Want some inspiration? How about this guy?

Showmm
Showmm Posts: 406 Member
in Motivation and Support
Meet Ray Clark. He's 102. He started working out at age 98 with his now 70 year old trainer.

MISFITS20051362594012.jpg

Read more here: http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-03-12/lifestyle/37648130_1_regular-strength-exercise-conditions-of-old-age

and short video here where he rocks the kettle bells: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/102-year-old-man-gets-fit-with-70-year-old-personal-trainer/2013/03/12/b7337bb2-8b4f-11e2-9838-d62f083ba93f_video.html

If he can do it, the rest of us can do it.
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Replies

  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
    But is he lifting heavy?
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    And here I feel like 40 is almost too late in the game to have started.....
  • Showmm
    Showmm Posts: 406 Member
    But is he lifting heavy?

    For him, I'd say probably, yes.
  • Crazy4Healthy
    Crazy4Healthy Posts: 626 Member
    Very inspiring, thanks for sharing
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    And here I feel like 40 is almost too late in the game to have started.....

    This I do not understand.

    I'm 44 I don't feel old or 'past it' in anyway and am bored of hearing people my age or younger say they can't do things because they're too old.

    What on earth will they be in another 40 odd years then?!
  • weffie11
    weffie11 Posts: 91
    Hey thanks for that link - given me ideas for my assignment!!

    And as you say, if he can, I can!!
  • Showmm
    Showmm Posts: 406 Member
    What I find the most inspiring to me is that he STARTED at 98. It's not like he was fit all his life, a real gym nut since before gyms were cool and has just stuck with it. He didn't really do any for his fitness before this age. That means no one can use the excuse they are too old to start. Especially me!
  • aaronlawrenc
    aaronlawrenc Posts: 666 Member
    But is he lifting heavy?


    he better be
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    fauja singh runs marathons at 101 years old..reports say he is finally retiring!! inspiration is all around us...the OP selected a wonderful example.
  • Squeeks70
    Squeeks70 Posts: 157 Member
    Inspirational.
  • leantool
    leantool Posts: 365 Member
    But is he lifting heavy?


    he better be
    i shall be happy to be alive at that age, and if i can lift my own body weight on my two legs, i shall be grateful, phenomenal post! thanks OP
  • TheEffort
    TheEffort Posts: 1,028 Member
    that is too cool...thanks for sharing. :smile:
  • WendyBlendy
    WendyBlendy Posts: 124 Member
    Wow...
  • smilingirisheyes
    smilingirisheyes Posts: 149 Member
    That's awesome!
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    And here I feel like 40 is almost too late in the game to have started.....

    This I do not understand.

    I'm 44 I don't feel old or 'past it' in anyway and am bored of hearing people my age or younger say they can't do things because they're too old.

    What on earth will they be in another 40 odd years then?!

    I dunno. I rock climb. I LARP. All that stuff is fine in my 40s, but for for some reason weight training feels 'late in the game'. Maybe it's just that. 'Should have' started years ago.
  • MelStren
    MelStren Posts: 457 Member
    Wow! I'm amazed and speechless!
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    That brought a tear to my eye, thanks!

    Yes we can!
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    And here I feel like 40 is almost too late in the game to have started.....

    This I do not understand.

    I'm 44 I don't feel old or 'past it' in anyway and am bored of hearing people my age or younger say they can't do things because they're too old.

    What on earth will they be in another 40 odd years then?!

    ^ This.
  • barbiek999
    barbiek999 Posts: 176 Member
    Okay, Ray Clark is my new hero!! Love this! Thanks for posting!!
  • Showmm
    Showmm Posts: 406 Member
    You are very welcome. :smile:
  • SkimFlatWhite68
    SkimFlatWhite68 Posts: 1,254 Member
    Bless him. I had tears in my eyes reading that.

    Can't you just imagine Ray at Sunday dinners, showing his muscles and talking about his trainer and how he plucked that kettle bell out of the air. I bet he must be a hit with the ladies, but he'd probably be still in love with his (now deceased) wife. I am in love with Ray.

    "Clark has significantly improved his strength, balance, endurance and range of motion over the past three years, staving off frailty, possibly saving untold medical costs and proving that gains can be made at any age."

    I think we can all take something from this.
  • Xiaolongbao
    Xiaolongbao Posts: 854 Member
    Fabulous!

    "To watch Clark move around the gym during his weekly half-hour workout is to understand what is possible for the oldest members of society, as well as the adaptations that must be made for them."

    I love that he's getting all these benefits from only half an hour a week BUT he's also obviously found a place where they understand the needs of an older person. There needs to be a lot more of that too. Given the health benefits and decreased medical costs it sounds like a sensible place to start would be promoting this stuff to older people.
  • Iceman420
    Iceman420 Posts: 195
    Wow....just wow. I take my hat off to that guy. Thanks for posting this :)
  • jbruced
    jbruced Posts: 210 Member
    Not only is Mr Clark doing something inspiring but look at his trainer at 70 years of age!! Both are inspiring.
  • mohanj
    mohanj Posts: 381 Member
    40 is a new twenty. I am 59 and I have full of energy to do both cardio and weight training hitting the gym 5 days in a week. It is never too late. No more excuses.
  • currlee
    currlee Posts: 395 Member
    This is so great. I wish more of the older community was motivated to do this and that there were options for them.
  • Showmm
    Showmm Posts: 406 Member
    It is great that he has a gym that can assist him with his needs and even offer an older trainer who probably has a better idea of what issues someone 102 faces than a 22 year old trainer might. No offence to the 22 year olds out there, just saying that it's awesome that Ray can be supported well when he works out at the gym. His son who is over 70 works out at the same gym too!
  • Elleinnz
    Elleinnz Posts: 1,661 Member
    This brought tears to my eyes - I am planning to still be the old lady at the gym well into my older age....
  • Redladystl
    Redladystl Posts: 351 Member
    SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!!!! NO EXCUSES!!!
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,467 Member
    Good for him! Thank you for the links!

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