Age and diving

[cummings66]

From observation, I'm an in home electronic service tech to qualify my observations, the people still living at home and doing well have some sort of physical activity they do routinely. It might be tending the garden or just walking every day. What ever it is, you can guarantee that it's some sort of activity that gets the heart pounding. Do that and you'll dive until you can't breathe.

[Iceman]

[quote=BSea;110695]

Originally Posted by Iceman

Well, since the life expectancy for men is 72, I think that anything past 75 is gravy. However, ask me again when I'm 75.

I never said I wanted to stop at 75, I just said that's where I want to get to . . . at least. Hence the gravy part.

Not to be argumentative; but...to me every day is gravy. I had a couple events in my youth that made me realize we aren't guaranteed even one more breath. When that comes, to me it is a miracle.

So, I do get your point. It is just that it would be a shame if your expectations became a self-fulfilling prophesy. Mental attitude is pretty close to being everything.

[Kingpatzer]

The biggest thing you'll have to avoid is fat build-up and loss of aerobic capacity. To stave that off, a good aerobic workout is really essential. I'd recommend that you STOP swimming a mile slowly, and start swimming much shorter distances at sprinting speeds. It will have a much better effect on your over-all health.

Pick up "The Complete Book Of Swimming" by Dr. Phillip Whitten. It has a lot of text about swimming and aging, as well as some great tips on how to work on improving your strokes, and of course a number of workouts to get you started.

[mm2002]

Originally Posted by Kingpatzer

The biggest thing you'll have to avoid is fat build-up and loss of aerobic capacity. To stave that off, a good aerobic workout is really essential. I'd recommend that you STOP swimming a mile slowly, and start swimming much shorter distances at sprinting speeds. It will have a much better effect on your over-all health.

Pick up "The Complete Book Of Swimming" by Dr. Phillip Whitten. It has a lot of text about swimming and aging, as well as some great tips on how to work on improving your strokes, and of course a number of workouts to get you started.

Is the same true with running? Shorter distances at greater speeds?
I've never heard that before.

[Kingpatzer]

Originally Posted by mm2002

Is the same true with running? Shorter distances at greater speeds?
I've never heard that before.

I'm not a runner, so I really don't pay attention to the running literature. That said, I do know that longitudinal studies on master swimmers (guys who compete throughout their life) show that they have significantly lower reduction in both aerobic capacity and performance levels over the general population -- and that is true regardless of when they start swimming.

[Mycroft]

Every day is gravy guys.

In 1994, I was diagnosed with cancer. I survived and beat it.

In 1998 I took up diving, something I always wanted to do.

In 2001, I was diagnosed as diabetic, but in the meantime, diabetis is no longer a total contra indication to diving.

Maybe I don't get as many dives as some of you in, but I still dive. Sometimes, I go into dry dock for a while, and sometimes I dive a bunch (like last year's liveaboard in Belize).

And week after next, I hope to get 6 dives in while on a cruise....

"Only" pushing 50.

[Kingpatzer]

I agree with the every day is gravy part. You never know when your number is up, and it's not always disease or old age or your own mistakes that get you. But if you aren't thin, active, and engaged then you're really somewhat behind the 8-ball.

[Nancy Lynn]

Originally Posted by mm2002

Is the same true with running? Shorter distances at greater speeds?
I've never heard that before.

Swimming a mile in 48 minutes will almost certainly benefit you aerobically. Back when I paid a lot of attention to those things, swimming a half mile in a half hour was sufficient. To check and make sure you're benefitting, find out what your target heart rate should be for your age (a Google search will get you several references), and check it immediately at the end of your last lap. As long as your heart rate is in the target range, it was almost certainly there for at least 20 minutes.

It is true, however, that swimming faster will get you into your target range faster and you won't have to swim as long to get the 20 minutes at the target heart rate (The general rule has generally been that you need at last 20 minutes to get the benefit - but I have seen recent recommendations that indicate that it doesn't matter whether the 20 minutes are continuous or not.)

With respect to running, according to the old rules, you'd need to sprint for 20 minutes for the aerobic benefit - not something I'd want to try. With the more flexible rules you could split it into 2 or three sprints of around 8 minutes (I think that's the new minimum) - probably still longer than I'd want to sprint

[saltfly]

I started this thread 37 messages ago, and I have enjoyed the supportive responses. I've concluded I have much diving ahead of me. Did Key Largo a few weeks ago, and am doing the Bahamas in February and the Red Sea in March.

For the record, my mile time is now at 41 minutes (down from 48) and I've gone from breast/freestyle of 75/25% to 50/50%. I'm shooting for 100% freestyle in a few months.

I owe it all to my waterproof IPOD case/headphones. I tried audiobooks, but it doesn't work for me. James Brown does.

Enjoy.

[Puffer Fish]

Originally Posted by saltfly

I started this thread 37 messages ago, and I have enjoyed the supportive responses. I've concluded I have much diving ahead of me. Did Key Largo a few weeks ago, and am doing the Bahamas in February and the Red Sea in March.

For the record, my mile time is now at 41 minutes (down from 48) and I've gone from breast/freestyle of 75/25% to 50/50%. I'm shooting for 100% freestyle in a few months.

I owe it all to my waterproof IPOD case/headphones. I tried audiobooks, but it doesn't work for me. James Brown does.

Enjoy.

That is great to hear... Looking at my family, I suspect, if I survive all the other dangers out there, that my last diving days will be around the 75 to 80 level. Who knows, I hope I can go longer. You have a lot of diving ahead of you, so keep going.