How long does fitness last? Not long enough. According to this story in the New York Times, a mere three months without exercise can render mostg athletes’ bodies no different from the bodies of people who have been sedentary all their lives. Yikes! The Times consults Edward Coyle, an exercise physiologist at the University of Texas, who advises us that when exercise time is limited, as it is this time of year, “you have to decide where you will get the biggest performance bang for the hour you spend. The
key, according to the Times, is to substitute intensity of effort for
time. “A runner who’s been running doesn’t need much time to maintain
his performance,†Dr. Coyle said. “But the training needs to be almost
like racing.
For more on the special effects of what the Times charitably calls "detraining," read this.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
This does not agree with another recent study – admittedly asking a different question – that showed some benefits remain to ex-athletes. Serious runners tend to have both somewhat enlarged hearts (not the worrisome kind) and better oxygen up-take abilities. These remain several years – minimum – after training ceases. True, the enlarged heart is not as strong as it once was and the ability to in-take oxygen is reduced over time, but they remain higher than a non-athlete’s.
DLMeyer
You can if you want to,that’s your choice.