Page 34 - Demo

34 || FITNESS MAGAZINE || SEPTEMBER 2015 MFM: There are a lot of people that envy your ability to compete in the 60 and over category for the CrossFit Games. Where did your skills as a mountain climber help you to achieve that accomplishment and, for someone without your athletic background, do you think that others in that age bracket can join you in this achievement?SH: As I mentioned before, my strength and endurance were the skills from my adventuring years which have served me well in my personal challenge to qualify for the CrossFit Games. Possessing a high threshold for pain has certainly helped get through some long difficult gym sessions, too! ;) And yes, I think many others can (and should) get out there and train%u2026for life. It is immensely rewarding to strive to live up to your genetic potential, no matter your age. And, as I have found, you can continue to improve your fitness and wellness regardless of age. MFM: For anyone looking to make qualifying in the CrossFit Games their goal, regardless of their age, what pearls of wisdom would you offer to them to help get them on the right track?SH: Make training a priority in your life and make your fitness practice routine. Don%u2019t skip a day. Just show up. You will be surprised how, even on days when you are sore and tired, doing something physical will make you feel better. Follow a prescribed plan* of constantly varied functional fitness that trains these 10 fundamental physical qualities: Cardio/respiratory endurance, strength, stamina, power, flexibility, speed, agility, coordination, accuracy, and balance. This is CrossFit, but I have seen that programming emphasis can vary widely from affiliate to affilate, and gyms that are not CrossFit that have amazing programs, too. Join a gym that offers such a program staffed by knowledgeable and skilled coaches. (*It is important that your training program has a cyclical nature to it, and that your coach (or the person who is programming it) takes a long view. It should be conceived within a 365 day timeframe, so, say in summer, you might focus on improving strength, in the fall on skills, in the winter on endurance, and in the spring on agility and coordination. Of course, it would be much more refined and varied than this example, but that is the general idea). Not only is the variety more interesting, it is how you get better at everythingMFM: With your being an art history major and, just from what we%u2019ve seen of your website, you have a deep passion for art. If you had to >>>Scott Fischer