What Makes Olga Run?

Last year about this time I wrote about reading the book Younger Next Year and how I drank the Kool-aid and was going to try to follow the recipe. I pretty much did what I set out to do since 2013, weight resistance training and cardio exercise weekly. Do I feel younger than last year? Yes, yes I do and not just physically but mentally as well.

A few months ago I heard about another book, What Makes Olga Run?: The Mystery of the 90-Something Track Star and What she can teach us about Living Longer, Happier Lives by Bruce Grierson. Wow, the titles of some books are getting to be so long they take up the whole cover. At my age I'm interested in living a longer, healthier, productive life so as you have probably already guessed, I bought the book.

Grierson uses Olga's amazing success in the USATF Master's track and field events to explore the mysteries of aging. Not from the standpoint of the deterioration of our bodies but looking at the extent that we can influence the aging process and keep going full out longer. Seeing Doc Severinsen's musical performance this week is an example of someone in their late 80's who is still productive and creative. Grierson's research for the book reveals that there are many completed and on-going studies that are confirming what I got out of  the book, Younger Next Year.

So, it looks like even if I do not have any plans to be a Master's athlete, I can't let up on my exercise schedule. Another thing I think it confirms is that it is important to be involved with friends and to always have plans for something in the future whether it is tomorrow, or next week or next year.

Most of the time, I think self-help books are kind of WooWoo---a little bit on the far side. Maybe I'm grabbing at straws but yeah, I'm drinking some more of that Kool-aid. It worked pretty well for the last 12 months.