Growing Bolder Digital Digest | Summer 2023: Longevity

LONG EVITY

“When you’re alone, you’re not alone, just push a few buttons and I see my 16 grandchildren and them growing up!”

Joan, age 89 GrandPad User

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Katie Styles

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jill Middleton

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Lynne Mixson & Tim Killian

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Dunn

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Bill Shafer, Brittany Driskell, Ray Glier, Rob Butcher, Vanessa Skinner and Dr. Vonda Wright

GROWING BOLDER PRESS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Marc Middleton

GENERAL COUNSEL Michael Okaty, Foley & Lardner LLP

PARTNER RELATIONS Sam Koubaissi

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Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

14 STAYING CONNECTED AT 103 From Running Water to Video Phone Calls

26 HONORING A LOVED ONE How a Charity was Built on Hope

DEFY

16 SURVIVING AND THRIVING ®

FEATURING PAULA FRANETTI

After A Near-Fatal Car Crash, NSG Athlete Helps Others on Their Road to Recovery

36 GEEZER JOCKS, I NEED YOUR COURAGE. PLEASE. One Man’s Determination to Believe in the Biology of Hope TRANSITIONS

20 DON’T NAVIGATE LIFE TRANSITIONS ALONE Asking for Help Reforms the Parent-Child Relationship ADVENTURE

24 THE 87-YEAR-OLD ADVENTURER Man Sets Multiple Records as "The Oldest to" ROCK STARS

Photos from cover by Del Moon Head to Page 28 to

Photo by Del Moon for the National Senior Games Association

YOUR TAKE

What strategies do you use to stay open to new experiences and opportunities as you age?

"75 here. Get in my van and set out on a snowbird nomad road trip every winter."

–Bernadette H.

"Why do I try new things = 'Because I didn’t know how.' Recently I took my first welding class. Simply because I didn’t know how to weld. Although I wasn’t a natural at it, I had a great day and got to spend it with awesome people."

–Lisa M. W.

"Group activities, travel, painting, pottery, water aerobics and I still work part time."

–Susanne

F.

"Life is like the waters of a river, it flows through each day, never to be experienced again. That statement motivates me to capture each moment I have been given."

–Wayne K. W.

"Just say YES!!"

–Gail M.

"I wake up and get out of bed in the morning. The rest of the day’s a crap shoot."

–Teresa W.

Illustration by Rudzhan Nagiev via Getty Images

From the CEO

This special issue of Growing Bolder celebrates the many benefits of an active lifestyle which include not only a longer life but a higher quality of life. And it’s not just physical activity that’s important. In fact, social fitness has proven to be the No. 1 indicator of healthy longevity.

In 1938, Harvard researchers began a landmark study to find out what makes us happy. The decades long study resulted in the profound conclusion that the one thing that makes us happiest is also the one thing most responsible for longevity — strong relationships. “The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80,” says Robert Waldinger, study director and professor at Harvard Medical School. “The key to healthy aging is relationships, relationships, relationships,” adds psychiatrist George Vaillant.

Of course, they must be relationships that support us, encourage us, comfort us, and inspire us. And while close individual and romantic relationships are important, research shows that group-based social connections are the most important for our cognitive and mental health.

That’s one of the many reasons we love to cover the National Senior Games and report on the millions of adults who participate in master’s sports. Vigorous physical activity and social connection around that activity is the most powerful prescription for happy and healthy aging. Through the inspiration and encouragement of one another, masters athletes change their belief system about what’s possible. When that happens, it’s game on. Never stop believing in good friends, regular physical activity, and happy and healthy aging.

“Vigorous physical activity and social connection around that activity is the most powerful prescription for happy and healthy aging.”

Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

Hosted by award-winning broadcaster Marc Middleton, What’s Next! features a team of well-known Florida broadcasters and personalities, including Secily Wilson, Amy Sweezey, and Bill Shafer, all shining the spotlight on ordinary people living extraordinary lives.

What’s Next! is a jolt of inspiration that helps audiences of all ages believe that it’s never too late to pursue their passions and make a difference in their communities.

Watch all episodes at GrowingBolder.com/tv

GROWING BOLDER WITH Charles Allie

Charles Allie had done all the right things. He was eating well, training consistently and in great physical shape – world class shape. At the age of 69, Allie was ranked number one in the world 200-meter dash among men aged 65-69. For years he held dozens of age group and world records. Then in December of 2021 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. After getting educated on the best treatment options for his case, he wondered if he’d still be able to run.

“They (doctors) said, ‘If you do the radiation, you might be able to still train and compete.’ ‘Okay, let's go through radiation,’” Allie said. “There were some side effects, which put me on the back burner. I gained some weight (from hormone therapy) and I lost some muscle mass. I said, 'Well, I'm not going to to just sit back and not return. I want to come back and be a part of it, win lose or draw.'"

Allie took some time off from treatments, but he kept on training, determined to stay on the track, even if his times were far from record-setting. There was a toll on his body and his performance, but that didn’t keep Allie away. He returned to the track in 2022, competing in 14 races, and was open with both the media and his fellow competitors about his journey.

“A lot of athletes around me, we spoke and they said, ‘Yeah, this is what I went through,’ and so forth. I learned

a lot from that,” Allie shared. “I wasn't set back too much or disappointed too much when I didn't medal or didn't win because I know I'm out there. They expect Charles Allie to be the winner…I looked beyond that. I'm just glad I was on the track, and I was welcomed back.”

Welcomed back, Allie also battled back, returning to world-class form. Two years after his diagnosis, in March of 2023 he earned a gold medal at the World Championships in the 60-meter dash for men 75-79, with a time of 8.79 seconds. The Pittsburgh native is excited for what the 2023 outdoor season will bring, including competing in front of family and friends in the National Senior Games. His physical challenges have made him even more grateful for the sport he’s enjoyed his whole life, and motivated to continue to do all he can to remain healthy.

“I think at a certain point, especially when you retire, you have to do more than just sit back and enjoy your grandkids,” Allie said. “You still have to get out there and do something for your body. Because at that age, there's certain things that are going kick in. I know cancer is a deadly disease and you just don't know if it is going to come about, and when.

“Win, lose, or draw. I just want to be out there and just continue on as best as I can, because it's about longevity now. I have grandkids and I want to be there for them at this point in my life.”

“Well, the first response I had was why me?” – Charles Allie

Photo by Alex Rotas

ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVING EXTRAORDINARY LIVES ®

Tien Nguyen 61

Even in Tien Nguyen’s worst nightmare he never pictured himself lying in a hospital bed, yet there he was. Frightened and confused, awaiting open heart surgery. How could it be? He was only 59, weighed 165 lbs. with a body mass index of just 18 percent. He seemed to be in excellent physical condition. The heaviness in his chest must be something else, he insisted. Perhaps heartburn or indigestion?

“When the cardiologist told me I needed emergency surgery I was in shock,” remembers Nguyen. “I thought I was doing everything right. This cannot be happening to me.”

Tests showed one artery was 70 percent blocked. Another was blocked 90 percent. He needed to undergo double-bypass heart surgery.

“Where is he?” his volleyball teammates wondered. The players on the Kryszak Athletic Venues Buffalo and Rochester, New York team were more than friends, they were as close as brothers. Tien never missed practice. He was never even late. “We knew something had to be wrong,” they feared.

“We were getting ready for the tournament in the New York State Empire Games,” said Nguyen. “I texted a teammate and he thought I was joking. Everybody was like, ‘What? Tien is in the hospital for heart surgery?' It's like, 'No, that can't be.’"

