Jeannie Rice, 77, is running the Boston Marathon and shattering records. What's her secret?
Boston Marathon hopeful Jeannie Rice has turned heads – from fellow athletes and health enthusiasts to researchers – for her superior physical health in her late 70s.
Rice, 77, is a medical marvel. She's a world record-holder in various distances for people her age (including a marathon), with the highest VO2 max ever recorded in women over 75 years old and in line with younger distance runners that are the best in the world, according to a report published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
Is this doable for everyone? Not exactly. Genetics and other health factors play a role in someone's abilities to achieve peak physical health. But just because not everyone can achieve Rice's level of fitness doesn't mean they can't amp up their diet and exercise routine. A group of scientists recently told Paste BN that the best methods for living a longer, healthier life are simpler than you think. And if you're here to start your running journey, here are a few extra tips to get you started.
The real 'fountain of youth'
What's the secret to living longer? Get back to the basics.
The things that we know that work today include sticking to an exercise routine, keeping your weight at a healthy level, getting regular and good sleep and avoiding cigarettes and other toxins, according to Dr. Douglas E. Vaughan, professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the director of the Potocsnak Longevity Institute. You should also try and reduce stress in your life and maintain healthy relationships with loved ones.
Dr. Thomas Perls, professor of medicine at Boston University and longevity expert, previously told Paste BN that he recommends curbing alcohol use. On diet specifically, Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard Professor of nutrition, food studies and public health, emerita, at New York University, previously said to eat a variety of minimally-processed "real foods" and balance calories.
In the mind of S. Jay Olshansky, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Illinois Chicago, "exercise is about the only equivalent of a fountain of youth that exists today."
How should a beginner start running?
If Rice has inspired you to begin a running journey, remember the old adage: Slow and steady wins the race.
Running is a mechanical motion that requires good technique, both for speed and efficiency and for reducing the risk of injury. Jeremy Golden, sports performance expert, previously told Paste BN that beginners should start slow. “You crawl before you begin to walk, you walk before you run. You don’t want to go all out right away because then you put yourself at risk for injury.”
Golden recommended working on running mechanics and having a baseline strength level to make sure that your body can handle the level of pounding that comes with running. “Any time I’ve been around a cross-country runner, and they’ve been successful, they’ve gotten stronger. They haven’t forgotten about the weight room. To run faster for longer, you have to have good strength,” he emphasized.
There's no one-size-fits-all approach to running nor longevity at large. But beginning with the basics is the key to giving it a try.
Contributing: Delaney Nothaft