Exercise & Fitness for women over 40

National Women's Health Report,  Dec, 2002  by Pamela Peeke

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American Council on Exercise

4851 Paramount Drive

San Diego, CA 92123

1-800-825-3636

www.acefitness.org

National nonprofit organization that advocates physical activity; provides online database of certified fitness professionals, including personal trainers.

Fifty Plus Fitness Association

PO Box 20230

Stanford, CA 94309

650-323-6160

www.50plus.org

Promotes an active lifestyle for people 50 and older through publications, outreach and fitness events.

International Society for Aging and Physical Activity

Department Kinesiology

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Louise Freer Hall

906 S. Goodwin Avenue

Urbana, IL 61801

217-244-0823

www.isapa.org

Promotes research, clinical practice and public policy initiatives in the area of aging and physical activity.

National Association for Health and Fitness

401W. Michigan Street

Indianapolis, IN 46202-3233

317-955-0957

www.physicalfitness.org

Works to improve quality of life by promoting physical fitness, sports and healthy lifestyles; sponsors several national fitness programs.

RELATED ARTICLE: LIFESTYLE CORNER

Talk about competitive. Margaret Hagerty has competed in marathons on every continent (including Antarctica), has run the Marine Corps Marathon 11 times (one time when Oprah also participated) and won several medals, including a gold, in the Olympics.

Is There a Marathon in Your Future?

The Senior Olympics, that is. Ms. Hagerty is 79, and she didn't even slip on a pair of running shoes until age 64. That's when her doctor told her to quit smoking and get moving. The next morning, instead of coffee and a cigarette, she started jogging. She's been at it ever since.

Want more proof that extreme sports are not just for the young? On Nov. 4, 2001 to I led 12 of my women patients--all over 40-in the New York Marathon. Some walked and others ran, but we all finished the 26.2 mile course. The AARP gets hundreds of participants in its mini-triathlons for those 50 and older, which features a 300-meter swim, a 20-kilometer bike course and a 5-kilometer race (for more information go to www.aarp.org/triumph). Ms. Hagerty competed in one earlier this year as part of her training for next summer's Senior Olympics triathlon.

According to Margaret Hawkins, AARP's health campaign manager, the majority of the participants are "first timers" who have never completed a triathlon before, and they rave about "getting into shape" in a fun, supportive environment among their peers. Ms. Hawkins says it's truly inspiring to see the competitors crossing the finish line and see their delight in completing the event, proving that it's never too late to start a physical activity routine.

The key to meeting such a goal-whether it's hiking a mountain or running or walking a marathon-is training. But, fitness experts like Mindy Solkin, a running coach and owner of The Running Center in New York City, say there's no one way to train for such events. There are many training myths that may keep people from even considering a marathon. The most common myth, according to Ms. Solkin, is that you must run at least 60 miles a week and run every day if you're training for a marathon. Actually, current training advice is to ramp up slowly.