A few years ago, the comedian Jerry Seinfeld appeared on Tim Ferris’s podcast and shared this thought about the time and effort he puts into staying fit and healthy at age 66:
The quick response is I run to keep healthy, but that was not the case years ago. I starting running 50 years ago to cross-train for hockey. After moving to SoCal I got caught up in the running environment there and used hockey as cross-training for running. In 2022 I run the DC Rock'n'Roll 1/2 and was the oldest runner out of 10,00 (82). The next year I was severely ill and the prognosis was not good - my mobility was quite restricted and I could not run. In early 2025 I had recovered significantly and was able to start running again! My doctors were al amazed at the strong recovery and attributed it my physical fitness prior to the illness. I am now running track and 5Ks and am training for a half marathon. I do use the run-walk run protocol and I turn 86 in June. So, stay active and rotate your shoes (cheap insurance!)
Intentional and vigilant AF. Here's a tip--many of my fellow 60s "participants" disagree with this one--but never, ever, EVER adopt a label YOU don't want assigned to you. Translation: I may be eligible for Medicare, but I am NOT a Senior Citizen. You can keep that $1 discount, thank you very much....
And this is just me (you do you!) But in my mind, I am a woman who is still 40 and striving in all areas of my life--even if my body--at times--is telling me other things. When I read the Aegist newsletter I see that there are plenty of people out there serving as excellent role models for me. And yes--my body may need me to be a bit gentler with it--but that's okay. I am not tied to the past.
My philosophy-keep moving--aspiring--and achieving--whatever that looks like now. (Sorry for the soapbox--I may have had a little TOO much caffeine for 5:37 in the morning.)
I like that, Diana! I think you are so, so right. My mom is almost 86 years old, and I think this is why she's still so active and vibrant -- she's basically never stopped moving as long as I've known her (which is 55 years now!). She doesn't exercise a lot beyond walking, and never really has (though I think she jogged when I was really young), but basically she moves all day, every day -- she's constantly doing things in the kitchen, in the yard, has problems to solve, things to do, places to go. I think that's just the key to life.
My mother-in-law was 6-weeks shy of her 109th birthday when she passed away. She was still completely mobile and cognitively SO SHARP—at 108!! She, like your mother, never stopped moving AND the other thing I witnessed—she was incredibly curious and always—ALWAYS—brought a sense of delight into everything she did, and every room she inhabited. Let’s be like that!
Thanks for sending the link--at the time you wrote this, I was running a very complicated company--so I wasn't doing much other than dealing with the sourcing crisis of the moment. Looking forward to reading!
Run, hike, kayak, swim, yoga, bike, horseback whatever I can to keep the crazy at bay. I truly believe that whatever mode(s) we choose a body in motion stays in motion
Just keep on keeping on. My running is all intervals now: run a little bit, walk a little bit, dream of the glory days. Also, paddle a flat water racing kayak, nice to be the water. Happy trails.
I am 68 and my husband will be 77 in November. We have both been active for years. He got me into running when I was in my 40s. We do a lot of active things together. Since he is older than me, he is starting to do less strenuous activities such as less running. I continue to run but do I do less running and more walking these days. We cross train with cycling and hiking too.
We both do strength training at least 2x a week. With that said, when our bodies tell us to slow down, we listen. We take recovery days seriously. When I was training seriously for running races in my younger years, I would do my workouts not matter what (unless I was dreadfully sick). Today, I am not training for anything but to live longer and healthy. Now when I wake up, I decide what to do that day based on our body feels. No matter what, when my doctor sees me, he is impressed with my health and activities.
"No matter what, when my doctor sees me, he is impressed with my health and activities." That's the part that impresses me most -- I can imagine you're one of very few he says that to.
As a career Army officer, fitness was a requirement of the job. Once I retired, the fitness habit was so ingrained that I just kept it up. Now at the ripe old age of 77, I still work out four times a week. While I haven’t changed the importance I continue to place on fitness, I have made some changes to how I weight the parts of my program. Until about 10 years ago, my priority was cardio. I ran three or four times a week and trained for six half marathons a year. Now I place increased effort on strength training to ensure I retain muscle mass and keep bones strong. Running hasn’t gone away, but I have retired from half marathons, to free up training time for strength training. However, I still do a 5, 8, or 10k every month, with appropriate training for each event.