But it was and it was bad. “My doctor told me, ‘You are the walking dead.’ He said the only reason I hadn’t collapsed and died was because I work out every day.”

“This cannot be the end,” he thought. “After all I’ve been through.” Nguyen couldn’t help but think back to his childhood. Born in Vietnam, he was 14 years old when he and his family were forced to flee Saigon. They ended up in America, where a refugee camp became his home.

“It was difficult,” he said, “But we were grateful to be alive and determined to make the best of it.” His experience taught Nguyen not to dwell on the past or even the current situation, but instead to keep pushing forward. It is a trait that even impresses his wife.

“She says to me, 'I don't understand how you’ve avoided having nightmares and flashbacks from your youth.' And I tell her that I have had to learn to let things go and instead look forward to the future. You have to believe there are always brighter times ahead."

He applied that same philosophy to dealing with his heart surgery. Thanks to his attitude and his physical condition his recovery was quick and complete. Just eight weeks after surgery he was back on the volleyball court. Today, at the age of 61 he continues to work as a software engineer, and physical activity is a daily part of his life.

Most of all, he is grateful to his volleyball team. In the 50s division he is the only player in his 60s. He knows that not only is he a teammate, but he is also an inspiration. “I know the reason I am alive is because I am active,” he said. “If my story will help motivate others to protect their health by keeping fit, then I feel like I won the lotto.”

“This cannot be the end.”

6 Life Lessons from Masters Athletes

It’s no secret that organized sports are full of life lessons. For athletes of all ages, sports bring so much value beyond simply trying to win a medal or a trophy. It’s about staying active, staying engaged, making new friends, increasing your healthspan and, of course, having fun. Here are a few of our favorite life lessons we learned from athletes over the age of 50:

Everybody Starts Somewhere

Karen Panker is a 77-year-old swimmer from The Villages, Florida, who won 5 medals at the 2022 National Senior Games. She believes any one of us can get in the game, no matter our age or skill level.

“You don't have to be a superstar. Just take it one day at a time and do it step by step. People look at us and think ‘I could never do that.’ Just start with 50 yards, start slow and build up.”

KAREN PANKER, 77

Embrace a Positive Attitude

At 95-years-old, Pittsburgh native Jack Eckenrode has countless reasons to be happy. He is in great shape, rides his bike every day, and is excited to compete in the upcoming National Senior Games on his home turf. He still volunteers at Meals on Wheels, and is beloved by his 12 children, 41 grandchildren and 61 great-grandchildren. He believes the secret to a long and healthy life is to embrace a positive attitude.

“When you're happy, you feel good, you want to do more, and you want to get more out of the day. You don't want to be socializing with anybody that's negative and, if they are negative, help them to get over that problem because you’ve got to be positive about everything you do to continue to be healthy. I'm convinced that if you have everything positive on your mind all during the day, you're going to feel good all the time and you're going to live longer.”

JACK ECKENRODE, 95

Photos by Del Moon

Competition Brings You Community

Rowdy Gaines is not your average masters athlete. He is a three-time Olympic gold medalist, hall of fame swimmer who broke 10 world records between 1978 and 1988, and he holds several masters records today. Despite the accolades, if you think Gaines is in it for the glory, you’d be mistaken. For him, swimming is all about the community he is still a part of.

“I don't do it for the wins and losses. I do it because it makes me feel better, and a lot of it is the camaraderie, too, the feeling you have. We all have different reasons why we do these activities, but what brings us together is the love of what we're doing.”

ROWDY GAINES, 64

You Are Stronger Than You Think

Madonna Hanna is a Washington state champion sprinter in the 100m and 50m events. She didn’t get started running until 2011 when, at 57, her late husband began coaching her and entered her into the senior games. After his death, Madonna kept running and found a new coach, Marcus Chambers, who has shown her the strength of self-belief in the pursuit of her goals.

“You are stronger than you think. When I'm out there, I'm thinking about that. I can push myself a little more and try to meet the times that [my coach] has for me. Sometimes, there's that little voice that says, ‘Oh no, now look what we have to do.’ But I'm not listening to that little voice. I changed my attitude so now it's, ‘Yay, I get something new to do!’”

MADONNA HANNA, 70

Masters Athletes Are Making An Impact On The Future

George Freeman is one of two athletes to participate in every single National Senior Games competition and plans to continue his streak in Pittsburgh. Since his start at the 1987 games, Freeman has competed in track and field, golf, and shuffleboard over the years, but now his focus is on bowling. He believes he is proof that younger generations are witnessing the example that masters athletes are setting, leaving a lasting impact on society.

“Most 90-year-olds aren't like I am. The beautiful part is my great grandchildren, they think it's super! Now they're all involved in athletics. They can see that I'm setting a good example for them, which is to do something in life.”

GEORGE FREEMAN, 91

Photo by Del Moon

Photo

by Del Moon

Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

Staying

at

Isolation. It is one of the worst things about aging. Retirement happens. Worlds shrink. Loneliness sets in. It hit Ed Miklavcic hard. Ed is 103, healthy and sharp. In a lively interview on the Growing Bolder podcast he said, “I played golf five days a week every week until I was 100 and then I kind of pooped out a little bit.”

He’s always been active, always been social. Now, he was moving into an assisted living facility. He worried it would be like being locked away, forgotten. That’s when someone gave him a gift that changed everything, a gift of connection, of relevance. A way to be part of the daily lives of his family members and friends. A tool that would bring them closer than they’d ever been before. Simpler than a smartphone or laptop, it is an easyto-use tablet designed specifically for seniors: a GrandPad.

“That GrandPad is the greatest invention since Carter made pills,” said Miklavcic. “I call my son every morning and I talk to my daughter, too.”

Miklavcic has been around to see some amazing advances since his birth in 1920. “We didn't even have running water when I was young,” he explained. “We never had a bathroom or shower or tub or anything and there were fourteen of us who lived

in a three-bedroom house.”

“It was such a different time,” Miklavcic remembers. “I never owned a bicycle, a wagon, roller skates, ice skates, or anything like that. And to go from that to being able to make video calls to my family is truly incredible.”

Something else truly incredible is the life Miklavcic has led. He grew up through the Depression, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17 and was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked on December 7, 1941. He is now one of the last living survivors.

“Experiencing that you could say I started the day as a boy and ended as a man.”

He was also at the Battle of Iwo Jima. “Yeah, we were in a foxhole for eight weeks," he said. “Two-man foxholes.”

After the war he found work building elevators, which he did for 44 years. Retirement meant a chance to indulge in his favorite pastime, golf. He played every day he could and also became sought after as an instructor.

“Helping others was always a way of life for me,” said Miklavcic. “I have a great love for my neighbors and my community and believe we all should look after each other. Now, I'm in an assisted living apartment.

We know we're here to die. We talk about that. We talk about the good times, and we help each other a lot.”

Having a way to stay connected to the outside world, especially his family, means everything. “That GrandPad makes me so happy. The first thing I do each day is put on some country and western music, then I start making my calls. I get to see the kids face-to-face, laugh and tell jokes. They can tell me jokes, too. They tell me stories about how they are living and how the world is changing. It really gives me a nice life.”

“I don’t have friends anymore,” he said. “Most everyone I grew up with, served with and worked with have passed on.” But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have fun. What does he do?

“Chase women,” he said with a smile. “There are some very nice women here and there are two that every day I drop by to deliver some chocolate candy to them. I suppose you could say I’m a romantic. They do seem to like to see me coming. I just love to make people smile. I think that’s what keeps me alive and feeling good. As long as I have that and my GrandPad, I don’t feel so alone. At 103, I am a happy person. I hope I make it to 110.”

