Rob Taylor is closing in on age 70.  He’s a great-grandfather and cancer survivor.  He overcame skin cancer in 1999 and then tonsil cancer in 2003.  Four years later, the tonsil cancer returned.  This time it was worse, as it had spread to the lymph nodes in his neck.  He struggled through chemotherapy and repeated radiation treatments.  He even lost his saliva gland.

Rob has certainly been through a lot.  He doesn’t sit around and mope about the circumstances however.  On the contrary, he remains as active and strong as most men half his age.  He isn’t a lifetime lifter though.  Rob didn’t begin powerlifting until he was 64 years old.

Yet, despite the late start, cancer didn’t stop him from getting back into the gym before his hair had time to grow back.  It also didn’t stop him from becoming a record breaking lifter for his age group.  He’s already pulled over 450 pounds and has his eyes set on 500.

Rob’s story is one of true inspiration.  He’s overcome repeated battles with cancer and continues to defy age.  He doesn’t sit around feeling sorry for himself.  He’s too busy taking care of his family and busting ass in the gym.  Hats off to him.  I wish him continued success and health.

In past entries, I have highlighted various homemade  ab wheels designs.  I also wrote an article on the subject in early 2008.   Standing rollouts are definitely one of my favorite exercises for the core.  I regularly receive emails however from individuals who do not have access to wheels at their gym or are not looking to build one.

Traditional ab wheels only cost around $10, but I realize that you may not want to bring equipment to a commercial gym.  If this is the case, a barbell can be used to perform rollouts (standing or from the knees).  The video below includes a few brief demonstrations of the barbell rollout.

As you can see within the video, resistance bands can be easily added to the barbell to perform an assisted version of the standing rollout.  It’s much easier to add a resistance band to a barbell than an ab wheel.  The band seen within the video is actually a pallet band used for commercial shipping.

To perform the resistance band rollout, first attach the band to a secure object (ex. power rack).  Within the video, I actually used a heavily weighted trap bar.  I then slid a 5 pound plate under each side to prevent it from rolling.  You can see the slip-knot below.

Next, simply loop the other end around your barbell.

As you roll forward, tension within the band will increase.  This will help you to maintain control as you descend, and will then help you return to the starting position.  The band essentially pulls you back (similarly to a band assisted pull-up).  If you are looking to perform your first standing rollout, the resistance band may be one useful progression.

Additional progressions can be seen here (partial rollouts and ramp rollouts) and here (with lashing straps).

Throughout this blog’s history, I’ve highlighted several age related stories.  These entries are often visual reminders of George Bernard Shaw’s priceless wisdom.

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

Many of the older athletes that I’ve featured have been training for longer than I’ve been alive.  These men and women are not growing old in the traditional sense.  They continue to thrive and often improve.  For example, Fred Peterson can be seen below pulling 640 pounds at 70 years old.

Fred can also be seen within this video pulling 680 pounds.  He speaks briefly at the 4:35 mark and then prepares for the lift at approximately 5:00 into the video.  While speaking, he mentions that he’s been lifting for 56 years.  It’s great to see someone remain passionate about training as they advance in age.

Below is yet another tremendous display of older strength.  Larry Wallen pulls 705 pounds at 60 years old.

Keep Living

I’m not posting these videos in hope that you sign your grandfather up for a powerlifting meet.  I’m posting these videos to remind you that life isn’t over until it is over.  You can remain passionate about training regardless of age.  These strength displays are incredibly inspirational to me.  I’m amazed at the strength of these men in their 60′s and 70′s. I can only hope that I’ll be as active as them when I approach their current age.

Larry Wallen and Fred Peterson are two clear examples that the body is much more capable than many realize.  It is amazing what can be accomplished with years of consistent and diligent work.  It is also worth mentioning that you can still do very well despite starting at an older age.

Either way, the possibility always exists for one to remain passionate.   The past is the past.  It’s over and we can’t change it.  You don’t need to be defined by what you did or didn’t do. If there is something that you want to do, get up and get busy.

In the words of Chuck Palahniuk,

“You have a choice. Live or die. Every breath is a choice. Every minute is a choice. To be or not to be.”

Below is a link to a recent Washington Post article about 11-year-old Dayton Webber. He may lack arms and legs, but he exhibits as much heart as anyone.

Amputee Dayton Webber, 11, excels at wrestling

At 11 months old, Dayton’s limbs were amputated because of a life-threatening bacterial infection. Dayton was not expected to live. Family gathered as he was administered his last rites. Fortunately, it’s been over ten years since his limbs were amputated and he’s still going strong.  He’s been an active wrestler for four years.  He also gets outside to play football, ice skate, ride go-karts, and more.  He is as active as any of his peers.

In Dayton’s own words,

“I just like to do sports. I feel like I can play sports and kind of show people what I can do — that I can do sports just as good as them. I feel like I can do anything if I just put my mind to it.”

He went on to say,

“Anything they say I can’t do, I try to show them I can do it.”

If Dayton can live with such determination despite his unfortunate circumstances, it is safe to say that we can all live with such conviction.  There are no excuses.

I honestly don’t know what I would do if one of my own children had to go through what Dayton has endured.  I never would have thought that an 11-year-old could be such an inspiration to me.  His story has certainly struck a chord.

We can all learn and benefit from the way Dayton lives his life.  I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.

