Why Exercise? (Part 2)

After running the marathon in 2006, I was trying to think of what to do next.  I didn't come up with another big physical test.  What happened is that I started to see a connection between my exercising and my position as owner of a business.  I was in a position of influence.  But, what kind of influence?  Where did exercise fit in?  I had been preaching the value of reading for years.  But, what about exercise?  Was it important?  Was it as important as reading?  Why Exercise?

In 2007, we had the opportunity to get a piano for free.  I like free.  I wanted to move it myself to save money and because the person needed it moved quickly.  The piano ended up in my house just fine and I ended up having surgery a few months later as a result. 

While hooked up to all the stuff in pre-op the surgeon comes by and comments that I must run because my heart rate was so low.  I told him yes and we talked about exercise and fitness.  He said, "your fitness is going to make my job and your recovery easier."  That is what you want to hear from the person that is going to be cutting you open.  I suspect I will have a few more surgeries in my life and I want the doctors to say the same thing every time.  I know I was able to be back out running within 2 weeks of my surgery and able to be back to normal activities in half the time they originally said.

Similar to this lesson, I was talking to a friend (My Marine Corp Marathon training partner) about fitness and aging.  We were talking about the value of being fit as we get older, really older.  There will come a point in our lives that our bodies will start naturally deteriorating.  Sometimes, I think I may already be there.  The example he gave was that for somebody that has simply gone from the sofa to the frig for exercise, that is the best fitness they will have and it will deteriorate from there.  It won't take long before they can't get off the sofa without help.

For somebody that has been running 3-5 miles regularly, or swimming, or biking, or walking, it will take a lot longer to deteriorate to the level that going from the sofa to the frig is a challenge.  My dad's dad is my example of this.  He has had several surgeries including hip replacements but is still very active.  This past summer, we were up there and have pictures of him playing ball with our girls and giving them horsey rides on his knees.  That is their Great-Grandfather doing that with them.  A few years ago, I remember seeing him jogging, not walking, down his driveway to fix his mailbox and this was just a few months after one of his hip surgeries.  That is what I want to be like when I am 80+ years old.                  

So, why exercise?  One reason is so I will be able to enjoy life in the future.  If I wait till then to start, it may be too late or, at best, it will be tougher to get back into shape.  It's like investing in a retirement account.  The earlier you start, the easier it is to grow and maintain.  The later you start the more difficult it will be and at some point, it becomes too late.