Good morning. Great question. As I've aged [60 now], I made workouts into a part of my everyday activities. I do not always "workout" in the traditional sense though.
My wife and I try to walk, with our dog [a Westie] daily - usualy 30-45 minutes when we can. Living in SW Florida, we've typically got good enough weather!
Other than that, my plan daily is to simply be active, with the hope of the chance to do a weight workout every other day and/or a fitness/cardio type workout also [right now: swimming, biking and running] every other day - listening to my body for when I'll take a day off but not prioritizing it over life.
That’s the beauty of living in Florida, I imagine — you’ve got great weather for being outside just about year-round! What weight workouts do you do, btw? (Free weights or machines?)
I use a combination of free weights [dumbbells] and machines. Primarily, I focus on the "big" muscles [chest, back, shoulders] and really do not do much for lower body [exercise takes care of that] while also doing a lot of core/abdominal works between each set and trying to stretch as often as I can. Nothing special, takes me about 1 hour.
It is Arnold Schwarzenegger's strength app. Basically, old school weight lifting. They have programs that start with body weight workouts. I've been using their dumbbell programs. They also have programs you can use at the gym with machines. No crazy moves, just stuff that works.
A quote that has stuck with me for many years goes something like this: "you need to make time for health now or you will be forced to make time for sickness later." That is so very true. Taking the time to eat (mostly) healthy, exercise, get preventative care/testing, will pay big dividends later. By living a healthy lifestyle you may prevent health issues, or if you do have health issues, you will be better able to survive them. This thinking is what motivates me to be healthy. I try to eat well, I run, strength train, and make sleep a priority. I do admit that since I retired a couple of years ago, consistency has become much better. I was always good about getting my runs in, but strength was not as consistent. I started using The Pump app for strength about a year ago and that has really helped me be much more consistent with those workouts. I try and treat my workout times as appointments that I cannot miss and that also helps.
I am 62. I do not run, but I enjoy this page as all of you inspire me to keep being intentional about my health. Right now, I have started working with a movement teacher, working on balance, strength, core, and flexibility. I used to weight train and was always quite fit, and I am still in very good health, but the stresses of the pandemic and life over the last 5 or 6 years have really set me back in terms of my goals. But I am ready now.
I’m so glad to hear this, Jamie. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, as my in-laws and my own parents have been experiencing increasingly difficult health issues. It’s made me more and more reflective about my own health/strength/etc., and made me realize I need to get more proactive—especially about strength! We’re all on the same journey, aren’t we?
I'm turning 60 in October (not that I'm thinking about it yet!).
I'm doing an Ironman 70.3 on that day! (just the running portion of a relay. but how could I not? Ironman 70.3 Wilmington is ON my 60th birthday - and I live in NC. Let's go!)
that does get to your question.
I would say that almost *everything* I do is about prioritizing my health.
There's a saying that when we stay healthier as we get older, we live *longer* and we die *quicker*.
Which sounds not good until I realized that's exactly what I want - to live as long as I can, but not just to be technically alive. To be able to be mobile and active and engaged as long as I possibly can. Then die in my sleep - not linger for months or years in a state of decline.
I love this, Cathie. My maternal grandfather died at age 90, after taking a fall and suffering a severe head trauma; he died the next day. Of course we were all sad about it at the time — he was fine! His mind was clear and he seemed in decent physical health (though it was beginning to fail). As the years have gone on, though, I see that there’s a blessing in how he left us — no long, difficult period of pain or ill health, just 90 years of more-or-less healthy life and then he got his tap on the shoulder that it was his time.
The quick response is I run to keep healthy, but that was not the case years ago. I starting running 50 years ago to cross-train for hockey. After moving to SoCal I got caught up in the running environment there and used hockey as cross-training for running. In 2022 I run the DC Rock'n'Roll 1/2 and was the oldest runner out of 10,00 (82). The next year I was severely ill and the prognosis was not good - my mobility was quite restricted and I could not run. In early 2025 I had recovered significantly and was able to start running again! My doctors were al amazed at the strong recovery and attributed it my physical fitness prior to the illness. I am now running track and 5Ks and am training for a half marathon. I do use the run-walk run protocol and I turn 86 in June. So, stay active and rotate your shoes (cheap insurance!)