To see why countless older adults are choosing this easy-to-use device to stay connected, attend a product demo webinar by registering at GrandPad.net.

“I just love to make people smile. I think that’s what keeps me alive and feeling good.”

ED MIKLAVCIC

Photos courtesy of GrandPad

Featuring Paula Franetti

After A Near-Fatal Car Crash NSG Athlete Helps Others on Their Road to Recovery

It was 2016. 60-year-old Paula Franetti was driving through an intersection on her way to work. In an instant her life changed. Blindsided by an oncoming car, the impact nearly folded Paula’s car in two and she was sandwiched between sheet metal. She suffered catastrophic injuries: seven pelvic and five spinal fractures. She had internal bleeding, a ruptured bladder, a ruptured diaphragm, a collapsed lung, a concussion, and on and on and on. Medical personnel didn't know whether she would survive.

But survive she did. It took five surgeries and multiple procedures, months in a wheelchair, and a lot of hard physical and mental work, along with support from family, friends and the medical community. But mostly it took the commitment to herself. The doctors would put her body back together, but they offered no guarantees.

“I think the most challenging part for most people is that they want to depend on the physical therapist, the surgeon, the PCPs, somebody else to make them well again,” Franetti said. “And that's not their job. Our job is to be the owner of our body, to keep our bodies functioning to whatever capacity we can reach and to enjoy it in the way that expresses who we are.

“I decided that if anything, I just want to get well again. I didn't know where that was going to take me, but I knew that I wanted to feel like my old self, however that was going to play out.”

Her recovery was gradual. First, she transitioned from lying in an ICU bed to sitting in a wheelchair. After 57 days, Paula could finally stand. Confined to a walker, fractures in her right pelvis and injuries to her left knee made mobility difficult. For every step forward, there seemed to be one backwards. “That's where you realize that you have to keep going,” said Franetti. “You can't stop and you can't let those little setbacks hold you back because they're just another challenge.”

As a former cardiac rehab specialist Franetti knew intellectually what it would take for her body to rebound. As

a former Penn State basketball player who began competing in the National Senior Games in 2007, she could also lean on the discipline, focus and patience she’d utilized in athletics. Both her mental and physical challenges were great, but Franetti moved forward with the help of her team — family and friends that physically supported and emotionally encouraged her along the way.

Part of Franetti’s post-recovery mission was to use all she learned to help others reach their desired outcomes following traumatic events. Three years after the lifealtering accident she created the Rebound Planner, a health coaching business to support those recovering from accidents, injuries or surgeries reach their fullest potential.

“I've been through probably the most catastrophic thing I've ever experienced in my life and it can't get any worse than that,” said Paula. “I want to live life to its very fullest from here on out. I don't know how many more years it's going to be, but I have a deeper appreciation for who I am and what I've been able to achieve and how meaningful life is now.

“That's what I think I see all the time at the Senior Games, the sparkle in people's eyes of being there, and meeting those 80, 90, 100-year-old people who are still competing and still living life to its fullest,” Franetti added. “That's my takeaway: use whatever is happening in your life to teach you how to make the most of life, so that you can be everything that you were created to be and meant to achieve in this lifetime.”

Indulge in the Sweet-Tart Perfection

Brittany Driskell

While cooking is my profession, baking is my hobby. I’ve been working on this cheesecake recipe for 11 years now, perfecting it, getting the right consistency, getting the right balance, and I figured it out about a year ago. It's light. It's not dense. It's airy and it's not too sweet. I'm a balance person and I like to have just enough sweet to where you can eat the entire dish.

Baking is a meticulous art. If you miss a step, or don’t do a step correctly, sometimes it will affect the outcome of the final product. With that said, I believe this recipe is pretty simple, if you’re familiar with the process of baking cheesecake or custard. This cheesecake has always been my baby, and this is the first time I’m sharing it with the world. It’s the perfect dessert as we transition into summer. I hope you enjoy it!

Cookware needed that you may not already have: 9 or 10 inch Springform Pan

RECIPE

Strawberry-Rhubarb Cheesecake

Serves 2 people

INGREDIENTS

3 lbs cream cheese

2 tbs vanilla bean paste

5 large eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

2 cups (crushed) shortbread cookies

¼ lb unsalted butter- melted

2 cups Strawberry Rhubarb Jam (for the whole cake)

Garnish Whipped Cream

Garnish Powdered Sugar

Garnish Fresh Strawberries

DIRECTIONS

Crust: Shortbread cookies and melted butter

If you don’t have a food processor to break down the shortbread cookies then a ziplock bag and a little release of frustrations of the world will work just fine.

1. Combine the cookie crumble and butter together by hand, saturate with the butter until it sticks when you squeeze it in your fist.

2. Spray the springform pan with non-stick spray of choice.

3. Pour the crust into the pan and use a cup with a flat bottom to pack it until it forms a solid layer around the bottom of the pan. I use the cup to push the crust up the sides of the pan a little, so it forms a taller thinner crust, again personal preference.

4. Place the crust in the oven preheated to 325 degrees for 3 – 5 minutes. You want a light golden brown. It will be soft when it comes out of the oven and will harden as it cools.

Photos by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

Chef Brittany Driskell is Director of Culinary for FMK Restaurant Group

Cheesecake Base

*Important that the cream cheese and eggs are room temperature

1. Start with cream cheese in the bowl, whisk until fluffy and creamy (about 3 – 4 minutes on high speed- scraping sides for chunks) *The whisk is what separates my recipe from the average, it incorporates air and makes it light and fluffy.

2. Once cream cheese is whipped, add the sugar and whisk for another minute. *Drop the speed to avoid splash back.

3. Next add eggs and vanilla, whisk until incorporated well.

4. Pour the mixture into the cooked and cooled crust.

5. **If you would rather have the jam in the cake instead of on top at the end, swirl it into the mixture now, after you put it into the pan.

Serving

1. With a butter knife, loosen the sides of the cake from the pan. And then release the pan to cut the cake.

2. Serve smothered in jam and finished with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

Cooking

1. Cover the bottom of the springform pan with foil. The foil should be one solid piece on the bottom and should come at least halfway up the sides of the pan. This ensures no water gets in the pan.

2. Place cooking towels in a single layer on the bottom of a sheet tray or baking dish. The towels will help maintain the water in the pan.

3. Put the cake in the pan on top of the dry towels and place in the oven.

4. Add water to the pan after placing in the oven, this helps prevent spillage . *You want to add water until the towels have completely absorbed and there is a small puddle of water in the pan.

5. Cook at 325 degrees for an hour and a half.

The top of the cake will be golden brown. It should not crack with enough moisture (check about halfway through and add more water to the pan if needed). The center of the cake should be firm with bounce, like a sponge.

6. Once cake is done remove it from water bath and allow to cool on the counter for an hour, then put it in the refrigerator to finish cooling — another 2 –3 hours.

Don’t Navigate Life Transitions Alone

Asking for Help Reforms the Parent-Child Relationship A

Life is about transitions and how we navigate them can have a dramatic impact on our health and wellbeing moving forward. This is a tale of two moves. Two life transitions with entirely different results.

Allan and Rosalyn Ganz lived in the same house in Massachusetts for 56 years, and as they approached their mid-80s their daughter, Lisa, convinced them that it was time to downsize.

Sorting through a lifetime of possessions and deciding what to keep, donate, or throw away isn’t easy. It can be a physically and emotionally draining process — especially with limited support.

