The golden years are fool's gold, many seniors joke. The number of daily medications rise, the kids and grandkids call less, the bones and muscles ache more, the sight and memory fade. And that's before the worries of paying the higher bills and increased taxes on a fixed pension.
Some seniors, however, never stop moving, never stop doing.
Take Trelle Morrow. He was recognized Friday night at the Prince George Community Foundation's 2016 Citizens of the Year banquet for his work both making and preserving local history. The longtime architect (he designed The Citizen building, Sacred Heart cathedral and many others) now devotes his days writing local history books and serving on the heritage commission, all at 86 years young. His buildings and his books will outlive him, to the great benefit of present and future local residents.
One of the guests at the dinner was Dick Voneugen, a previous recipient of the Citizen of the Year award. Voneugen is 84 and competed in 25 B.C. Seniors Games, although he told The Citizen back in April that he would only volunteer at this year's games, held last month, in Coquitlam.
Looking further afield, how about Ed Whitlock of Milton, Ont.? Whitlock, 85, stunned observers on Sunday by not only completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon but crossing the finish line in three hours, 56 minutes and 33 seconds. To put that accomplishment in a broader context, he broke the previous world record for 85-89 year old men by almost 40 minutes. He's a stick of a man, standing just five-feet-seven and weighing - ready for this? - 101 pounds. He holds the world record as the oldest man to run a marathon in under three hours, a mark he set in 2003 when he was 72. Sunday was his first marathon in three years and he complained to a Globe and Mail reporter that he would have been able to run much faster if he had been able to train better leading up to the race.
Whitlock, Morrow and seniors like them are the subject of a growing amount of medical research. As the baby boomers move into their retirement years, scientists are curious about how those inspiring seniors continue to live and thrive into their late 80s and beyond. Bruce Griersen's recent book, What Makes Olga Run? The Mystery of the 90-Something Track Star and What She Can Teach Us About Living Longer, Happier Lives, explores some of that research.
The findings so far are a mixture of common sense and smart living, brain health, emotional drive and physical horsepower
As Dr. Art Hister stressed in his presentation to the audience at the A Healthier You Expo on Sunday at the Civic Centre, everybody's knows the basic recipe: a full night of uninterrupted sleep each night, regular exercise, healthy eating, no smoking, a moderate amount of alcohol at most, moderate stress levels and numerous positive social relationships with friends and family, all mixed well together.
Researchers have also noted a few surprising features among many high-achieving octogenarians.
First, they overcame significant physical and/or mental stress or even trauma in their childhood or as young adults. This entire generation made it through the Great Depression as kids and then the Second World War as young adults. Their formative years were ones of adversity and sacrifice, particularly if they went hungry or were forced into adult jobs and responsibilities while still in their early teens. This stress didn't ruin them for life, it made them incredibly strong and resilient. There isn't anything these people can't accomplish by setting their minds and their bodies to work.
Second, they know how awesome they are. In other words, it's not just their bodies and their brains that are healthy, so are their egos. Their self-confidence comes from a lifetime of doing what they say, saying what they do and not taking no for an answer. They are thankful to be recognized for their accomplishments but they also know they are deserving recipients of those accolades.
Third, they are competitive to a fault. In their world, second place is the first loser and ribbons for participation are for wimps. Whitlock told the Globe and Mail he doesn't run for his health, he runs to win. They don't just want to show up and try their best. When they do things, they do them well.
Fourth, hard work isn't hard, it's fun. A day is incomplete without breaking both a physical and mental sweat and charting progression towards real and measureable goals.
The most accomplished seniors embrace every moment of life, come what may, setting a fine example not only for other seniors but for younger generations who believe that accomplishment and effort are the same thing.
-- Managing editor Neil Godbout