Ken you are my hero! This is so, so awesome 🙌
Intentional and vigilant AF. Here's a tip--many of my fellow 60s "participants" disagree with this one--but never, ever, EVER adopt a label YOU don't want assigned to you. Translation: I may be eligible for Medicare, but I am NOT a Senior Citizen. You can keep that $1 discount, thank you very much....
And this is just me (you do you!) But in my mind, I am a woman who is still 40 and striving in all areas of my life--even if my body--at times--is telling me other things. When I read the Aegist newsletter I see that there are plenty of people out there serving as excellent role models for me. And yes--my body may need me to be a bit gentler with it--but that's okay. I am not tied to the past.
My philosophy-keep moving--aspiring--and achieving--whatever that looks like now. (Sorry for the soapbox--I may have had a little TOO much caffeine for 5:37 in the morning.)
I like that, Diana! I think you are so, so right. My mom is almost 86 years old, and I think this is why she's still so active and vibrant -- she's basically never stopped moving as long as I've known her (which is 55 years now!). She doesn't exercise a lot beyond walking, and never really has (though I think she jogged when I was really young), but basically she moves all day, every day -- she's constantly doing things in the kitchen, in the yard, has problems to solve, things to do, places to go. I think that's just the key to life.
My mother-in-law was 6-weeks shy of her 109th birthday when she passed away. She was still completely mobile and cognitively SO SHARP—at 108!! She, like your mother, never stopped moving AND the other thing I witnessed—she was incredibly curious and always—ALWAYS—brought a sense of delight into everything she did, and every room she inhabited. Let’s be like that!
One hundred and eight!! That’s amazing — I love hearing stories like that. (Did you see this when I wrote about it a years ago? 👉 https://www.thehalfmarathoner.com/p/living-in-the-age-of-old-old-age )
Thanks for sending the link--at the time you wrote this, I was running a very complicated company--so I wasn't doing much other than dealing with the sourcing crisis of the moment. Looking forward to reading!
Of course! The reason I shared it was, there's so much in the original NYT story I linked to -- maybe I should've just shared it first: https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/22/magazine/life-in-the-age-of-old-old-age.html
It's one of the best magazine stories I've ever read.
THESE are awesome and right up my alley. Thank you--and FWIW, I ADORED my 50s--55 is a good age, amigo.
Run, hike, kayak, swim, yoga, bike, horseback whatever I can to keep the crazy at bay. I truly believe that whatever mode(s) we choose a body in motion stays in motion
Agree, Blue! (And how often do you go horseback riding, btw?)
Like 5 times last year. I have a 4 year old I’m trying to make rideable but right now I would just call it trying not to get myself killed 🤣🤞🏻
Just keep on keeping on. My running is all intervals now: run a little bit, walk a little bit, dream of the glory days. Also, paddle a flat water racing kayak, nice to be the water. Happy trails.
Love this, Jerry!
I am 68 and my husband will be 77 in November. We have both been active for years. He got me into running when I was in my 40s. We do a lot of active things together. Since he is older than me, he is starting to do less strenuous activities such as less running. I continue to run but do I do less running and more walking these days. We cross train with cycling and hiking too.
We both do strength training at least 2x a week. With that said, when our bodies tell us to slow down, we listen. We take recovery days seriously. When I was training seriously for running races in my younger years, I would do my workouts not matter what (unless I was dreadfully sick). Today, I am not training for anything but to live longer and healthy. Now when I wake up, I decide what to do that day based on our body feels. No matter what, when my doctor sees me, he is impressed with my health and activities.
"No matter what, when my doctor sees me, he is impressed with my health and activities." That's the part that impresses me most -- I can imagine you're one of very few he says that to.
Most likely yes. Thank you.
