Funny how labels work.

What I mean by labels, is what you are known as.

For most of us, we are known as "Runners". And if someone calls us a runner, we smile knowing that we've earned that label from putting in the miles for many years.

A couple of weeks ago, a co-worker called me a "Jogger" and my face contorted, I straighten and turned and immediately corrected him, "No, I'm a Runner!". After all, I've put in a lot of work to become a runner and I don't associate with my visual of a 1980's jogger. 

So here's why I brought this up. 

As I keep working with the Forever Runner Method, I've come to the realization that I have miss labeled myself. My focus of the Forever Runner Method is pulling all the critical parts together for older runners so that we can continue to enjoy being healthy and fit as we age. 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but to me, a running coach conjures up an image of someone who develops structured training plans and focuses...

This week I listened to a great Brad Kerns podcast featuring the oldest living barber in the USA. Brad was traveling to New York and stopped to get a haircut and an interview.

Anthony Mancinelli is 107 years old and has been cutting hair since he was 11 years old!

He was in both World War 1 and World War 2, was married for 60 years and has outlived his wife, family and friends.

He lives alone, does all his own shopping and meals, drives to the mall 5 days a week for work and puts in 40 hours per week. 

He has no secret diet or exercise routine, but he does have two beliefs he swears by:

1) Don't sweat the small stuff, and everything is small stuff.

2) Have a youthful outlook for your life. Old is only when you can't do anything anymore.

Anthony hasn't seen a doctor in years, he only takes a baby aspirin a day to thin his blood a little. "Why would I go see a doctor if I don't have any problems?  What would we talk about?"

To him, someone who is 70 years old is just a kid.

You would be surprised what you can accomplish if you have the right resources and tools.

Let me explain...

When I was a sophomore in college, I was devastated when my VW Bug's engine died. I had never worked on cars before and had no money to take it to a shop.

I was at my wit's end as to what to do when one of my classmates lent me a book called "How to Fix Your Volkswagen for the Complete Idiot". This book was amazing, it told you not only how to fix the engine in a step by step process, but also what tools (and clothes) you needed and what hand to hold the wrench in.

With this amazing resource, I now had the confidence that I could fix my engine by myself.

So I rounded up some friends, and in the parking lot, in the snow, I removed the 4 bolts that secured the engine and we all lifted the back of my Bug up and over the engine and there it was, on a small tarp on the snow, ready to be worked on. 

Over the next week, by carefully following all the instructions in the...

I'm a big fan of goal setting and now is the best time to get your goals set up for next year. 

But there is a big mistake many of us make that sabotages our goals every year. And that is not coming to grips with the current year. You see, if you don't close out the current year, it's going to influence your goals moving forward, and not always in a good way.

Along with your wins, you might of had some plans that didn't turn out, some times you didn't follow through or do the work. You may be left with the feeling you're not worthy or even have the capability to succeed.

It like climbing a mountain with rocks in your pack.

Don't let your past dictate your future.

Here's what to do... get a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the left side, write down your wins and disappointments from all aspects of your life for 2018.

Then on the right side of the line, write your lessons learned from each entry. 

As an example, for running, I wrote down that I successfully...

The whole basis of the Forever Runner Method is elimination of chronic inflammation and stress so you can continue to be healthy and fit as you age.

I've got to tell you, it's a hard sell due to the pervasive "No Pain, No Gain" attitude surrounding the fitness industry.

My method is counter-intuitive  to mainstream fitness because it's based on science, not marketing. That's why we go against the grain with low heart rate training and limiting carb intake.

And if you think running slow and not eating bagels is tough, I have another challenge for you.

The winter time is when many of us head to the gym to keep up our fitness due to shorter daylight hours and lousy weather.

The problem is, most, if not all gym programs are based on "No Pain, No Gain".  After all, why would you pay money to a trainer if they didn't leave you slumped over a puddle of sweat on the floor.

The "HIIT" protocol (High Intensity Interval Training) is universally proclaimed as the best workout you can...

This last week I was watching a TED Talk, "How to Die Young at an Old Age".  Great title and an important message.

When my father was 96 years old, he had to check into an assisted living facility to recover from some surgery. I was surprised that even though he was the oldest resident there. He was the only one who get down on the ground to store things under his bed and stand back up by himself! 

The sad fact is that most people become more feeble as they age, as their muscle mass diminishes and their connective tissues degrade. And this is the leading reason for assisted living. 

The problem is, conventional medicine concentrates on how to keep the unhealthy to live longer, rather than a healthy lifestyle.

This is where you, as a runner, has an advantage. By engaging in our high impact activity, along with following the Forever Runner guidelines of strength, mobility and sprinting, we can maintain our muscle mass and connective tissues to stave off frailty so we...

It's the holiday season and time to find that perfect gift for your runner that is over 50, or if you're that runner, to share a hint to your partner!

The following are 5 great gifts that complement the Forever Runner Method and helps us older runners continue to be healthy and fit as we age.

 #1:  Primal Endurance

If you are looking for the best reference book for runners over 50, Primal Endurance is the best. This book covers it all; How to slow down, balance out and chill out.  Learn the right way for low heart rate training, low carb, high fat eating, strength training and sprinting. The perfect complement to my Forever Runner Method training. 

 Click here to get Primal Endurance from Amazon

#2:  Garmin 235 heart rate monitor watch

Training with the right heart rate monitor is crucial for tracking progress and identifying your level of training stress. I like the Garmin 235 because it not only is a wrist based...

With all the disruption  going on in the world, it’s good to know some things don’t change.

Such is the case for the Maffetone Method.

After 35 years, Dr. Phil revisited his 180 - age formula and found it was still the best way to develop aerobic capacity, loose weight, and reduce the stress of training.

But he did come up with a couple more rules. 

Since your aerobic development is also based on a healthy diet, if you are eating crap, you need to subtract an additional 20 beats from your MAF heart rate.

If you are overfat, that is your waist measurement is more than half your height, you should subtract another 5 beats.

And, if you are suffering from chronic over training, you should subtract another 10 beats.

The good news is that is you are showing progress year to year, you don’t automatically readjust for your age, you only need to drop 2 - 3 beats over a 5 year span.

Also, if you got a solid 2 years in the bank and are un-injured, not sick and still...