What age is too old to start strength training? (Spoiler alert: You’re never too old.)
Dr. Karl Knopf is an author and college professor who has been involved in the health and fitness of older adults and people with disabilities for more than 40 years. Over the decades, he’s worked in almost every aspect of the industry, from personal training and therapy to consultation.
While at Foothill College, Karl was the coordinator of the Adaptive Fitness Technician Program and Lifelong Learning Institute. Plus, Karl developed the “Fitness Educators of Older Adults Association” to guide trainers of older adults. Previously, he’s consulted with private and governmental organizations and even served as an expert witness in several lawsuits about controversial exercises.
Now, Karl is a director at the International Sports Science Association and is on the advisory board of PBS’s Sit and Be Fit show.
Athletes will be happy to know they can get Karl’s new book now: The Strength Training Bible for Seniors.
As we kick off the new year, I want to invite you to a live workshop on mental toughness training. I want to work with a small group of runners who have a winter or spring goal race and who want to improve their mental toughness.
So, we’re going to have an online seminar where I’ll present exactly what mental toughness is, how you can improve it via a variety of strategies, how to plan this kind of mental toughness training directly into your running, and offer a live Q&A. I’d love to work directly with you to start 2025 with a bang! Get on the interest list here.
Karl Knopf on How to Start or Keep Strength Training at Any Age
In this episode, Karl Knopf and I talk about:
- Misconceptions about strength and age for runners
- Functional fitness, cross-training and active rest for longevity
- The impact of poor posture on runners
- Strength training for different age groups
- Sarcopenia and how to prevent muscle loss
- The impact of being sedentary
- Benchmarks and assessments for strength training
- You’re never too old to start strength training!
Share this episode with a runner who wants to keep running through all stages of life.
Subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or iHeartRadio.
Links & Resources from the Show:
Thank you to 2Before!
We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles.
So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.
Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!
Thank you DrinkLMNT!
A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You’ll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best.
DrinkLMNT’s products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.
If you’re not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I’m now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.
Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They’re the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out DrinkLMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.