“It was a nightmare,” Lisa says. “It was a big challenge and very stressful, to say the least. My sister, my brother and I tried to clean out the house and sort through all their stuff on our own.”

The Ganzes moved into a condo in South Florida but within a couple of years wanted to be closer to family in Central Florida who could help when needed. They joined a waiting list for an assisted living community near Lisa’s home. When a unit became available, they only had one week to move in.

The family was not ready to repeat the stress and strain of their previous move, especially on such short notice. “It was going to be too much for my husband and me,” Lisa says.

Overwhelmed by the daunting task, Lisa reached out for help from Caring Transitions, a total solutions provider that specializes in relocations, downsizing, estate sales and more.

“For me, it was a peace of mind,” Lisa adds. “I didn't have to worry about anything. They packed and unpacked everything. Everything was

done in one day. Mom and dad were ready to go to bed and not have to think about unpacking any boxes.”

“The team members at Caring Transitions all have hearts,” Rosalyn, 82, said. “They know that moving at our age can be heart-wrenching.”

“On a scale of one to 10, my stress level during this move with Caring Transitions help was only about a two,” Lisa revealed.

And without their help? “An 11!”

Rosalyn and Allan are now close to their kids, grandkids, and great grands. “I’m very happy to be with my family, to see our grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up and be in their lives constantly,” says Rosalyn.

“The move has been the best thing for them, I've never seen them so busy,” says Lisa. “It was such a relief to know that they were in good hands, and Caring Transitions helped make that happen.”

“No one wrote the book on dealing with our individual parents...remember they’re still your parent and they deserve to be honored, loved and cared for.”

CARRIE COUMBS, Caring Transitions Senior Strategic Advisor

Keys To Navigating Parent-Child Relationships

Enduring two major life transitions with her parents was an eye-opening experience for Lisa. She believes the experience taught her valuable insight on navigating the parent-child relationship during a move.

“It’s a major role reversal,” Lisa, 60 says. “You become the parent saying, ‘You need to get rid of this. You don't need this anymore.’ But you need to be compassionate.”

“It’s difficult leaving your home. To know that this is it after all those decades,” Rosalyn reflects. “But I knew I had Lisa. She is such a great listener. She was priceless, as far as daughters go.”

Compassion and attentive listening are two great qualities that go a long way in successfully experiencing a transition for an adult child and their parent.

“No one wrote the book on dealing with our individual parents,” says Carrie Coumbs, Caring Transitions Senior Strategic Advisor. “When changing roles, remember they’re still your parent and they deserve to be honored, loved and cared for.”

This article was created in partnership with our friends at Caring Transitions. To learn more about their total solution services visit CaringTransitions.com.

COUMBS OFFERS

3 KEY PIECES OF ADVICE TO ADULTS ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A TRANSITION WITH THEIR PARENT.

1. Be Positive About What’s Ahead

“Embrace the fact that there is still a lot of life and activity and wonderful experiences that can still be had,” Coumbs says. “We’re all moving towards something new, a new experience, a new span of life, and at Caring Transitions, we embrace it.”

2. Develop A Plan

“The worst thing I have seen is when chaos starts running the show. Plans can always be modified,” Carrie says. “A plan lets the professionals do the packing, sorting, downsizing and cleaning while I go and be a supportive daughter.”

3. Open and Transparent Communication

“I talk to my family from a first-person perspective. Believe it or not, it opens up a lot of conversations when I say, ‘I don't plan on living in this location all my life.’ Then people can say, ‘You don’t? Well, I do.’ Oh, a truth moment! Now I can ask questions and learn about their plan.

“It's a conversation built on respect and listening. But I start with me, and that way it's okay for us all to talk about it together.”

By bringing in professional help like the experts at Caring Transitions and following these three keys to communication, Coumbs feels confident more families will experience successful life changes just as Lisa did with her parents.

FOR MORE DAILY MEMES: @GrowingBolder

"Everyone needs a passion. That's what keeps life interesting. If you live without passion, you can go through life without leaving any footprints."

– Betty White

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MARC MIDDLETON

PRESENTED BY

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Hosted by world record-setting masters athlete, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, and Growing Bolder CEO Marc Middleton, Fountain of Youth shares the secrets to happy, healthy, and active aging through the stories of ordinary people living extraordinary lives; men and women of all ages, sizes and abilities who are redefining what’s possible for all.

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The 87-Year-Old Adventurer

Close your eyes and in your mind picture an 87-year-old. What image do you see? If it is a man with flowing white hair and a big, bright smile shining through a thick, bushy beard that would make Santa envious, and he’s paddling a canoe down a river or hiking a mountainous trail, then you have conjured up the image of Dale Sanders.

“I believe that getting out there, pushing myself and doing these extreme adventures are what's probably keeping me happy and alive.”

Sanders is an unlikely endurance record holder. He set records as the oldest to canoe the Mississippi from beginning to end, to hike the Appalachian Trail, finish the Missouri River Race and complete the Florida National Scenic Trail. Yet, he will insist that he is an ordinary person; not a runner, not an athlete.

“I think I do it because I’m still trying to prove myself,” says Sanders.

His need to prove himself traces back to childhood when he was bullied in school. His curiosity and interest in academics made him an easy target. The only escape came when he got involved in physical pursuits. In 1959 he set a record for holding his breath underwater and in 1965 the IUSA named him Spearfisherman of the Year.

“I have learned since then that unless one pushes their limits, you'll never know what your true potentials really are,” Sanders said.

In an interview on the Growing Bolder podcast Sanders explained that his philosophy only got stronger with age. When he retired, he wanted to be outdoors as much as possible. “There are so many things we can do in nature,” he said. “We can hike, swim, bike, spearfish, rock climb, hundreds of possibilities. Just find your niche and get out there and start doing it.”

Sanders says he does have concerns, but not the ones you think. “My greatest fear before I went on the Appalachian Trail,” he said, "was would I be accepted by the hiking community? Nobody at 80 years old does the whole trail. Not only was I accepted, I was embraced.”

He has had the same experience with each activity, finding encouragement, respect and support. "I've learned that in the adventure world, age doesn't matter,” said Sanders. “All that matters is you're out there doing it, and everybody identifies with you.”

They have even come to embrace his appearance. “When I was working, I was clean shaven and wore a tie everywhere,” he explained. “I never got recognized in a crowd. But with my long, white hair, ponytail and beard people remember me. I’m not some old guy, I’m one of them.”

Sanders is not ready to sit back. Even now he is planning his next adventure. “Someone broke my record for hiking the Appalachian Trail and I want to get it back,” he said. “So, God willing and if the creeks don’t rise, I’m going to do it when I turn 90. How’s that?”

Next time someone asks you to imagine an 87-year-old, think of Dale Sanders.

“I feel so inspired with life,” he said. “The adrenaline just flows through me.”

“I can honestly say that from age 80 on has been the best years of my life.”

DALE SANDERS

Honoring a Loved One

Christmas of 2006, mom was 59 years old. She was healthy and vibrant. She had gone on a summer trip through Europe seeing friends and enjoying life.

Just 11 months later, Thanksgiving of 2007, mom had passed from an aggressive form of appendiceal cancer. Appendiceal cancer isn’t detectable like other cancer types, and the treatments my mom underwent hadn’t changed in decades; multiple surgeries and intense chemotherapy that were worse than the cancer.

Heeding the lesson “how you respond,” I needed to do something. I didn’t want another family to go through the emotional and financial pain that cancer brought to our family.