In a past article, I referenced the 1985 title fight between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns.  It has been 25 years since their epic bout.  Fortunately, time has not dulled the excitement of this brutal slugfest.   It is impossible to imagine how much action could be squeezed into a 3 round bout without watching it unfold with your own eyes.

Below is a new video that recaptures the action of this brutal classic.

If this video doesn’t get the blood flowing, I don’t know what will…

According to the National Wildlife Federation, the average American child spends between four and seven minutes playing outside each day.  For a young child, that’s about enough time to throw a ball, retrieve it, and then head back inside.

Kids have become more inclined to sit in front of the television than ever before.  If you are a parent, I highly recommend perusing the National Wildlife Federation’s Be Out There campaign.

http://www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Be-Out-There.aspx

You can even find a link that will help you locate outdoor activities in your local area.

Nature Event Finder

A Change In Times

As a child, sitting in front of the television was the last thing I wanted to do.  We’d get home from school and immediately head outside.  We stayed outside until the sun went down.  There was always something to play.  It didn’t matter the season.  Whether it was hot in the summer or cold in the winter, we headed outside to play.

My wife and I are raising our children the same way.  They love the outdoors.  My kids would stay outside all day if we let them.  It’s natural for children to enjoy playing outside.  The kids of today aren’t different than us.  It’s just that their surroundings have changed.  We didn’t have the technology that exists today.  I still remember when the Atari 2600 came out.  If the kids of today had to trade in their Playstation for the old Atari system, they’d probably want to head outside too.

Since that isn’t going to happen, parents need to step up to the plate and invest time in their children.  That means getting up and taking your kids outside to play.  Yes, there will be times when Mother Nature interferes, but even the winter offers opportunities for the kids to play.  I still have vivid memories of my childhood winters.  We played football in the snow, went sledding down any hill we could find, skated on the ice, and had monumental neighborhood snow ball fights!  As a child, life revolved around what to play and where to play.

The kids of today begin with a similar interest in outdoor play.  It fades as they gain more and more access to electronic devices.  Parents still have the power to pull the plug however.  I don’t want  my kids glued to the television set.  I’d rather have them involved in a useful activity.  Clearly, we can’t spend all day outside, but we can certainly make an effort.  Earlier today, I took my son for a hike into the woods.  We were gone for no more than a half hour, but he had the time of his life.  He didn’t need any toys.  He ran in the snow, followed animal tracks, and watched as I collected wood.  He had an outdoor adventure and we didn’t make it more than 100 yards from my back door.  Outdoor activities don’t need to be complicated.  Get outside and your kids will find ways to entertain themselves.

Unfortunately, many kids never have the opportunity. Here is a quote from the National Wildlife Federation site:

American childhood has moved indoors during the last two decades, taking a mental and physical toll on today’s kids. The negative impact of decreased time outdoors includes a doubling of the childhood obesity rate — accompanied by an incremental hundred billion dollar cost to our health care system — as well as declining creativity, concentration and social skills.

Parents have the power to curb these alarming statistics.  Your children will follow your lead.  Get up, get outside, and promote a healthy and active lifestyle.  It doesn’t take anything other than the willingness to get up and get involved. And if you can’t get outside because of the weather, find something fun to do indoors.   My kids can turn a few balloons into an hour of fun.  They hit the balloons into the air, chase them down to catch, kick, throw, etc.

Once again, children don’t need elaborate toys for entertainment.  More often than not, they just want to get up and move.  Foster this interest rather than ignoring it with unlimited access to electronic media.

Let a kid be a kid, the way nature intended…

Below is a video of a recent track and field record breaker.  Records are not new to Frank Levine though.  He currently holds two world records.  What makes his accomplishments so impressive isn’t his lightning speed however, but rather his age.  Frank is 95 years old and still going strong.

He recently broke the 5000 meter world record for his age group (95 to 99).  Imagine that there are men and women a third of his age who could not even run 5000 meters.   Meanwhile, Frank gets outside to run every other day.  He also performs pushups and even works out on a punching bag.

Frank did not begin competing as a runner until age 65.  He’s run 18 marathons in the time since.  Not too shabby for a senior citizen.   Meanwhile, I’ve had people in their 30′s email me about feeling over the hill.  Here is a man who started a new sport at 65.

In Frank’s own words,

“The easiest person to fool in the world, to mislead, is yourself because you can talk yourself into anything.”

Frank’s advice can be taken two ways.  You can talk yourself into sitting down and letting life pass you by or you can talk yourself into getting up and making things happen.  It’s never too late.

I’ll do my best to follow Frank’s lead.   He’s a true inspiration.

Following a recent entry, I’ve received several follow up comments on the topic of success.  If you enjoyed the Will Smith interviews, I’m guessing that you will enjoy these videos as well.  Richard St. John has some interesting things to say about becoming successful and remaining successful.

First, he shares eight keys to success.

He then comments on success as a continuous journey.

At first glance, much of his material appears obvious. There are times though when we overlook what is obvious advice.  Although you may not learn anything new, you will certainly be reminded of several important concepts.

It is well known that not everyone in the world has the interest or ambition to become successful (ex. at school, work, sport, etc.).  If you do wish to excel however, you’ll find much of St. John’s advice to be highly relevant as you move closer towards your goals.