Mid-Age Rider

[jaydee]

Just curious - how many of our mothers were taking up new and active sports in their 50s/60s. I know my mum would never have considered cycling or running or even swimming. A sedate walk with the dog was her idea of vigourous exercise when she was my age.

[Duck on Wheels]

My mom gave up strenuous sports activities by around her 50's, yeah. Or maybe not ...? She gardens. Still does at 86. And by gardens, I mean she hand turns heavy adobe soil with a shovel, daily, for up to several hours. She buries her kitchen veggie scraps while she's at it, for soil improvement. It works. You should see the stuff she grows!

[mimitabby]

my mother started going to the gym when she was close to 70. Imho, it was too late. She has osteoporosis and has fallen at least 3 times (I'm thinking 4!) and broken bones each time. When we went to Vancouver, she stumbled once and lost her balance another time. It is extremely critical to maintain our balance and stay physically active as long as we can, since most of us ARE going to get osteoporosis. It's not the thin bones that do it to us, it's the poor sense of balance which causes us to fall and then break those bones. And this is something you can do everywhere, (although cycling is great for maintaining your sense of balance!!!) stand on one foot while you're waiting in line!

[TahoeDirtGirl]

All I can say is woowwwwwww....I feel like a baby at 38. You gals are paving the way for 60 to be the new 30 Keep riding!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Just curious - how many of our mothers were taking up new and active sports in their 50s/60s. I know my mum would never have considered cycling or running or even swimming. A sedate walk with the dog was her idea of vigourous exercise when she was my age.

My mother's idea of vigorous exercise was walking across the room to the couch.

All I can say is woowwwwwww....I feel like a baby at 38. You gals are paving the way for 60 to be the new 30 Keep riding!!!

60 is the new 20.

[Crankin]

My mom probably would have still been exercising if she had lived past 67... She died of an autoimmune liver disease that wasn't diagnosed until she was about 60. She was very physically active as a girl and teen; was the leader of the girls athletic association in high school. Of course women were not supposed to be active in the 1940's and 50's, but I remember my mom riding bikes with me, doing sit ups and push ups with a record (an old fashioned thing for you youngsters), and swimming. She took up fitness walking in her 50's and was still going strong until she got sick. I used to walk with her when we would go visit and she could keep up with me very well.
I definitely got my athletic ability from her, although I got my poor balance and spatial relations from my dad, who did nothing athletic except play squash. I wish my mom had lived to see me start cycling and to see my son race when he was in high school.

[Grog]

My mom has always worked hard physically, my parents had greenhouses and did everything themselves.

She was always a bit active on the side, too, riding her bike a little, things like that, but not very confident. Since they started wintering over in Florida (which she doesn't enjoy all that much, but my dad can't endure the cold Quebec winters) she's taught herself swimming and she cycles around 18-20 miles every day around town. She's quite bored where she lives (most women are in their late 70s and 80s, and not active) so she goes out and rides around, stopping at every single yardsale along the way. I'm quite proud of her.

She turned 58 today, and the second thing she told me on the phone when I called her was that she went for a bike ride.

[Zen]

she goes out and rides around, stopping at every single yardsale along the way.

Maybe she needs an Xtracycle

[blondiebiker]

I turned 59 this year and did my first sprint tri last week. WOO-Hoo! I love the challenge and the fitness I have gained. I'm even looking forward to the big 6-0 because I'll be able to step into another age group, and maybe get a medal

You guys are all my idols! I'm about halfway to age 50, been cycling and doing tri's for about 4 years. I'm not fast, but I tell my husband it's not a matter of getting fast, it's a matter of sticking with it longer than anyone else! My plan is to medal someday, when I'm 70 or so... :-P

[jaydee]

Wow, I am so impressed by the 'active mum brigade'.

I'm happy for 60 to be the new 30 - too much trying to work out who I was in my 20s, but my 30s were good. Oh dear, that doesn't mean I have to have a toddler again does it?

[Lollybell]

Thanks for all the encouragement! I am swimming and biking the sprint and my friend (2 time b.c. survivor) is doing the running. So we are a relay of sorts! Can't run anymore - makes the hips hurt. August 10 is d-day. We just don't want to come in last - but somebody has to, right? I have been riding 15 -20 miles 4 times a week for a month and swimming in shrunken Lake Lanier so I'll do the best I can! Love riding and feeling good about myself! And I LOVE this forum