I considered starting a non-profit to honor my mom but as I did my research, it was overwhelming the volume of time and money it was going to take. I also didn’t have a business model or platform that could make a non-profit sustainable to make an impact.

A friend had invited me to join the non-profit Swim Across America. I found a community and connection when learning SAA granted the proceeds from their charity swims to early stage research and clinical trials.

For three decades, SAA had been funding immunotherapy research and has been credited with helping identify and fund the early stage research and clinical trials that led to the FDA approval of Keytruda, Opdivo, and Yervoy, and numerous advancements in screening for cancer.

“You have cancer” are three horrible words.

If you hear them, you want to hear “There is hope.”

By partnering with the Swim Across America charity, I’ve been able to honor my mom and give hope to others.

Rob Butcher

My mom Maria taught me this lesson, “Often times you can’t control what happens but what you can

control is

your

attitude and how you respond.”

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN PARTNERING WITH A CHARITY:

→ GuideStar and Charity Navigator are the non-profit industry watchdogs. Platinum and 4-Stars are the highest ratings signifying a charity is committed to financial, governance and transparency accountability.

→ Do the mission and values align with your values?

→ In addition to donating, what other ways may you contribute to helping the non-profit mission (i.e. volunteer, mentor, relationships to help grow).

SWIM ACROSS AMERICA OFFERS SEVERAL WAYS TO BECOME INVOLVED:

→ Volunteer or participate in any of their 25 charity swims

→ Donate through a donor advised fund (DAF) or other means to their Cancer Innovation Fund

Rob Butcher is the recipient of the 2015 Growing Bolder Inspiration Award. He is the CEO of the Cancer Innovation Fund and Swim Across America. In 35-years, CIF & SAA has granted $100M to early-stage cancer research and clinical trials. SAA has agreements with more than 10,000 oncologists ensuring grants are made with precision and accountability. SAA has a GuideStar Platinum and Charity Navigator 4-Stars rating.

“‘You have cancer’ are three horrible words. If you hear them, you want to hear ‘There is hope.’”

ROB BUTCHER

The Quest for Active Longevity

The Power of Lifestyle

Marc Middleton

There’s a growing fascination with longevity and with good reason. Most of us are going to be “old”, whatever that means, for a lot longer than our ancestors. Modern man has been on the planet for around 300,000 years and for 99% of that time the average life expectancy at birth was 19. In 1900 the life expectancy in the U.S. was just 49. Today, the fastest-growing age group in the country is over 85. The number of nonagenarians, those in their 90s, will quadruple in the next 30 years and the number of centenarians will grow eightfold. A woman who is 65 today has a 1-in-4 chance of reaching 100 and a baby born today has a 50% chance of reaching 100. Welcome to the beginning of the longevity revolution.

While the opportunity exists to live longer than ever, U.S. life expectancy has declined three years in a row to just 76.4 years, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s the shortest it has been in nearly two decades and the first time in over 100 years that it has declined for three consecutive years. The pandemic and drug overdoses, primarily from opioids, are two major factors in the decline but there is more. Access to

quality health care in the U.S. is inequitable and contingent upon multiple social and economic factors. Not everyone has access to good food, clean air and water, and to the social determinants of health including education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment and social support.

“We have a wonderful sick care system but a very inadequate health care system,” said Asaf Bitton, a professor at Harvard Medical School. “Investing in people’s health shouldn’t be contingent until the moment that they drop in front of us, and we take them to the emergency department.”

Michelle Williams, the dean of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health agrees. “Although the U.S. is a leader in medical and health innovation, we emphasize rescue care, acute care at the expense of investing in, supporting, and enabling health promotion and disease prevention.”

While investment in health maintenance and disease prevention is limited, billions of research dollars are flowing into the science of longevity, or “geroscience,” to slow biological aging. Many so-called “immortalists” believe that science will one day “cure” aging and open the door to human immortality.

Photo by Del Moon for the National Senior Games Association

That notion seems ludicrous to most but there is growing consensus among geneticists and longevity scientists that it’s possible to have a “biological age,” the apparent age of our biochemistry, that differs from our “chronological age,” the number measured from our birth. That has deep-pocketed immortalists highly motivated to turn back and slow down their biological clocks in an effort to still be around when someone discovers their bridge to immortality. These efforts include research into, and in some cases self-experimentation with, stem cell transplants, designer drug cocktails, chemotherapeutics, cryotherapy, nanobot injections, cellular reprogramming, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, and transfusions of plasma from the blood of teenagers.

The promise of a pill or procedure that delivers active longevity is an intoxicating thought to anyone — especially a mostly sedentary, overweight population suffering from multiple chronic conditions. While it’s probable that lifelengthening genetic therapies will one day be available to those who can afford them, they will not, on their own, deliver active, healthy, and adventurous lives. These advances will simply provide the opportunity to live longer. No one, rich or poor, will ever age with robust vitality and an enviable quality of life without their own active participation.

Science might be the key to increasing our lifespan, but positive lifestyle modification is the key to increasing our

healthspan. And, if you ask me, that’s all that really matters. Living to 100 or 120 or 140 is tremendously appealing but only with a quality of life that makes it enjoyable. If an extra 30 years only means an additional 30 years of disease and disability, I’ll take a hard pass.

But what if we can live well into our 100s and enjoy it? Better yet, what if we can live longer and die shorter? What if we can add 20 years to our life and reduce the period of decline at the end of it to just two months, two weeks, or even two days? The truth is that we already can. And we can do it without any scientific breakthroughs or genetic interventions. We’ve seen it in the dozens of active centenarians we’ve featured over the years. Men and women who are, or were, still living alone, competing in masters sports, traveling with family and friends, working in the office and out in the yard. They’re painting, dancing, blogging, laughing and loving. How have they done it? In a word, lifestyle.

Our lifestyle and not our genes is the No. 1 determinant of how we age. Lifestyle accounts for 75-80% of our longevity while genes account for only 20-25%. The longevity lifestyle is no secret. It’s pretty much what mom said. Eat well, sleep well, exercise, don’t smoke, reduce stress, and have good friends — but don't clean your plate. Mom was wrong on that one. We are a nation of overeaters and extra weight does not lead to extra years. Mom also neglected to mention the No. 1 lifestyle determinant for how we age.

Mark Twain’s quote is an important reminder that our mindset is the most important factor in how we age. As important as diet, exercise, and socialization are, our belief system about aging is even more important. Multiple studies have shown that those with a positive view of aging live seven and a half years longer than those with a negative view. And they don’t just live longer, they live better. They’re happier and healthier.

Having a positive view of aging is a challenge in a culture that is overtly ageist. We’ve been conditioned to believe that aging is something to be

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.”

MARK TWAIN

feared and regretted — not something to be celebrated and grateful for. We’ve been bombarded with multiple studies that reveal a steady decline in our overall health accompanied by a dramatic loss of muscle mass, bone density and cardiovascular fitness. We’ve been told that we’ll lose speed, strength, flexibility, and cognitive abilities at a fixed and immutable rate. What the mind believes, the body embraces.

The problem with those studies, the data they collected and the conclusions they drew, is that they were done on sedentary adults. The rapidly increasing number of active adults, especially masters athletes, has provided an entirely new test group and we’re now learning that physical and cognitive decline is not a given. In many cases, men and women are gaining strength, bone density, and energy as they age. They’re overcoming the challenges of aging and continuing to live with passion and purpose. And they’re doing it all without any expensive, experimental, and unproven high-tech interventions. They’re doing it the old-fashioned way. They’re earning it through vigorous exercise, healthy eating, regular sleep, social engagement, and the understanding that more is possible than we’ve been led to believe.

