I went to the doctor’s this week, and among other things I asked her to renew my competition running certificate. (It’s a French requirement for any organised race, but not parkrun, fortunately). She agreed readily, but then asked if I’d ever seen a cardiologist. When I said no, she suggested I do BECAUSE YOU’RE NEARLY SIXTY! I’m 56 and a half! Absolutely gutted!
On the other hand, she said my cholesterol level was the best she’d ever seen, and was very enthusiastic about parkrun if I ever get it off the ground,
Off to do 7k on the Magic Plan. That’ll show her. Nearly sixty, grrrrrr, mutter, mutter......
Written by
Lizzisforliving
Graduate10
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Blimey, I’m the same age as you, if my GP said that to me I think I’d fall on the floor! (After smacking him...😂..) I wouldn’t know what to say, after all the hard work!
........I did have an optician tell me to see my GP a while ago as I apparently had ‘corneal arcus’ , which according to her, can be a sign of high cholesterol (RUBBISH! - it’s basically eye ageing....)
I’d already had the over 50’s MOT at the surgery (e,g why haven’t you been to see us for ages......) which was fine.....and had improved my running and fitness since, so duly went back to the GP, he absolutely rubbished the idea (thankfully he’s a runner too....) and the other GP I’ve seen just showed me other stretches I could do.......😂
And ‘nearly sixty’ .....how rude! (No offence to any fabulous sixty year olds, but for goodness sake, the time goes by fast enough!)
I’d do the same, out for a run to blow off the steam..... 🏃♀️... run gentle though, not angry.....🤗
Poor you. My doctor suggested last year that I shouldn't be doing so much activity "at my age" and should think what my mother would do when she was my age! I too was 56 at the time, as was she. I have changed doctor. Happy running
Congratulations on changing your doctor Grannytobe, my mother told me that anyone over the age of 40 was too old to run and were risking a early grave, now you have people in their 60's and 70's and even older running 5 and 10Ks on a regular basis, I am glad once you are a granny(good luck for whenever that is) you won't be sitting down and not running
Thank you AlMorr and Irishprincess I cant see me sitting around for a while yet. Baby not due till mid feb so loads of time yet. Although I may get a sporty gp to have a look at my HR. Damn garmin, without the stats I'd jog happy😉 happy running everyone
The man who sets up our parkrun (that's a 2.5k walk) then runs it afterwards. He is in his mid eighties and has done over 500 parkruns - we had cake last year to celebrate with him.
It is a long time since his last PB, but he still runs it. Every week
But he doesn't go for a fourth lap to collect the signs, he leaves that to the marshals and Tailwalkers
Ccongratulations to him, the man at Dunfermline parkrun who gives the first time briefing most weeks to first timers is in the age grading 75/79, after the briefing he usually runs around in an average time of 26 minutes, once he finishes he walks back slowly down the last 50 metres of the course giving "high fives" to me and other runners completing the 🏃🏾 run.
What terrible advice! You'll be a fantastic example to the baby as s/he grows up. Maybe you can do a parkrun together on your 65th? (Did you read about the kid who accidentally did a 10k and came in ahead of everyone else? - That could be your grandchild with you as a coach!)
My GP is a marathon runner and often comes to my home parkrun, although I only see her at the start unless one of us is marshalling! She is much faster than me.
The other GP I see is not a runner as far as I know but she was impressed by me taking up running because everything has come down (BP, weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc - not that any were excessively high, but they are all improved)
I have heard it said that if you have an injury try to see a GP who is a runner, they are less likely to tell you to just give up running! But if they do, at least they know what they are talking about.
My health and fitness have definitely improved since I took up running, post breast cancer. I go to the doctor with trepidation that there will be signs of a recurrence but it never occurred to me that my running would require monitoring. Nor that I would be told I'm nearly 60! That's the bit that really shocked me.
On the other hand she seemed genuinely interested in parkrun, so I suppose I must forgive her.
She sort of backtracked and offered me a letter of introduction to the cardiologist in the sports department at the local hospital so I will go along but maybe not till next year.
I rather like her, usually, and she WAS very enthusiastic about parkrun. I think she’s just young. And the French rather like consulting medical specialists!
Me too (well 65 and a quarter 🤣) feeling aged after reading all the comments 😂😂. Seriously though I’m doing 5k 3 times a week alongside dance and fitness classes -I’ve never felt better!!
Age is just a number. I didn't mean to 'age-shame' anyone older than me, but I genuinely had never thought that I was approaching 60. I still don't think I am - I'm in my (generously-proportioned) mid-fifties. And I'm aiming for 100 years old, so plenty of time left.
Your fitness regime's impressive - where do you find the time?
All of my key stats; heart rate, cholesterol, blood pressure, absence of arrhythmia and blood quality are all better now than when I was in my fifties. Running rocks!! 😊
Crikey ... I'm 58, closing in on 59 and even I'm not NEARLY SIXTY! That's just plain rude 🤣🤣🤣 (though I have slowed the passage of time - I'm very keen to be youngest in my age grade, and since I've looked at it that way I appear to be getting there much slower - is this the secret of eternal youth?)
