Mach3Multisport.com

Here's a link to an inspiring story I recently stumbled across. 

I enjoy lots of things about Endurance sports.  I like the fact that it's a competitive outlet that you can potentially carry on into your 80s and beyond.  I love the energy on raceday.  I can't say enough about the fantastic people I've met in the multisport community.  The list goes on. 

By far, however, the Star Tribune article sums up the most important reason in my mind to participate in endurance sports.  They can save your life (in the case of the guy from the article), prolong your life, or help to make the twilight years of your life more enjoyable. 

I recently had the pleasure of listening to Sally Edwards speak.  Ms Edwards has been a triathlete/businesswoman/motivational speaker/etc. since the late 70s, and has seen just about everything there is to see in the multisport world.  If you're a woman and have done any of the Danskin triathlons, you may have seen her.  She's the "sweeper" whose job it is to make sure that none of the athletes has to finish dead last. 

Anyway, she gave a fantastic talk in which her main point was that the number one key to longevity is to be fit.  OK, fair enough.  No one is probably floored by that info.  The surprising thing is that if you are carrying a few extra pounds of fat, but you exercise regularly, your life span won't necessarily be cut significantly.  This compared to people who are naturally thin but don't do anything physical.  Not surprisingly, if you're fat and you're sedentary, you are definitely staring down the barrel of a gun. 

So, the order of lifespans from longest to shortest is:

1. fit/not fat

2. fit/fat

3. not fit/not fat

4. not fit/fat (surprise!)

The bottom line is that individuals are going to burn fat/add muscle in (surprise) individual ways.  People don't fit into a simple mold.

The one common theme is that you need to do something!  If you're reading this and thinking that you don't have the athletic ability to do a triathlon or that you're afraid people will make fun of you because you're not a skinny 5% bodyfat gazelle, PLEASE reread the Star Tribune article.

There's nothing more inspiring to see than a newbie triathlete crossing the line at their first race with a huge smile plastered all over their face. 

It might just add a couple of good years to your life too.

Happy Training!

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