The Olympics has long been recognized as the premium event where elite athletes can demonstrate their drive for excellence. However, there are also many other elite athletes of all ages and abilities who gain recognition through Masters Games.
World Masters Games
World Masters Games are held every 4 years and the only qualification requirement is to be of masters age. For most sports, masters age categories start around 35 years of age. Participants compete either socially or competitively in their age group category which spans 5 years from 35–39, 40–44, all the way up to 100 years plus.
The event can attract about 25,000 competitors from over 100 different countries. The most amazing feature is that it allows people who may be past their prime performance age to remain in the competitive spotlight but against others their own age.
In October 2009, the World Masters Games are to be held in Sydney.
Fitness, Sport and Returning to an Exercise Workout Program
In this modern world there are daily reminders in the media of the need to exercise. Often advertisements are based around gyms, diets,weight loss, weight management,personal training and fitness programs. Fitness training guidance is even accessible through online fitness training sites.
Unfortunately, many people feel that they are past playing sports once enjoyed at school so either let their fitness go or try to fit short-term (expensive) exercise workout programs into their life only to experience the feeling of "can't wait until this boot camp is finished". However, losing weight and regaining a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to be such an expensive uphill chore.
Sports Clubs
Most community sports clubs cater for all ages. If they don't, it is fairly straight forward to get a group of friends could start a social competition for the appropriate age group even if hiring a court and sharing the cost is the only option.
Starting out socially is the best way to increase fitness and have some fun. After a while participants naturally start to reset their personal goals and strive to play or perform their chosen sport at a higher level. Improvement is more easily obtained through the love of sport than at boot camp with an instructor yelling allegedly motivational words in the trainee's ear!
Other Tips for Recommencing an Exercise Workout Program
- If a session, week or month is missed, it is not the end of the world. Today is a new day and everyday is worthy of exercise regardless of what sort of performance may eventuate. Any exercise is a bonus for some busy people even if competition is not expected in the near future.
- Start out slowly. Increase training only slightly each week. Start out by just aiming for one session per week and be proud if this is achieved. It's a big change in lifestyle to all of a sudden be undertaking 4 or 5 sessions of exercise per week after doing nothing at all. Exercise does take time. So aim for one session per week and treat all additional sessions as a bonus.
- If time is limited then prioritise what parts of a session are able to be completed. For example, if weakness has been noted in core strength or a particular skill required for that sport then focus on that and do the rest next time.
- Do not compare performances with other people's performances in the early stages. What is good for one person may be poor for another. If a person shows steady improvement over time, this is better than performing better than everyone else but failing to show improvement.
- At the end of the day it doesn't matter if an individual's performance is not as good as their peers. What matters is that everyone has fun and gains some sort of fitness benefit from participating on a regular basis.
In Australia, statistics show that 1 in 3 men and 1 in 2 women over the age of 60 will suffer from osteoporotic fractures. A regular exercise workout program whether it be through organised team sport or a fitness program, can help in reducing the chance of developing this crippling disease. Furthermore, in 2006, The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that 34% of all deaths recorded in 2006 were attributed to coronary heart disease.
Masters games events are a perfect way to encourage people in various countries to participate in sport regardless of age and ability. However, community involvement is equally of value for those wishing to remain low key.
All Sports All Ages
Either way, no one is past their prime age of participation. It's never too late to throw a frisbee, play handball, hopscotch, join the local bowling or golf club or even take up tennis, volleyball, hockey, soccer, walking, swimming and even running. Running is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to lose weight. Find out how to start running and enjoy it!
Dust off those sports shoes today!
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