The Mini-Interview: Andy Steinfeldt

Photo courtesy National Senior Games Association.

Andy Steinfeldt, 74, Multi-lingual vocalist

What motivates you to exercise?

The sense of peace and well-being I get from working out in some form every day. The notable difference in mood and attitude from the “before” to the “after”.

Do you have any training tips that are not typical?

I have done a series of many sit-ups and push-ups upon arising every day since I was 14. On days I’m not feeling great or lethargic, I push myself. This not only is a great body building activity, but it gives me an energy boost to start the day. I don’t consider it to be part of my workout routine—just a day opener.

What is on your bucket list of things you want to do athletically, physically?

I know I’ll never be the fastest in any race, whether it be a sprint or a marathon. My goal is to keep doing them regularly and hopefully one day be the eldest, or at least among the few eldest, competing.

What was the worst training injury and what helped you recover?

Training for a pushup record, I did hundreds in my first day of concentrated training—not a wise move for a septuagenarian. I woke up the next morning thinking I’d had a stroke, as the right side of my torso was practically paralyzed. It turned out to be a serious neurological injury called “long thoracic nerve neuropathy”, which can take years to recover from, and may never fully heal. Among other things, I could barely raise my right arm, and I couldn’t even come close to making a right-handed layup in basketball.

I’ve since been on a long physical therapy program with the guidance of Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine, and now, 18 months later, I’m about 85% recovered and still building. In the meantime, I’ve continually developed my left-handed shot and I have altered my right-handed shot accordingly. I only missed two months of basketball, and I have competed in basketball and all my other track and field events at the National Senior Games and multiple state senior games during the rehabilitation period, thanks to the excellent guidance I have received.

 A Geezer Jock story from 2022 on Andy (Mr. Impossible).