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Training for Longevity
Longevity was the topic of my Leisure Roundup this week.
And it seems to be the hot topic everywhere. But buyer beware, many longevity businesses are focused on the wrong things. Cutting edge diagnostic equipment and futuristic biohacking devices play well on social media, but in terms of impacting your health span, they are only as good as their ability to motivate customers to change their behavior over the long term.
Recently, I’ve been training for the Super Age Games, a new fitness challenge based on eight biomarkers of longevity. This inaugural competition takes place on November 7 at The Armory Track in New York City, and has the potential to lead a cultural shift from performance-based fitness competitions towards measurable, science-backed longevity training.
The Super Age Games does something that many Longevity clinics don’t: they challenge people to incorporate new practices into their lifestyle that can directly impact their health span.
These are the eight research-backed trials in the Games (and where I think I will measure up):
The Over Under (agility and explosive movement)
This trial is about climbing over and under a series of obstacles. I think normally I would do quite well on this, but since moving to New York this summer, I really haven’t found a good space to do this kind of training, and I can definitely feel myself losing mobility as I age, so I may be disappointed in my performance here.
The Inferno (VO2 max)
This trial is done on an assault bike (ugh.) Not my favorite kind of training. I expect this to be a weak link, but this is exactly the point. Knowing I will be tested on this, I have been incorporating more of this high-intensity VO2 max training into my regime.
The Synapse (cognivitive capacity under load)
I definitely feel that my cognitive capacity is weakening as I age. The trial here measures focus and attention, both of which I would say are strong suits for me.
The Tightrope (balance and stability)
As a surfer and someone who regularly does balance training, this should be a strength for me. But the trial uses a bag filled with water to throw you off (literally), so that will be new territory. Most gyms are lacking in adequate balance training equipment, and this should change.
The Hang (grip strength and isometric endurance)
I regularly do pull ups and other hanging exercises, so I expect to do well here.
The Sync (relational intelligence and social capability)
I think the trial involves a psychology test on recognizing emotions from facial photographs. I would like to believe that my relational intelligence is pretty good, but I have no idea how I will do on this trial. It will be interesting to see.
The Net (functional strength and coordination)
Literally crawling up a cargo net. Not something I have access to to train on, but I expect to do well on this.
The Super Age 800 (endurance under load)
800m run/walk while carrying weighted sandbags. I have been doing some weighted-vest runs to prepare (but not many) and expect to do well for my age.
Eight trials. Each one is linked to a clear research-backed biomarker of longevity. The value of this event is in helping people to think about the different factors that affect their healthspan as they age, and more importantly, to give people a challenge to rise to that motivates them to incorporate more longevity training into their lifestyle.
In most of the physical agility and conditioning trials I feel pretty confident. For sure, my mobility and agility are declining as I age, and the Super Age Games motivate me to focus my training more in these areas. But at 57, I’m still surfing, skateboarding, playing volleyball, etc. Pretty active for an almost sexagenarian.
The mental / emotional markers are harder for me to predict. Cognitively, I should be pretty strong. My work involves a lot strategic thinking, writing, and even design work, which challenges the brain to map ideas into two dimensional and three dimensional spaces. I also practice guitar, which is an incredible mind-body neural workout and I regularly study languages (Mandarin and Italian at the moment.) The test here uses Neurotracker, which I have found valuable for sharpening focus, attention, and quick thinking. (Note: this is not a sponsored post, just my opinion.)
It is also valuable to reflect on relational awareness as people’s social circles (mine included) tend to shrink as they age. Most people know they need to pick up the dumbells to improve strength as they get older. But do we realize that we should also pick up the phone? I’m not sure how well the Super Age Games trial maps to building real world community, but for me, it at least plants a seed about building my social/emotional strengths and not just my biceps.
The Super Age Games take place in New York on November 7. But you don’t have to compete in the Super Age Games to reflect on these 8 biomarkers of longevity. Anyone can benefit from incorporating practices into their lifestyle that link to indicators of long-term health and vitality.
Happy training (and aging!)
References and recommended reading:
“The Super Age Games put all of the healthspan markers that matter in one place, on one day, so people can actually see where they stand.”
Thanks for reading. What topics would you like to see me cover in the (occasional) longer-form Alchemist Notes? Let me know your suggestions at [email protected]!
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