I go to a French GP now and then when i need a medical cert for an event. He's a runner but he's still a nervous nelly. The french are a bit paranoid about their health I think. I wouldn't pay any attention.
Do let me know if you get park run going in France. I'd come to your inaugural event
Yes, it was the idea that I was nearly 60 that horrified me.
Re parkrun - definitely will! I’m near Uzès in the Gard and only obstacle is the sports officer at the mairie who is being obstructive. Hoping to get a local running group involved and persuade him by sheer force of numbers. Hopefully we’ll get going in January. Xxx
From my perspective 56 is almost identical to 26. At this distance, everything back there blurs... And when I am following glutes, at Parkrun, I can't tell the difference.
Seriously a SPORTS Cardiologist might be fun. It's the same thing you get with Physios, one lot try to make people with injuries recover a bit better, and some Physios are helping athletes get more athletic. They are both trained the same way and have the same qualy, but their thinking seems totally different.
Have you heard the Japanese word 'bakkushan'? Horribly sexist, it's a woman who appears attractive, but only when seen from behind! It seemed to fit your parkrun observation, although I imagine the glutes are of both sexes!
I haven't heard of that, no. Odd, nihon go ga sukoshi hanasemasu!
Despite what older ladies (and I expect some chaps too) think, men of my age do not all see the impact of life on a lady's body as doing anything but enhance it. I was actually talking to 2 very old ladies at church last week and we were discussing how to look at the little girl inside. She is still there. You only find out when you take the time to .
It's just as bad to write off the young as empty-headed, although some do try very hard!
I have never met anyone who wasn't deeply fascinating.
I got the same thing from a French doctor when I went to get a certificate. He said I should see a cardiologist every year as I’m diabetic. He still signed it. 25 euros for the visit.
I never was very good at maths, Silverfox! As I'm still improving my times (extremely slowly), I'll ignore the date and keep on going forward, one step at a time.
Where do I find that on Garmin? Maybe it's not available on the Vivoactive? I'd be really interested to know my 'body age'. My mental age is around 30, I'd guess.
I'm 47 and had a comment made about being due the menopause at my last check up with the nurse, was thinking surely not, I'm too young, then realised she's probably not wrong 😂😳
At least we can show them how young and fit "we oldies" are...good luck getting your Park Run off the ground 🤞
Take care with French doctors....I went to ask for a certificate a couple of years ago, he took my blood pressure which was sky high because I can't stand him... he said I had to see the cardiologist and take pills to lower my BP...they lowered my BP to dangerous levels because of course I didn't need them but would he listen? NO!! I nearly died...missed my race because of side effects from the pills...saw a doc when I got back to UK, she checked everything. blood, urine, BP, 24 hour BP monitor...found nothing...we call him Doctor Poisoner...
Gosh, that’s terrible! In theory this is only to make sure my heart’s in good condition, and there is no evidence that it isn’t. I hope a sports cardiologist won’t be looking for problems so much as giving advice, but I’ll remember what you’ve said.
How’re you doing? I haven’t seen you on here lately. Take care and lots of love xxx
I'm doing ok thanks Lizzisforliving , still plodding away...France was silly hot this year, so I'm running much shorter distances now but I'm still out there...
Ha! I’m 58 and nowhere near 60 so you are a slip of a young thing. My BP is the lowest I’ve ever known, cholesterol 2.3, lightest I’ve been for over 10 years and the fittest I’ve ever felt. 60 is the new 40 (or maybe even 30)!
Yeah, you tell her! I'm soon to be 72, been running now for 18 months+, do between 4-7 k 3 times a week...never seen a cardiologist - totally fit, B/P within normal range. What nonsense!
Go you, Gran4z! That’s great. Running, and this board, have become so important to me, especially when I ‘meet’ virtual running buddies like you. Keep it up! Xxx
Actually Lizzi, 'they' whoever 'they' are say we should get medically checked out before starting any type of exercise - I never did! However, frequently we hear on the news of very fit, young teenagers and adults collapsing with cardiac arrest as a result of undiagnosed cardiac conditions....so perhaps an ECG/heart scan would be good every now and then to check all is well.
And now I contradict myself! As runners, (I'm more of a jogger I've concluded,) we are fitter than most. All the experts say exercise, i e. walking, running, swimming etc is good for us...stronger bones, better circulation, keeps us fitter, stronger, leaner and far healthier than the majority who don't....so I still say, 'just do it'....run, enjoy and celebrate the fact that you can! You're a 10k graduate, think that's evidence itself that your heart is fit and well!
Apologies, think I've been waffling on. Have a great day, and happy running 🙂🌻
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Well, well, well....
PARKRUN! 😄🌲🌳🏃♂️🏃♀️🏃♂️🌳🌲
A bit of company! 
