104 and Competing In Pittsburgh. 98 and Running in Atlanta. New Report!

 July 8, 2023

Yep. You should browse through these short items.

 

1. The Chemistry And Willpower To Keep Going

Edmond Gerald Meyer, a retired chemistry professor at the University of Wyoming, will be the oldest competitor at The National Senior Games in Pittsburgh, which start this weekend. Meyer is 104 and does the sprints.

We shouldn't be surprised. After all, Meyer rode his Harley until he was 92.

Three other post-100 athletes will compete: runner Roy Englert of Virginia, Ohio bowler Merle Meeder, and table tennis player Robert Henry of South Carolina.

Englert is one of two remaining athletes to have competed in every National Senior Games since1987.

Pennsylvania’s oldest competitor is Pittsburgh native Jack Eckenrode, 95, who will cycle and run track. He has 12 children, 42 grandchildren, and 48 great-grandchildren. He says they all ride bikes.

Humana CEO Bruce Broussard will compete in the cycling events. Humana has sponsored the Senior Games since 2007.

2.  This Time, She Didn't Stop.

Betty Lindberg said Atlanta's Peachtree Road Race in 2022 was disappointing. She said she stopped 10 times along the 10k route. She was 97.

More determined this year at 98, the hottest day ever on record in the world, Betty refused to stop, even once. She beat her goal by five minutes.

Here is a link to the story in the Atlanta paper.

3.  What? Less Than 15% Of Us Get Enough Exercise 

That's what it says right there in the Journal of American Medicine Association report from the U.S. Health and Human Services folks.

By the year 2030, 1 in every 5 Americans will be age 65 or older — and currently, less than 15 percent of older adults meet the aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity recommendations in the Guidelines.

I thought it was less dire than that. Apparently not.