There are more talented, determined, dedicated athletes over the age of 50 that we can possibly interview in a lifetime. So we have created this snapshot section to give you a quick glimpse into the mindsets and activities of this rapidly expanding demographic: the aging athlete. This group is bending the curve of what is possible physically and mentally, and reaping the health rewards that we would more commonly associate with the young.

If you are a 50+ athlete and not sure if you would like to give me permission for a deep dive into your story and DNA, then please consider sending your snapshot to share your passions and interest with our community. How to participate: send one photo along with answers to the same Q&A you see in the other snapshots. My email: andrewleegraham@gmail.com. Please keep the responses reasonably short and concise.

However, if the story of what drives you to keep training no matter your schedule, your obligations or the weather – is impossible to share in this constrained space – let’s schedule time to chat and schedule a full interview.

Mike Kelly – self-confessed strength training addict

Photo: Mike @ 15 years of age, surfing in Florida. Anyone who has known Mike as an adult will find this photo almost impossible to believe. Most of us have never known a “pre strength training” Mike.
Professional life – VP of Commercial Fitness at PLAE.
Recreational Life: Anything on or near the water: floating, boating, wave running….and walking Chicky Nugget, his fierce chihuahua.
Where you call home: Milton, GA
Actual age:  50+
Age when I close my eyes:  Depends on the time of day.  But mostly, early 40’s.  Strength really has not declined since my 30’s, duration and intensity has not changed.  I don’t fatigue at the end of the day.
Primary Sport(s) and Frequency:  Strength training, incorporating functional movements – 5 days per week, 35 minutes average length of strength session.   Very little rest – maybe 20-30 seconds rest between sets.
When did you start:  Started taking strength training seriously at 16. I was skinny – 5’10” and only 120lbs.  Got tired of getting picked on and took out his frustrations in the gym. (Anyone remember this famous Charles Atlas comic?) Found that I developed quickly, and two years later, I graduated high school at 235lbs.    
Have you remained active since you were 16?  Of course. Always.
Longest period of time of being inactive:  3 weeks, during my college years.  I must have looked incredulous, because he added: “strength training is my drug of choice”.
In your sports, can you still improve?  Short answer is yes.   Improving by adding more flexibility training, more bi-lateral movements, focusing on mobility.
Will you still be doing this in 20 years?  These years of strength training have allowed me to endure and recover from multiple injuries as I’ve aged , so yes, I fully intend to continue training for another 20+ years. No question I will keep doing what I enjoy doing.   If I can keep this up for another 20 years, I might still be able to walk through the front door in my speedo.
Single biggest physical change over the last 20 years:  More grey hair.  Trimmer today.  Loss of flexibility.
Single biggest change in my diet over the last 20 years:  Smaller meals, more often – smaller portions.  Maybe a little less protein, maybe 10-15% less.  A lot of us over did the protein when younger.  Also developed lactose intolerance.
Is better health your goal or just an outcome?   A bit of both.  Maintaining better health is the goal, but not the only reason.  I feel great after my workouts, I enjoy my time in the gym.   It also gives me a sense of accomplishment, something I’ve achieved today.
Give yourself a grade on your overall mental / physical health score:   Mentally –  7 of 10.   Physical health: 9.
What / Who is your tribe / community:   Not part of a specific community around any specific sport – my family is my community.
Next item on bucket list:  Viking cruise around Italy with Allison. We’ve delayed this trip for too long due to the pandemic.
From 1-10, score your “Joy to Drudgery” feeling during your favorite activity: Very high on the joy side.  No drudgery.   I would not do this if I didn’t enjoy it.

Danny Murphy – from High School Track & Soccer to master Spartan Competitor

Photo: Danny in a recent Spartan Obstacle Course Race and recent SCUBA trip.
Professional life– I am a territory and key accounts manager at Grid.  Grid manufactures fitness lockers and sports flooring.  Grid is a great company with a great culture. We will be a dominant force in the fitness locker and sports flooring world.
Recreational Life: Life in NE FL is great.  We enjoy boating, fishing, and SCUBA diving.
Where you call home: Jacksonville, FL
Actual age: 65, the upside is that I don’t need a fishing license any longer.
Age when I close my eyes: Probably my early forties.
Primary Sport(s) and Frequency: Strength and conditioning 5 x week, and obstacle course races when the feeling strikes me.
When did you start: When I was 14.
Have you remained active since your 20’s? Yes.
In your sports, can you still improve? Always, these days the improvements are less about PRs and more about functional fitness for functional freedom.
Will you still be doing this in 20 years? Yes. The hardest thing about diving is putting on 80 lbs of gear, but as long as I have my 2 strong sons to suit me up and throw me off of the boat I’ll be good. The obstacle course races are fun but there are certain obstacles that are getting tougher- such as over-head rigs. I’m also a big believer in squats – especially body weight – to give long life to the knees.
Is better health your goal or just an outcome? Better health is my goal.  I plan on SCUBA diving with my grandsons well into the next few decades.
My overall mental / physical health score: Interesting questions.  Generally, I am in a good place mentally especially when I am spending time studying God’s Word.  When I get lazy in that area I find that my mood dips. Physically? Other than a sore knee I feel pretty good.
Single biggest physical change over the last 20 years: My running has really diminished.  It’s probably a combination of knee arthritis (getting hit by a car while on my bike) and defaulting to less impact activities.  This is sad because I ran track in high school and for 3 years in college and I miss being quick. Who knows maybe I’ll start training and be one of those 90 year old guys running the 100m in a blistering 30 sec.
What is your tribe / community: Faith and family first, Rosemary and I are very close with our 3 children and their families and we have a strong group of friends at our church. The picture below is from a race we did last year.  Next, I belong to Trinity Fitness.  Trinity Fitness is a faith centered gym where we strive to help people achieve physical and spiritual fitness.  I am blessed to be one of the coaches.  I especially enjoy helping new members that have a deep desire to regain control of their health through fitness.
Next item on bucket list: I want to hike places like Zion, Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon.
From 1-10, score your “Joy to Drudgery” feeling during your favorite activity: Well sometimes metcon training really stinks but I still consider it joy.

