NYTimes article about aging and athletic performance

The NYTimes article confirms what many of our fellow forumites (indeed and many of our coaches) have been saying over and over: train fast. Its interesting to see this put into more specific physiologic terms: “One of the major determinants of endurance performance is oxygen consumption,” Dr. Tanaka said. “You have to make training as intense as you can.” Very interesting, too, that the study of optimum performance in individuals 65 and over can tell us why oxygen consumption is going to drop. Anna, I think the Scientific American article is very interesting as well, as its getting at the basic science of aging. The quoted study, however, I would term hypothesis-generating. I wouldn't be surprised that the conclusions it makes are confirmed in the future. But there has been a long and ongoing debate about whether its the exercise itself or some other factor that's lengthening lives. I'm not waiting for the science; Swim on!

The NYTimes article confirms what many of our fellow forumites (indeed and many of our coaches) have been saying over and over: train fast. Its interesting to see this put into more specific physiologic terms: “One of the major determinants of endurance performance is oxygen consumption,” Dr. Tanaka said. “You have to make training as intense as you can.” Very interesting, too, that the study of optimum performance in individuals 65 and over can tell us why oxygen consumption is going to drop. Anna, I think the Scientific American article is very interesting as well, as its getting at the basic science of aging. The quoted study, however, I would term hypothesis-generating. I wouldn't be surprised that the conclusions it makes are confirmed in the future. But there has been a long and ongoing debate about whether its the exercise itself or some other factor that's lengthening lives. I'm not waiting for the science; Swim on!