Walking Speed Predicts Life Expectancy of Older Adults

Baby boomers who keep up the pace as they age are likely to outlive those who slow down.

And here are a few examples:

Grandma Hazel and I had a blast with the Senior Fitness Test yesterday, with the 8 foot up and go. The whole time I’m saying, “slow down, slow down” and she’s saying, “I thought this was a speed test.” “It is, but I don’t want you to fall.” She was all bummed because she did not make less than 60-year-old on 8 foot up and go, 2 minute step, and back scratch. I wanted her to quit the 2 minute step at 60 seconds. She went to 1:30 the first time, and insisted to repeat, and went to 2 minutes the 2nd time. She is hilarious. High stress for me. “Is your boss going to be proud?”
For all the years that I worked at the hospital I ran – full out – from the parking lot to the hospital door. Many of the nurses laughed at me, and others asked why .”Because I can.” Sprinting just seemed like something that people quit when they age. You probably have notice, I am not much for the weight lifting (only light weights) but I like to add a lot of balance and dynamics to my routines.
My 95-year-old Aunt Buddy use to move like the wind. I had to run to keep up with her. My sister use to say, “She beetles like a Farrier with that walker.” Grandma Hazel still uses Auntie Buddy’s walker today.”
My Aunt Emma was the oldest member in Western Canada at Curves at 97! She walked both ways to the gym and participated 3 times per week. During her 40 years in India teaching school, she never owned a car and walked everywhere!