Dave Williams – the Wiley Coyote of Northern Colorado Cycling

Photo: Editor’s choice – I had to choose between a photo of Dave cycling in Mallorca, Spain, or with his wife at Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Everest won.
Professional Life: retired and doing whatever the f’ I want.
Recreational Life: Taking full advantage of living in the Rockies: Mountain biking, road cycling, traveling, mountaineering, swimming, tennis, etc.
Where I call home: Longmont, CO
Actual Age: 62
Age when I close my eyes: 39 and holding.
Primary Sport(s) & frequency: Cycling 4-6 times a week. Weights 3x a week, hiking with my wife
When did you begin?  In my 20’s.  
Have you remained active since your 20’s? Except for serious back pain in my late 30’s – yes. Around 40, I had a microdiscectomy to repair a herniated disc. That was a difficult 5 year span.
In your sport(s) can you improve: Unequivocally yes.
Will you still be doing this activity in 20 years: In 20 years I will be doing something fitness related -who knows what.
Is better health your goal or just an outcome: In my honest opinion, good mental health does not come without exercise.
My overall mental/physical health score: Is it comparative or subjective or objective? My subjective is about 80 and 80. Comparative is probably a bit better. Objective maybe even better.
Single biggest physical change over the last 20 years? Things going wrong that you have no control over. Things that require medical intervention. For example rotator cuff surgery.
What is your tribe/community: Family and friends
Next Item on Bucket List: Not quite sure yet, but whatever it is it will include my wife. Possibly heading to Europe and doing some of the famous French climbs.
From 1-10, score your “Joy to Drudgery” feeling during your favorite activity: The joy is being alive. I have the freedom to do what I want. You always battle yourself and things are not easy sometimes – but the best feeling of joy is when you are immersed in your activity. My goal is always to complete what I start, and that gives me a 10 out of 10 on the joy scale.

Jeff Dansereau – road & trail running, cycling, car racing

Photo:  Trail running in the Rockies
Professional life: Director of Engineering
Recreational Life: Married for 32 years with two adult sons who enjoy many of the same activities I do. In addition to the sports listed, I enjoy playing classical guitar, travel, and working on various car projects.
Home: Front Range of Colorado
Actual age: 59
Age when you close your eyes: For the most part, I don’t feel any different from when I was in my late 20s, but let’s say 35.
Primary sport(s) and frequency: Road/trail running (2-3 times per week), mountaineering(whenever I have time, but at least 10 times per year), road cycling (2 times per week), car racing (Spring/Summer ~5-10 times), skiing (Winters 10-20 times)
When did you start? I’ve been very active since I was a young child. I started skiing at 5, started distance running as a freshman in high school, and began backpacking in the mountains with the Boy Scouts at about 11. Over the years I have tried many other sports including triathlon, soccer, rugby, skydiving, scuba diving, and many more. I love to experience new activities and adventures. I’m sure that more are to come.
In your sport(s), can you still improve? Yes! Especially in mountaineering and car racing.
Will you still be doing this activity in 20 years? Yes! I plan to keep going as long as my body allows. I realize that I will have to change some things as I get older, but that is one reason why I choose to do so many different activities.
Is better health your goal or just an outcome? Just an outcome. I participate in these sports because I love to be outside challenging myself and being with like minded people. It allows me to participate, rather than watch. I feel good when I overcome a challenge or obstacle, or reach a goal that I have been pushing to achieve. I also want to be able to participate in these sports with my sons, who also love these challenges.
My overall mental / physical health score:  9 out of 10. I continue to do things that many people never do, let alone people in their late 50s. Happiness is a big part of it. I like the challenges of these sports. I like being around people that also like these sports, regardless of age.
Single biggest physical change over the last 20 years? I am slower.  My endurance remains unchanged, but I have slowed a lot since I was 39. I ran my first marathon at 38.  I remember doing 13 repeat miles in training with a 3 minute break between them. All were well under 6 minutes. Today, I can run 13 miles without a problem, but I doubt I could do one mile under 7.5 minutes.
Who is your tribe / community? As you can see, I participate in multiple sports.  Each has its own community and unique feel. Choosing one, I would say that the trail running group to which I belong is my community. I run for hours with them most Saturdays in the mountains of Colorado to some amazing and beautiful places. We share in the wonder as well as the challenge of running 15+ miles at 10,000 ft, or higher.
Next item on the bucket list? Ascent of Mt. Rainier with my sons: Summer of 2022!
From 1-10, score your “Joy to Drudgery” feeling during your favorite activity: 10! I love doing all these activities. As with anything in life, each time you go out, you don’t know what to expect. There are challenges, surprises, even pain sometimes, but that is what makes it exciting and makes me feel alive.

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