"How does Age affect improvement in CrossFit?"

From Beyond the Whiteboard:

"In this article we’ll be throwing age into the mix. We’ll explore the relationship between an athlete’s Age and improvement time in CrossFit. How much of a difference is there in improvement times between a 25 year-old and a 45 year-old? This is an especially important question when considering the validity and necessity of age-divisions in competitions, such as the various Master’s Divisions at the CrossFit Games."

" After analyzing the data, we found that there is a strong correlation between an athlete’s age and how long it took them to improve their BTWB Fitness Level by 10 levels. As an example, on average, it took 45 year old athletes nearly 2 months longer (32% longer) to improve from a level 60 to a level 70 when compared to their 25 year old counterparts."

"We know of many athletes, because of CrossFit, who claim to be more fit at 50 then they were at 30. CrossFit isn’t just trying to extend life expectancy. It’s also trying to extend the number of functionally independent, enjoyable years. A grandma who can deadlift 150 pounds is not going to have issues getting out of bed, getting dressed, picking up grandkids, etc."

To read the entire article, click HERE

[Please click on one of these buttons to "like"on Facebook or, to rank this post on Google-thanks so much,it helps my blog rating.]

Want To Get Your Next PR!

 Need a little extra help and guidance?? This might just help you get that next PR!

 

Amazon

"25-year weightlifting veteran Matt Foreman takes on the topic of weightlifting for the masters crowd, from brand-new lifters who have discovered the sport later in life, to those who are simply trying to continue the sport past the age of 35. Sections include Addressing Prior Notions of Age in Weightlifting; Physical Assessment, Prior Training, and Injury History; Coaching and Lifting; Programming and Training; Pain Management and Injury Prevention; Resolution and Attitude. The book also includes actual training programs and advice from several successful masters weightlifters."

[Please click on one of these buttons to "like"on Facebook or, to rank this post on Google-thanks so much,it helps my blog rating.]

"Crossfit Allows Us Old Farts to Feel Bad-Ass"

This is a follow up blog post from the gentleman who wrote:

"“Top 12 Reasons Why This 47-year-old HATES Crossfit.”  

As a 56 year old woman who has been "enjoying" Crossfit for 4 years, I can relate to so much of what he says!

Some snippets:

* I don’t know about you, but I’ve never really felt like a “grown up.”  The world still looks the same through my 47-year-old eyes as it did 25 years ago, when I was fresh out of college.

 

* I’m still in my 20s, right?  And then, I look in the mirror and realize that the guy I feel like isn’t that bald-headed guy staring back at me.

 

* To put it bluntly, aging sucks

 

* I’ll let the Crossfit brochures cover the parts about all the benefits, functional movements, blah blah blah.  That stuff is great too, but it’s not why us parents and grandparents keep showing up day after day.  It’s because we’ve been reminded how to be young again.

 

READ THE ENTIRE POST HERE . Hopefully it will make you smile.

[Please click on one of these buttons to "like"on Facebook or, to rank this post on Google-thanks so much,it helps my blog rating.]

Maybe I Am Too Old to Crossfit??

I mobile Dog Groom which affords me the chance to watch daytime TV while I am grooming. I am assuming that the demographic advertisers are going for at this time of the day is older people and retirees, people who are able to be home during the day.
Well, if I go by the ads on the television during this time, all that older people should be doing is worrying about health care, deciding what drugs to take, considering a step in tub, and making sure that our children don't have to pay for our funerals.

Nine out of every ten ads seem to be addressing becoming frail, sick, and or dead.


Health insurance plans and related healthcare benefits for Medicare:

 Start planning for senior care:

 Did you know that every year 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 will have an accident or fall in their home?:

My favorite ad asks "do you want your loved ones to be stuck with paying for your final expenses?"
Can you imagine having that talk with your parents, "Hey Mom and Dad, could you buy special insurance so I don't have to pay for your funeral? You never know when it could happen."

My point is, why aren't there any ads for health clubs or any type of physical activity.
Why aren't there any ads for traveling, bike tours, walking tours??  It seems that the general assumption by the advertisers is if you are older, you must be stagnant, sick, and ready for the grave?
I guess my question is, is this the way most older people feel?? Am I living in my own "crossfit bubble of a world" where no one is too old and we always strive to get fitter and healthier??
Unfortunately I think that I know the answer to this question and, it makes me sad.

