Below is a video of 71 year old John Maulkin performing 15 standing rollouts with an abdominal wheel.

Standing rollouts are a challenging movement that elude many exercise enthusiasts.  It is rare that one can perform multiple reps from the standing position without training specifically for the exercise.   Although clearly an example of a strength based core movement, this exercise also requires strength endurance based on the time required to perform multiple repetitions. In the video above, John takes almost two minutes to perform 15 reps.  Maintaining the required tension for this amount of time requires a mix of core strength and endurance.

Fifteen reps is impressive for anyone, but at age 71 it becomes even more inspiring.  It isn’t every day that you find a 71 year old man capable of such a feat.  Hats off to John and thanks for inspiring many who are likely half your age.

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For those interested in progressing from a kneeling to standing rollout, take a look at the link below for one useful option:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vfTLXQUZeI

Paul Drinan is a 68 year-old grandfather whose name was recently added to the Guinness Book of World Records.  He set a new record by holding the abdominal plank position for 33 minutes and 40 seconds.  A brief summary of the event can be seen through the video below.

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I enjoy this story for several reasons.  First, it is undeniably impressive to see a 68 year-old man in such tremendous condition.  In addition to his recent plank record, he’s also performed 101 consecutive pushups and 29 pull-ups (both records at his local gym).

His 33+ minute plank is perhaps most impressive though, as he just began preparing for the challenge earlier this year.  After witnessing a younger instructor hold the plank for 12 minutes, Paul thought he could do better.  He began practicing the exercise as a result. His practice obviously paid off as he not only set the gym record but also a world record.

There are athletes half Paul’s age who would struggle to hold the plank for a fraction of the time. I’ve seen competitive athletes crumble under the plank after a few minutes.  Many could likely do better than they initially realize however.  Unfortunately, people often fall far short of their potential.

Such limitations are often the result of expectations.  Google the plank and you’ll find several sites suggesting that you work up to a minute or two  Paul Drinan never started with such low expectations.  He saw someone hold the exercise for 12 minutes and believed he could do better. He didn’t begin with someone else telling him what he should strive to achieve.

There is plenty to learn from his record breaking performance.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that you sleep in the plank.  Personally, I find the exercise incredibly boring when held for longer durations.  I prefer working with more difficult exercises.  I don’t begin by imposing limitations on myself however.  I’d rather be stubborn like Paul, and assume that I can do better than what I’ve see done by others.

Paul is obviously in excellent physical condition, but he also possesses unusual mental toughness.  When the mind refuses to quit, the body tends to come along for the ride.  Just because something becomes difficult does not mean it is time to sit down and rush to the water fountain.

Gradually pushing yourself a bit further is the best way to separate yourself from the majority.

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“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas A. Edison

Below is a video of man who is approaching age 70.  He was featured on this blog once before.

In the video that follows, you will see how he progresses towards a slow muscle up.

While his physical display is clearly impressive, it is his quest to continually improve that captivates me the most.  Here is a man who has obviously taken care of himself throughout life.  Gymnastic training is still new to him but he spent many years as an active rower and climber.

Yet after all these years, he still finds new ways to challenge himself.  He isn’t content to maintain what he already has.  Instead, he methodically plans one progression to the next until he has achieved his goals.  His work highlights the potential of a consistent and intelligent effort.

I regularly see and hear from athletes who have previously jumped from one program to the next.  It is their lack of consistency that prevents them from achieving anything worthwhile.  More often than not, to excel at a given event or task requires a consistent effort.  Only so much will be achieved if you haphazardly jump from one idea to the next.  Consistency is important as the body needs time to adapt and grow stronger.

The man highlighted above has performed many impressive feats within his Youtube channel.  His success does not come by accident.  Yes, he has worked hard physically, but he has also done his homework in that he patiently works up one step at a time.

A rushed approach is more likely to cause injury and less likely to produce results.  If a 70-year-old who performs slow muscle ups does not prove the importance of consistency, I don’t know what does…

Below is a recent video of a woman who I have blogged about before.   As stated previously, this woman did not begin exercising until her late 50′s.  As you’ll soon see, she is now a powerlifting record holder for her age and weight class.  She is still going strong with no signs of letting up.

When I first read about Gayle, I was amazed at her ability to progress so quickly despite such a late start in life.   Let me remind you that she’s in her mid-60′s and did not begin lifting until 2003.  Her story certainly gives hope to those who believe it is too late to start something new.  Perhaps even more importantly, she reminds us that we can continue to compete at almost any age.