Positive lifestyle modification is the key to reducing our reliance on the U.S. “sickcare system” and the key to leveraging whatever developments geroscience might produce.

The potential for science and technology-based life extension is exciting but it is still decades away at best and will be outrageously expensive if and when it does arrive. The dramatic results of positive lifestyle modification are here today and are available to all.

Who is your primary care provider? You are. Who holds the key to active longevity? You do. Who should engage in positive lifestyle modification? You should. When should you begin? Today.

“Science might be the key to increasing our lifespan, but positive lifestyle modification is the key to increasing our healthspan.”

MARC MIDDLETON

Photo by Del Moon for the National Senior Games Association

Optimal Health. Peak Performance. Precision Longevity.

Dr. Vonda Wright, M.D., M.S.

Healthy. Vital. Active. Joyful!

For 20 years masters athletes have been the focus of my research starting with the last National Senior Games held in Pittsburgh in 2004. More than 11,000 healthy, vital, active and joyful athletes, ages 50 to 103 competed that year and more than 3,000 of you gave of your time and passion for knowledge by participating in our inaugural research studies! The discoveries we made helped to change the paradigm of aging in this country as you are not satisfied with a superficial veneer of youth & vitality but are remaining youthful on the inside through mobility.

Some of the critical questions we answered together were:

1. Is physical performance a biomarker of aging? YES

2. When do we significantly slow down with age? NOT UNTIL OUR 70S

3. Can we preserve our lean muscle mass with chronic mobility? YES- SEE FIGURE 1

4. What happens to our muscle stem cells with exercise? THEY BECOME YOUNG AGAIN

5. Can we save our BRAINS with mobility? YES

6. Does chronic exercise build our “longevity protein” KLOTHOS? YES

Since these early studies you have continued to inspire researchers and the public alike showing us how to face the future without fear. In fact, the national zeitgeist has pivoted to a driving focus towards longevity through mobility, smart nutrition and the five pillars of health. As an orthopaedic sports surgeon, a gatekeeper of mobility if you will, I know that the work I do daily to save mobility via orthobiologics such as PRP or stem cells, nanotechnology surgery without incisions or more traditional interventions like arthroscopy or joint replacement not only saves mobility but in doing so saves people from the ravages of chronic disease.

The goal is to equalize our healthspan and our lifespan so as long as we are alive, we are healthy. Although the average life expectancy in this country has risen from around 40 in the 1900’s to nearly 80 years old today, for many people the healthspan, those years we live in good health, is only 62. This means that many of our last 20 years are spent in suboptimal health and decline.

I do not believe we are destined to go from the vitality of youth to the frailty of old age, spending the last 20 years of our lives in decline. Using the tools of mobility and the new science of aging, we can be healthy, vital, active and joyful long into the foreseeable future.

Even after 20 years studying masters athletes and aging myself, I am more excited by the new science of aging

than ever. For my own patients, we have built Precision Longevity Experiences to optimize health and move people into peak performance. We design strategic plans by measuring actionable biomarkers, such as lactate threshold, body composition, and mobilizing their mindset to face the future without fear.

Of all the actionable science to optimizing health and peak performance, I am most excited by our ability to eliminate senescent cells. These are circulating zombie cells, whose jobs are done but they refuse to die and instead circulate, releasing harmful cytokines and aging us in the process.

I'm also excited by our ability to build our energy stores via NAD+ supplementation to fuel the more than 400 enzymatic reactions we need to power for health. There is renewed interest in building and maintaining lean muscle mass as a means to maintain metabolic health, prevent diabetes and Alzheimer's disease and prevent the frailty that leads to fracture.

These are the best times....to date... to actively age and push the boundaries of performance across the lifespan. Masters athletes and National Senior Games champions inspire me personally and, through their willingness to share their performance, they are inspiring the new science of aging for the health of those around them.

To work with Dr. Wright or learn more about her programs for optimal health, peak performance and precision longevity please email her at vonda@vondawright.com

Figure 1

40-year-old triathlete 74-year-old sedentary man 70-year-old triathlete

FOR MORE DAILY MEMES: @GrowingBolder

Photo by Oliver Wu via Getty Images

"You must become a warrior as you age. You can become a gentle warrior. You can become a creative warrior. You have to subscribe to a lifestyle of never-ending improvement."

– Marc Middleton

Photo by Lazy_Bear via Getty Images

Geezer Jocks, I Need Your Courage. Please.

One Man’s Determination to Believe in the Biology of Hope

Ray Glier

I was a left-hand hitter in baseball. I earned a varsity letter at a small prep school on the west end of Richmond, Va. It was a boarding school in the countryside so, without much opportunity to get in trouble, we did batting practice every day after school. I was mostly average, and one summer at 11 not good at all, but that spring season in the countryside when I was 14, I hit .360 and batted second. It was because of practice every day.

I always thought I had something in common with Lou Gehrig.

This Geezer Jock, me, was diagnosed with ALS this week, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. I’m 66. I wasn’t ready for it. Nobody’s ready for it. Doc says I am “early” but no one knows for sure.

I believe in the shared community of tragedy and joy and courage.

Now I need you to share your courage because I am determined not to let this disease intimidate me.

Nobody has won against ALS. Some stay alive longer than others. I need to believe stronger in what the medical scientist Norman Cousins termed “the biology of hope.”

Maybe this was God’s plan all along. Set me on a path toward Geezer Jock and rally a community of strongwilled, never quit people and show others what courage and hope look like. Together.

the pitcher throwing 100 mph with a nasty, break-your-toe slider. I need to fight back against this sense of doom. Gratitude and hope need to take the space occupied by doom.

A couple more things, please.

My wife, Jessie, and two sons, Raymond and Alexander, are warriors like me.

A new friend whose dad, also named Ray, had ALS. She addresses me as “Warrior Ray.” I like that. I need that.

Finally, I get ashamed when I say, “Why me?” This is a rare disease.

Well, why not me?

Teenage boys died on the beaches of Normandy.

Six million Jews were murdered in Europe.

Children are gunned down in classrooms.

Innocent Ukrainians die every day at the hands of a mad man.

My beloved brother, Tom, was taken at 51 and left behind two young sons and a loving wife.

A friend at church, a mom with two young kids and loving husband, was gone at 47.

Children die at sea escaping warlords. Children die of cancer.

Man has brutalized man over skin color in ways more gruesome than my diagnosis.

Ray Glier has written for various media for over 40 years, as a contributor to national publications including The New York Times, Vice Sports, USA TODAY, The Miami Herald, The Boston Globe, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Washington Post. The author of five books, Glier has a passion for master sports and senior athletes and shares their stories of triumph and joy in his unique, inspiring, and always moving weekly newsletter, Geezer Jock. Subscribe to Ray’s great content and support his fight at geezerjocknews.com.

I am also determined to get everything out of the medical community it has to offer. One medicine, thanks to Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks, is affordable, if they stock it. The other two drugs, my doctor insists, are not affordable and hard to get. Perhaps we go on a crusade together to push these companies, who also need to make money, to continue valuable research.

I need to get accustomed to living with this disease and stay active and eat high-calorie food. It's harder than I realized.

It’s the mental side that is hardest,

ALS is rare, Jessie said, but when you add up all the rare diseases in the world, and all the senseless killings, which is a disease itself, ALS is not so rare on the trauma scale.