[Please click on one of these buttons to "like"on Facebook or, to rank this post on Google-thanks so much,it helps my blog rating.]

I Won Today! A Mental Victory!

Remember this quote from the other day :"Show up and run your own race. You can’t do anything about other participants. There will always be gifted, hard-working athletes posting amazing performances in the Open. Let yourself be humbled. Then let these athletes inspire you to get out there and do your best."

Kettlebell

21-15-9 Kettlebells and burpees. I was tempted to scale so I wouldn't be last.   Kettlebells not so bad, burpees are my nemesis.  Before I had my knee replaced I wasn't very fast, now, molasses is faster.

As the minutes ticked up I realized that I was way behind most of the class and I was going to be one of the last to finish if not the last.  "Do I scale mid-Wod or do I gut it out?" ran through my mind. "Would I feel more satisfaction if I did all the reps or if I finished quicker?" The answer was obvious, do all the reps.

This day, I beat down the "Dog of Fear" and remembered the quote above:  "Then let these athletes inspire you to get out there and do your best." Today, I chose to be inspired and did my best.

[Please click on one of these buttons to "like"on Facebook or, to rank this post on Google-thanks so much,it helps my blog rating.]

Masters Athletes!! Another Chance to Compete and as an added Bonus-No Travel Involved!

AGE-GROUP WOD: April 19-22

REGISTER at $7 / person

 Age-Group Categories – Under 30, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60+

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

• Compete anywhere, against everyone... this is a VIRTUAL event
• Cash prizes (RX only) awarded for overall winner of each age group
• Video submission required for winners     

[Please click on one of these buttons to "like"on Facebook or, to rank this post on Google-thanks so much,it helps my blog rating.]

ROM. What does it mean?

Range of Motion. It is a constant refrain from the Surgeon and the Physical Therapists. When you get a new knee you have to be able to bend it similarly to someone who has a healthy knee. This is a bit of a problem after the surgery. The knee is manipulated roughly, the bones are sawed and drilled into, the skin is forced and stretched back, and all the soft tissue around the knee is bruised and bumped. (see a video here). As a result there is a lot of swelling and aggravation, a lot!
To achieve a suitable ROM you have to continually do exercises that stretch the new knee and it's ability to bend. This hurts, again, a lot!

But, the point of this post is not to say how hard this process is but how much easier it is ,I believe, due to Crossfit.  I left the hospital able to achieve 90 degrees and now I can bend it up to 128 degrees. I have been able to go back to work at 5 weeks when it is usually recommended that a patient wait at least 8-12 weeks before they return to work. From a Knee Replacement Forum: "But I need to warn you that a mere 6 weeks may not be long enough. This is tough surgery and if someone has told you that you'll be back at work and recovered that soon, they have done you a great dis-service. We usually tell folks to plan on 12 weeks before going back to their job. And, even at that, you need to plan for a phased in return to work....part days and/or every other day for several weeks." I totally and completely believe that my speedier recovery is due to the shape I was in prior to surgery thanks to 2 years of Crossfit.  I think I was stronger both physically and mentally. Crossfit does that to you. Anybody who has done Murph, Fran, etc.. can attest to that.

While I have to admit I am still in the "what the hell have I done to myself" phase. I truly believe that being in "Crossfit" shape has increased my ability to be up and about working and lightly working out immeasurably.
So, stay in shape and recover quicker. But even better, take care of your joints so you never have to wonder how fast you would recover. I think I'd rather do Murph than do this again.

[Please click on one of these buttons to "like"on Facebook or, to rank this post on Google-thanks so much,it helps my blog rating.]

Now I'm Annoyed

I am annoyed with my body. I am aggravated that it is breaking down.
I found this quote in another blog and I found that it states perfectly how I feel right now about my knee and the upcoming knee surgery that I am putting off but, will have to happen sometime soon.
" Not that we are bothered by the surgery but more by the loss of time it will take from us"   
After just experiencing the arthroscopic procedure and realizing that I most likely will wake up after any surgeries in the future, I am now trying to strategize the best time to have the more extensive surgery and when it will be the least disruptive to my "training". (I use the word training loosely)

Bottom line, Crossfit makes me happy and I don't want to be away too long. I am just going to have to crush those upper body workouts and take this as an opportunity to develop my upper body strength :)

[Please click on one of these buttons to "like"on Facebook or, to rank this post on Google-thanks so much,it helps my blog rating.]