I see many former athletes who have lost motivation to train as they believe their chance to compete has expired.  The reality however is that there are still competitive outlets for athletes of any age.  It is incredible for me to see a woman in her 60′s who has just recently started to compete as a powerlifter.

Gayle has approximately 30 years on me.  To think that I have three decades before I reach the point where she has really just begun is mind boggling.  I personally don’t have any interest in powerlifting, but it is nice to be reminded that I can always seek new challenges later in life.

The tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach.” – Benjamin Mays

Below is a video that was sent to me by a 45-year-old man who is training for an upcoming Tough Mudder challenge.  It is worth a look both for inspiration and entertainment. 

A man is not old as long as he is seeking something. – Jean Rostand

The next time you complain about age, take a moment to think about Ida Keeling.  She did not start running until age 67 and she’s still going strong at 95.

A related article can be found here.

The idea is to die young as late as possible. – Ashley Montagu

The video below was sent to me by a proud daughter.  Within the clip, you’ll see her parents (who are also grandparents) training for the Tough Mudder obstacle course.

In the words of their daughter,

“One of the things I like the best is they do a lot of training together (even though they are very different sizes), and always have a fun and playful attitude. My mom just took her first parkour class a few weeks ago, and they are constantly looking for new challenges. They are great parents, grandparents, and role models.”

This brief compilation video is awesome on so many levels.  Not only are these grandparents in excellent shape, but it is also obvious that they have a great time together (while tackling difficult challenges).  I certainly hope to follow their example later in life.

Thanks to Kami for passing this video along, and thanks to Mark and Cathy for the inspiration.

It has been a week since Jack Denness finished his 12th Badwater ultramarathon.  His ability to complete this grueling race at age 75 is beyond incredible.  Jack isn’t alone however when it comes to older athletes who have defied the odds.

Below is a video that tells the story of two grandmothers who double as ultramarathon runners.  Barb Macklow (age 76) and Vicki Griffiths (age 67) have both completed 100 mile endurance runs.

Take a look as both women share some of their experiences and philosophies.

Thanks to Andy for sharing the video

On July 12th, Jack Denness will attempt to complete his 12th Badwater Ultramarathon race.  He is already the oldest person to ever complete the race at age 70. This year he’ll try to set a new record by completing the race at age 75.

As for what Badwater entails, below is a summary courtesy of Wikipedia:

The Badwater Ultramarathon describes itself as “the world’s toughest foot race”. It is a 135 mile (215 km) course starting at 282 feet (85 m) below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California’s Death Valley, and ending at an elevation of 8360 feet (2548 m) at Whitney Portal, the trailhead to Mount Whitney. It takes place annually in mid-July, when the weather conditions are most extreme and temperatures over 120 °F (49 °C), even in the shade, are not uncommon. Consequently, very few people—even among ultramarathoners—are capable of finishing this grueling race.

Jack Denness has run Badwater so many times that he’s earned the nickname Death Valley Jack.  His ability to complete the race at age 70 is beyond impressive.  Doing so again at age 75 will be even more incredible, particularly since he did not begin running until he quit smoking at age 45.  And while some may call him crazy, Jack’s running efforts have helped him raise over £100,000 for charity.

Below is a brief video where Jack discusses the upcoming challenge.

You can also catch a glimpse of the race through the video below (from the 1999 event).

Best of luck to Jack in his upcoming challenge!

Below is a video that showcases the ability of a 69 year old man who has recently begun training with several gymnastic exercises.   Based on the upload dates at his Youtube channel, it appears that he’s been training with these exercises for less than a year.

According to those who sent me this video, the man has been an active rower and climber for many years.  His interest in gymnastic training is new however (a matter of months, not years).  At age 69, this man not only looks, but performs like a man half his age.  At first glance, I would have estimated this man to be in his 40′s.  I would have never guessed that he was approaching age 70.

This man is a perfect example of George Bernard Shaw’s quote below…

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

It is obvious that this man has remained active and continues to find new ways to challenge his body and mind.   He continues to grow without growing old.  At only half his age, this man has inspired me at the possibilities that the future presents.  I can only imagine what new activities I’ll explore in my 40′s, 50′s, and 60′s.  Wherever my journey takes me, I’ll know that it’s never too late to try something new.

Thanks to Felipe and Ibrahim for passing the video along