As a career Army officer, fitness was a requirement of the job. Once I retired, the fitness habit was so ingrained that I just kept it up. Now at the ripe old age of 77, I still work out four times a week. While I haven’t changed the importance I continue to place on fitness, I have made some changes to how I weight the parts of my program. Until about 10 years ago, my priority was cardio. I ran three or four times a week and trained for six half marathons a year. Now I place increased effort on strength training to ensure I retain muscle mass and keep bones strong. Running hasn’t gone away, but I have retired from half marathons, to free up training time for strength training. However, I still do a 5, 8, or 10k every month, with appropriate training for each event.
David, that's seriously awesome -- I'm not even keeping up with you now, at 55! I can only imagine trying to do it at 77!
Good morning. Great question. As I've aged [60 now], I made workouts into a part of my everyday activities. I do not always "workout" in the traditional sense though.
My wife and I try to walk, with our dog [a Westie] daily - usualy 30-45 minutes when we can. Living in SW Florida, we've typically got good enough weather!
Other than that, my plan daily is to simply be active, with the hope of the chance to do a weight workout every other day and/or a fitness/cardio type workout also [right now: swimming, biking and running] every other day - listening to my body for when I'll take a day off but not prioritizing it over life.
That's my approach Stan! Listen to my body is important.
That’s the beauty of living in Florida, I imagine — you’ve got great weather for being outside just about year-round! What weight workouts do you do, btw? (Free weights or machines?)
I use a combination of free weights [dumbbells] and machines. Primarily, I focus on the "big" muscles [chest, back, shoulders] and really do not do much for lower body [exercise takes care of that] while also doing a lot of core/abdominal works between each set and trying to stretch as often as I can. Nothing special, takes me about 1 hour.
It is Arnold Schwarzenegger's strength app. Basically, old school weight lifting. They have programs that start with body weight workouts. I've been using their dumbbell programs. They also have programs you can use at the gym with machines. No crazy moves, just stuff that works.
A quote that has stuck with me for many years goes something like this: "you need to make time for health now or you will be forced to make time for sickness later." That is so very true. Taking the time to eat (mostly) healthy, exercise, get preventative care/testing, will pay big dividends later. By living a healthy lifestyle you may prevent health issues, or if you do have health issues, you will be better able to survive them. This thinking is what motivates me to be healthy. I try to eat well, I run, strength train, and make sleep a priority. I do admit that since I retired a couple of years ago, consistency has become much better. I was always good about getting my runs in, but strength was not as consistent. I started using The Pump app for strength about a year ago and that has really helped me be much more consistent with those workouts. I try and treat my workout times as appointments that I cannot miss and that also helps.
Love all of this, Stacy. What’s The Pump app? And yes, that’s my biggest hurdle too — fitting it all in while working full time is a challenge!
I am 62. I do not run, but I enjoy this page as all of you inspire me to keep being intentional about my health. Right now, I have started working with a movement teacher, working on balance, strength, core, and flexibility. I used to weight train and was always quite fit, and I am still in very good health, but the stresses of the pandemic and life over the last 5 or 6 years have really set me back in terms of my goals. But I am ready now.
I’m so glad to hear this, Jamie. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, as my in-laws and my own parents have been experiencing increasingly difficult health issues. It’s made me more and more reflective about my own health/strength/etc., and made me realize I need to get more proactive—especially about strength! We’re all on the same journey, aren’t we?
thank you for this question, Terrell!!
I'm turning 60 in October (not that I'm thinking about it yet!).
I'm doing an Ironman 70.3 on that day! (just the running portion of a relay. but how could I not? Ironman 70.3 Wilmington is ON my 60th birthday - and I live in NC. Let's go!)
that does get to your question.
I would say that almost *everything* I do is about prioritizing my health.
There's a saying that when we stay healthier as we get older, we live *longer* and we die *quicker*.
Which sounds not good until I realized that's exactly what I want - to live as long as I can, but not just to be technically alive. To be able to be mobile and active and engaged as long as I possibly can. Then die in my sleep - not linger for months or years in a state of decline.
I love this, Cathie. My maternal grandfather died at age 90, after taking a fall and suffering a severe head trauma; he died the next day. Of course we were all sad about it at the time — he was fine! His mind was clear and he seemed in decent physical health (though it was beginning to fail). As the years have gone on, though, I see that there’s a blessing in how he left us — no long, difficult period of pain or ill health, just 90 years of more-or-less healthy life and then he got his tap on the shoulder that it was his time.