So I need to say, “Why not me?”

Get behind me, Geezer Jocks. I need your courage.

I'm one of 11 children. Mom and dad made 13. Nonetheless, I have felt lucky and blessed. I aspire to be like Lou Gehrig (in more than a sweet lefthanded swing). He said this:

"I might have been given a bad break, but I’ve got an awful lot to live for. Thank you."

Time Comparison Track and Field

How much have the abilities of older adults increased? Here’s one interesting perspective — the men’s winning times in four of the marquee events in the 1896 Olympics compared to the times of men and women competing today in master’s sports.

Time Comparison Swimming

In swimming, the difference is even more astounding. In the 100-meter freestyle, an 85-year-old man and 80-year-old woman would beat the men’s 1896 Olympic champion.

In the 400-meter freestyle (the longest distance swum in 1896), a 90-year-old man and an 85-year-old woman would destroy the men’s 1896 Olympic champion.

Photo

Do you dream of the day when you can retire? Or have you already retired and worry if you have saved enough money over the years? If so, you are not alone. According to a report issued by the Federal Reserve, 75% of Americans save for retirement but 60% of them either don’t think their savings are on track or aren’t sure.

Bipartisan federal legislation passed in recent years implemented sweeping changes concerning

Increasing the Required Minimum Distribution Age

Account holders of certain employer-sponsored retirement plans, traditional IRAs, Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) and SIMPLE IRAs are mandated to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) annually based on the account balance and the account owner’s life expectancy. The SECURE Act increased the age that account holders must begin RMDs from 70 ½ to 72 beginning in 2020. Secure 2.0 has further increased the new required beginning date for RMDs to age 73 starting January 1, 2023 and age 75 beginning January 1, 2033 for individuals who attain age 74 that year. Individuals who are currently taking RMDs will continue to take an annual distribution based on their age. Individuals who are employees and not owners of 5% or more of their company may defer RMDs until retirement, even if that is after age 73 or 75. Increasing the age for the start of RMDs postpones payment of income taxes and provides a longer period of time for tax-deferred growth in retirement accounts.

Roth 401(k) Plans Exempt from RMDs

Roth IRAs are currently exempt from mandatory distributions even if the owner has reached the normal RMD age. Starting in 2024, Roth 401(k) plans will also be exempt from RMDs. With no required distributions, such plans will be permitted to increase in value during the life of the account owner.

Required Minimum Distribution Penalty Reduced

The penalty for failing to take a RMD was 50%. Starting this year, the penalty is reduced to 25%. If the plan participant corrects the failure in a timely manner, the excise tax on the penalty is further reduced to 10%.

Catch-Up Contributions

Individuals who are age 50 and older are permitted to make an additional catch-up contribution. During 2023, the catch-up contribution for retirement plan participants over age 50 is $7,500. Starting in 2025, individuals who are ages 60-63 may contribute the greater of $10,000 or 150% of the catch-up limit for that year.

retirement accounts such as traditional IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k) and 403(b) accounts. The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which took effect in 2020, and its successor, the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, include provisions intended to expand your retirement savings and impact how your retirement accounts are distributed at your death. Key highlights are summarized below.

Increased Exceptions to 10% Tax on Early Distributions

Generally, if an individual withdraws from a retirement plan prior to age 59 ½, the individual must pay an additional 10% early withdrawal tax unless an exception applies. SECURE 2.0 expands existing exceptions and creates new exceptions for (1) emergency expense withdrawals, (2) those suffering from a terminal illness, (2) domestic abuse victims, (3) those afflicted by federally declared disasters and (4) the purchase of long-term care insurance.

Rolling Over 529 Plans to Roth IRAs

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged investment vehicle used for college savings. If the 529 plan has existed for 15 years and is no longer needed because the beneficiary has completed his or her education, then up to $35,000 of the plan may be rolled over into a Roth IRA for the benefit of that individual. This can jump start a child’s or grandchild’s retirement savings and avoid 529 plan withdrawal penalties for expenses unrelated to education.

Distribution of Retirement Accounts at Death

The Secure Act requires an inherited retirement account to be distributed by the end of the tenth year following the death of the account owner. There are four groups of eligible designated beneficiaries to which the 10-Year Rule does not apply, and they are able to “stretch” RMDs over their life expectancy, minimizing the income tax consequences to them each year: (1) the account owner’s surviving spouse, (2) disabled or chronically ill persons, including a special needs trust for them, (3) individuals who are not more than 10 years younger than the account owner and (4) minor children of the account owner until they reach the age of 21, at which time the 10-year payout period will apply.

The passage of the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 has significantly changed the landscape of retirement benefits planning, enhancing retirement security for millions of Americans.

Late-life Bonus

Winning a World Championship at 83

Roger Robinson is regarded as the outstanding historical writer on running. He was interviewed by Marc Middleton for the Fountain of Youth podcast in February 2023. His latest book is Running Throughout Time: the Greatest Running Stories Ever Told (Meyer & Meyer), vivid and accurate narratives of the sport's best stories. Available from bookstores, all online sources, and Amazon

Roger Robinson

In February, 2023, in Bathurst, Australia, I ran once more in the World Cross-Country Championship, one of the great sports events. I was first selected for it in 1966. This new opportunity came when World Athletics added masters championships to the program for the first time. Instead of going as a spectator, and to join reunions of my own generation, I could also be a competitor again.

I was ready. For my age, I was in good race shape. I had been running consistently five to seven hours a week, including faster sessions, hills, and longer runs up to two hours – the same mix of pace and stamina that all endurance sports require. The main change with age is that you need to program more recovery. My half-joke is that an hour's run takes two hours, because of the hour's nap that has to follow.

Through the age-grades, I have contested and sometimes won national (New Zealand) and world masters championships. When the 2022 National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale were opened to non-U.S. citizens, I was able to add that experience. One of the best things I've known in later life was the competition, communality, festivity, and friendship that the NSG embody. The 10K road race in Florida was memorable, as the only time I have raced past signage advising me not to disturb the alligators, and for my first NSG title.

The Bathurst opportunity was different again – masters competition as a full part of the actual World CrossCountry. For me, that resonated deeply. The lucky chance had personal significance.

My love of the Championship goes back to a book that I won in 1957, as first prize in a schools race near London, The Jubilee History of the International Cross-Country Union, 1903-1953. My teenage imagination was ignited by those stories of muddy contests long ago, and the faded photos of men in baggy shorts racing over hills and hurdles. I learned that the sport I enjoyed at high school had a long international history. My lifelong passion for the history of running, part of my work as a writer, began with those cheaply printed pages.

I did not imagine I would ever run in the championship, but that came true when I was selected for the England

team in 1966, and then in 1977 to represent New Zealand, after I moved there. In Morocco and Germany, both were on flat grass horse-race circuits. Needing the mud and hills of real cross-country to compensate for my lack of speed, I felt I ran below my best.

Nothing can change those results, or soothe my disappointment. Sometimes in bad dreams, I am struggling near the back of those fields, or missing the start. Now, long after, I had another chance. Only in my senior age-group, but still a chance at world championship restitution.

As for the race: if you believe that running after eighty is mere doddery shuffling, wait till you're up there, racing to your limit, your legs tired and your lungs gasping for oxygen, and you make the sharp u-turn at halfway and see that you are being stalked by a lanky Aussie with a threatening scowl like Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon.

