Fighting Fit For Your Forties (Part 2)

There are measurements, and there are numbers. As clichéd as it sounds, age is merely a number; we can measure our physical fitness and health in other ways. The thrill of earning a personal best (PB) time is priceless. It suggests – even for a short while – that, perhaps, we can slow down the allegorical hands of time. We cannot buy time, however we can spend it in ways that matter more to us, and that it creates meaning. One thing is certain: despite the insanity of what endurance athletes subject themselves to, there is no denying that the Masters’ level athletes put in their very best. They can inspire us to look forward to our futures with a sense of certainty, optimism, purpose and adventure. I believe that these four individuals of distinction illustrate for you their spirit of camaraderie, competition and commitment.

EV: How do you deal with injuries? Which kinds did you experience?

FY: Depending on what type of injuries. I had shin splints and plantar fasciitis before. I saw many doctors, physiotherapy, and TCM. Didn't really help, not because they were no good but just that I was too impatient. I started to run when there was a slight improvement on the injury. So, the important point learnt was – Be Patient. Stop all running activities and let the injuries completely heal before attempting to get back to running. And when running after recovering, start from scratch and gradually build up the base, and not pick up from where you left off.

MH: Injury is something that all sportspeople need to deal with it as we will never know our limit until we cross it. I have been trying to manage my current injury, but due to my field-based job, even surgery (based on my specialist’s assessment) is not an option. Thus, I cut back on high intensity or any load-bearing regime to minimize the downtime by cross-training (with low impact activities).

MK: Injury is so annoying, isn't it? And, the older you get the more it happens. I never got rid of my Achilles Tendon problem since 2006. I do calf-stretching, icing, massage, or stop running completely if it gets worse. I also do cycling and swimming to keep fit.

VC: I will always ensure that I give sufficient and appropriate attention to my injuries and try to get sufficient rest to recuperate. Unfortunately, the Singaporean in me gets the better of me, very often. I tend to get back to my training before I am 100% healed. But I will work my way back to my former rigour, rather than dive straight into it. So far my main injury is the iliotibial band syndrome (ITB).

EV: How can we sustain a fitness lifestyle through our 50’s and 60’s (and even race in competitions)?

VC: A healthy diet and a fairly active lifestyle would be a good starting point. With good health, it is easier to proceed to keeping fit, and then pushing your body further.

Freddy: Just try to enjoy every run without the pressure and stress. Cheers.

MH: Listen to your body, as it is your best option to stay in the game longer. I hope my five-cents worth of feedback can assist you in your story.

MK: Forget about competitiveness! Just enjoy the exercise. Appreciate how you are. Appreciate you can still do races. Do not be afraid to pull out from races, if you do not feel like doing it. Races are for fun, not for suffering. Being healthy is most important.

EV: Thank you, Lady & Gentlemen for all your sharing. It helps us appreciate that aging can be a graceful and natural process. It can also promote the best out of our physical fitness through mutual training and competition. Train smart and safely.

Photo-credits: Boon Yeong (Mika & Victor), Marathon Mohan (Freddy Yeoh), Franxis Yong (Melvin)