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I don't understand denying the possibility that one can be relatively good at one activity and not good at another for a given level of fitness. What the activity is DOES make a difference. My stepson can not come close to keeping up with me on a bike, does not run, but can wield a pick axe or shovel with vigor all day long. He is addicted to home and yard projects and does this frequently. Is he unfit?
There are a few pretentious folks on this thread that apparently believe that if you cannot run as fast as they do, or ride as many miles as they do, you are not in shape. Most of us know that we can disregard those posters.
And there you have it. I'm sure that, controlling for men within your age group, you are miles ahead of your peers. (See what I did there? ) I'd also be willing to speculate some of the "more elite" members posting here won't be as active at age 68 as you are. Life and time have a way of humbling people. I'm not worried about what the future has in store for me, but I am not so presumptive to know I'll be capable of riding 115+ miles a week when I'm in my 60s. I applaud you.
I agree. In fact, walking 1 mile burns as many calories as running 1 mile. You just get there faster running, and probably work your respiratory system more. But walking is exercise, definitely.
I used to think this was true also, but the facts are that running a mile burns roughly 26 percent more calories than walking a mile. Running a minute (or 30 minutes, or an hour, etc.) burns roughly 2.3 times more calories than the same total time spent walking. These calculations are all derived from an “average” weight of the subjects; there may be individual variations. Also, age and gender make a difference, though quite a modest one. Your weight is by far the biggest determinant of your calorie burn per mile. When you look at per-minute burn, your pace (your speed) also makes a big difference.
Agreed. Clearly we are talking about two different sets of people.
Disagreed. The older a person gets, their speed becomes more restricted but not necessarily their endurance. I find that for most regular people who pursue running, they focus more on distance than speed. Personally speaking, my HM pace and my 1-mile pace is not that far apart, certainly not 2 minutes.
I mean, how many people have broken the 4 minute mile? Running Times just interviewed a bunch of people who broke the milestone (or was close to it). It's still a big deal. So, there are A LOT of truly serious runners who cannot run a 4 minute mile. But apparently, an average runner can run a 6 minute mile, easy peasy.
And there you have it. I'm sure that, controlling for men within your age group, you are miles ahead of your peers. (See what I did there? ) I'd also be willing to speculate some of the "more elite" members posting here won't be as active at age 68 as you are. Life and time have a way of humbling people. I'm not worried about what the future has in store for me, but I am not so presumptive to know I'll be capable of riding 115+ miles a week when I'm in my 60s. I applaud you.
I rode 110 miles today. ttp://www.meetup.com/Austin-Cycling-Meetup/events/187481712/ It got pretty hot before I was done! How long did it take me? Well, I am sure my time would not be considered remotely acceptable by some arbitrary definition of what a "serious" cyclist should be capable of. But, anyway, I did it.
110 miles is "serious" enough for me.
Thanks for the kinds words.
And I really don't run for crap. And I can walk UPstairs all day long but suck at DOWNstairs, (left leg knee issues and imbalances from an injury when I was 14) same with hiking through the woods. I remember going on a long forest hike in Arkansas on a recent vacation steadily climbing a little mountain and thinking this is a breeze, but I am going to have go DOWN, so maybe I should turn around now. Guess that means I am just not fit.
It's all about what you train your body to do. It is very false to say you are out of shape just because you can't run. That total bs. If you don't do something ever or for a very long time and the pick it back up it os going to be much harder. Again, that doesn't mean you are out of shape.
If you don't do something ever or for a very long time and the pick it back up it os going to be much harder. Again, that doesn't mean you are out of shape.
That's exactly what "out of shape" means. If I have attained a certain state of physical capability, lay off a while, and then face working back up to it, I had a shape before and I'm not in that shape before. I am "out of shape."
That's exactly what "out of shape" means. If I have attained a certain state of physical capability, lay off a while, and then face working back up to it, I had a shape before and I'm not in that shape before. I am "out of shape."
But while they don't run they might be swimming, doing other cardio exercises like elliptical, stair steppers, biking etc.
I mean. If you take a great long distance runner and put him in a pool and ask him to swim 3 miles free style in a set time, he will likely not make it. Because he is not use to that form of excersise.
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Most of us know that we can disregard those posters. 
) I'd also be willing to speculate some of the "more elite" members posting here won't be as active at age 68 as you are. Life and time have a way of humbling people. I'm not worried about what the future has in store for me, but I am not so presumptive to know I'll be capable of riding 115+ miles a week when I'm in my 60s. I applaud you.