He made me work for it. It was a tough course, a raw slice of the Australian outback, broken and unpredictable, rusty dirt, gray raggedy scrub grass, diabolical hills, and a “billabong” (as in the national song, “Waltzing Matilda”), a stretch of treacherous ankle-deep wet slush that caused many runners to skid to a slimy downfall. (Some of the slower kids in the schools races lay down and daubed themselves heroically.) Added to that was the searing Outback summer heat. Several runners passed out, including the Ethiopian women's favorite. Later came lightning and torrential rain. The age-old continent of Australia does nothing by half-measures.

I finally broke away from my stubborn shadow as we duelled for the second time up a steep rough-surfaced hill that broke many hearts that weekend. At last, I sensed he had lost contact. Somehow, my two replaced knees coped with the steep downhills.

In sport, every win takes preparation, persistence, and luck. For older sportspeople, there is luck in simply being there, alive and on our feet. I quietly dedicated my win to runner friends, including England and New Zealand teammates from 1966 and 1977, some much better runners than I was, who are no longer with us, or who can no longer run.

Roger Robinson is really a one-of-a-kind talent. He is an elite runner, an award-winning writer, a literary scholar, a historian and an investigative journalist. He was the world's leading masters distance runner throughout the 1980s, winning the masters division in the New York Marathon. Now 83 years old, he’s still running and setting records, but his greatest contribution to the sport and beyond may be his writing about running.

Pickleball Goes Viral

What’s Driving the Pickleball Phenomenon?

We’ve grown accustomed to seeing videos and memes unexpectedly “go viral” but who could have predicted that pickleball would suddenly explode into the world’s fastestgrowing sport?

More than 36.5 million people played pickleball last year, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals. That’s nearly an eight-fold jump in just one year, up from 5 million players in 2021. Almost overnight, pickleball evolved from a recreational sport played by seniors into two competing pro tours, a broadcast deal with ESPN, and superstar investors like LeBron James, Tom Brady, Kevin Durant, Drew Brees and Patrick Mahomes. At the recent Pickleball Slam, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick defeated John McEnroe and Michael Chang to win the $1 million purse.

Celebrities including the Kardashians, Leonardo DiCaprio, Stephen Colbert, Brené Brown and Bill Gates have all become avid players. Hundreds of millions of dollars are flowing into the game from sponsors like Skechers and Anheuser-Busch, and from real estate developers building pickleball facilities and hybrid pickleball restaurants like Chicken N Pickle and Camp Pickle from coast-to-coast.

Why did pickleball become so popular, so quickly? A better question might be, what took so long? Pickleball is

the rare sport that can be immediately enjoyed by almost anyone of any age, fitness level, ability, or disability. It’s easy to learn but can take a lifetime to master, making it accessible to pure beginners and challenging to world class athletes. It’s usually played in doubles so it’s highly social and multigenerational. “You can play with your kids, your grandkids, and your great grandkids,” says 91-year-old Marion Lisehora. “We had four generations in my family out there on the court and everyone had a great time.”

The sport, a combination of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, was invented in 1965 by three dads on vacation who were just trying to entertain their kids with the sports equipment they had lying around: a wiffle ball, some ping pong paddles and a badminton net. They created the game on their badminton court which is about one-fourth the size of a tennis court.

For decades, pickleball grew slowly, played mainly by a small number of older adults on makeshift courts. A major milestone took place in 1990 when The Villages, Florida put in a pickleball court at the La Hacienda Recreation Center. Since many residents are snowbirds, they learned the sport in The Villages during the winter and introduced it in their hometowns during the summer. That led to pickleball courts popping up in communities

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all over America. Chuck Menke, the chief marketing officer for USA Pickleball, calls The Villages, “largely responsible for the continued growth of the game.”

The Villages now has more pickleball courts than any community in the world -- nearly 250 courts and probably a few more by the time you’re done reading this. Masters Athlete magazine calls The Villages “The Mecca of Pickleball” and the No. 1 place for pickleball enthusiasts to live.

If The Villages is The Pickleball Mecca, then 81-yearold Richard Movsessian or “Coach Mo” is the Pied Piper of Pickleball. A former tennis coach, Movsessian literally wrote the book on Pickleball after moving to The Villages and taking up the sport in his 60s. How to Play Pickleball is now sold worldwide, and Coach Mo offers free lessons to anyone that wants to learn. “Coaching Pickleball is keeping me alive,” he says. “I'm here every day meeting people, having fun, and staying active.”

The National Senior Games (NSG) was also well ahead of the pickleball mania curve and instrumental in the sport’s explosive growth. The NSG added pickleball to its biennial competition in 2012. “It’s the fastest growing sport in our history,” says Del Moon, the media & communications director for the National Senior Games Association.

According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association,

the explosion beyond older adults and senior athletes can be traced to the pandemic. Pickleball is perfect for socially distanced competition and since it can be played in driveways, alleys, and cul-de-sacs with a minimal amount of inexpensive equipment, it was game on.

Pickleball needs no PR firm. It generates its own goodwill. It’s now been shown to promote mental health, reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease, slow Parkinson's symptom progression, protect against Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, and more. “It’s made a huge difference in my life,” says 83-year-old Dick Johnson from Boise, Idaho. “My good friends are dying all the time. I'm convinced I'm still alive because of the game.” 85-year-old Jean Kiker from The Villages agrees. “You can play even though you've had injuries,” she says. “I've had a hip replaced. Pickleball is well within your reach in your 90s.”

As the sport’s popularity grows, so has the number of pickleball-related injuries with 90 percent of those affecting people aged 50 and older. The most common injuries are twisted ankles, sore knees and sprains and strains of all kinds but there are more serious injuries such as meniscus tears, Achilles injuries and herniated disks.

If you have a chance to try the world’s fastest-growing sport – do it! But warm up properly and take it slowly.

We now know that longevity is only 20% genetics and 80% lifestyle. In our never-ending efforts to learn and share the keys to happy and healthy aging, Growing Bolder has conducted hundreds of interviews with active nonagenarians and centenarians. We call these ordinary people who live extraordinary lives our Rock Stars of Aging® and there are more of them participating in organized sports every year.

Charlotte Sanddal, 100, Helena, Montana

Charlotte Sanddal proves that swimming is a sport for life even if you don’t start until later in life. Charlotte began swimming after retiring at the age of 72. It took her a while to get the hang of it, but she enjoyed the challenge and the camaraderie. She’s now setting national and world records almost every time she competes and has no plans on slowing down. Her advice to others? “Find something active that is interesting to you and that you will devote yourself to. Swimming is my thing, it has been my way to stay healthy, active, and be involved with people of all ages.”

Lindsay Tise, 104, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Lindsay Tise won his 4th straight National Senior Games gold medal for golf at the 2022 Games in Ft. Lauderdale. Lindsay has been playing golf for over 90 years and credits the sport with helping him maintain his active lifestyle. “It’s been a big help to me both physically and mentally. I don’t know how a 103-year-old man is supposed to feel, but I’m feeling good for any kind of man! I’ll keep playing as long as I can hold a stick. I wonder why I am still here but I’m happy that I am!”

Roy Englert Sr., 100, Springfield, Virginia

Roy Englert started running when he was 58 by taking laps around his basement. He started competing at age 60 and has never stopped, participating in every National Senior Games since the first one in 1987. Along the way, he’s set world records in the 800-meter, 1500-meter, 3,000-meter, and 5,000-meter races. Roy offers three tips for active longevity: “Keep moving. Keep moving. And keep moving. If you give up and settle down in that rocking chair, you’ll likely never get out. It all comes down to this: Just keep moving. That’s what I do. And you don’t have to like it. I don’t like running but I really like finishing.”