| In 1490, Ponce de Leon set out to find the | | | | pace every day, you will not improve and you will |
| fountain of youth. He didn't find it, and now, more | | | | not be very fit. However, if you run faster on |
| than 500 year later, the only mechanism ever | | | | one day, feel sore on the next day, and then run |
| found to prolong life and delay aging is exercise. | | | | slowly until the soreness disappears, and then run |
| There is no data whatever to show that | | | | fast again, you will be able to run faster, become |
| antioxidants, vitamins, or anything else prolong life. | | | | more fit on every measure of fitness, and also |
| All tests that are used to measure aging really | | | | test better on the tests that measure |
| measure physical fitness. A fit 70-year old will | | | | aging.However, with increased intensity comes |
| score younger on aging tests than an | | | | increased risk of injury. So, before you start an |
| out-of-shape 20 year old.Scientists measure aging | | | | intense exercise program, and before you start |
| with a test called VO2max, your maximal ability | | | | lifting heavier weights, running faster, jumping, |
| to take in and use oxygen. Studies from Ball | | | | higher, throwing further, hitting a tennis ball harder, |
| State University, Courtland State, Washington | | | | or doing anything that requires increased intensity, |
| University in St. Louis and Mt Sinai Medical Center | | | | check with your doctor. The only problem with |
| in Milwaukee show that intense exercise maintains | | | | this recommendation is that the odds are |
| fitness. People who do not exercise lose 15 | | | | overwhelming that your doctor won't know very |
| percent of their fitness per decade, those who | | | | much about sports, training, or improving physical |
| exercise at low intensity lose nine percent, while | | | | fitness. But you should at least check with him or |
| those who exercise intensely barely lose any | | | | her to see if you have a condition that can be |
| fitness at all.In the 1930s, Fred Wilt was an | | | | aggravated by hard exercise. Also remember that |
| Olympian distance runner. At age 50, he was able | | | | older people can't train intensely very often. You |
| to run two miles in less than ten minutes. Those | | | | may have to wait two to ten days between hard |
| of you who run competitively know that this is a | | | | workouts.Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk |
| magnificent time and that there are very few | | | | show host for 25 years and practicing physician |
| high school runners who can run faster than that. | | | | for more than 40 years; he is board certified in |
| He was able to run a 9:40 two mile on training of | | | | four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or |
| only five to seven a week, by alternating almost | | | | listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports |
| flat-out 200 meter runs with jogging until | | | | at weekly newsletter on fitness, health, and |
| recovery.Increasing intensity makes you fit. If you | | | | nutrition. |
| go out and jog the same two miles at the same | | | | |