in a lot of our races.?

?Maybe they ran in high school or ran as a young adult and got out of it for a while and as they got older, they lose fitness. Maybe they have a family history of health problems, so you begin to see them getting back into it,? Burchett said.

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Source: http://www.lensaunders.com/wp/?p=6839

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