Report @ Challenge Aging 5k - Celebrating Strength & Successful Aging

Enjoy reviewing last Sunday's 7th Annual Challenge Aging 5k - Celebrating Strength & Successful Aging at Como Lake by visiting the event page to find:
1. race results
2. online slideshow with theme songs
3. beautifully inspiring 4 minute video
4. free Liveality Online Memory Book

http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_aging.html

Be inspired by how very well some of advancing age are negotiating the challenges of aging, even very advanced ages and despite a variety of chronic diseases added challenges, because of their RxExercise (exercise as medicine), running, walking, and enthusiastic CC events volunteering.

A leading cause of usual aging (as contrasted by successful aging) is disengagement, social withdrawal and isolation. With advancing age, I know the temptation to withdraw, disengage, and go it alone. I daily tell myself: "Get up and get out and about with other happily active people".

So, here’s a big congratulations to those of you who will not concede to usual aging decline and disappointments.

And, an even bigger congratulations to each of you who I see actively engaged in encouraging our family & friends of advancing ages by your walking or running alongside, volunteering with smiles, always happy to come together to build one another up to be successfully strong throughout life.

Special acknowledgements from the Challenge Aging 5k:

1. Bib numbers were assigned to the pre-registered in reverse order of age.

2. So, at nearly age 89, Mary Pat Flynn, showed off bib # 1, the oldest 5k finisher of any CC event (>100 events to date).

3. Gloria Jansen set an all-time MN F65-69 5k age group record 23:36

4. Lance Elliott, nearly age 43, running for only 4 years won overall in 16:08

5. Daniel Gerber, age 23, set for himself a huge 35 second 5k PR by chasing Lance.

6. www.Liveality.com friends created the first CC event online memory book that each participant may personalize with select photos, a visual reminder of the memories made at CC events to review with family & friends.

7. My friend Josh 'Dartos' Gerber, proprietor of www.WayzataResults.com, continues to produce accurate and fast-reported race results, and Sunday set up for the first time an announcers mat that allows our announcers, Jeanne DeMartino, George Liss and Andy Liss to announce more names than ever.

8. Faithful regular CCREW volunteers and RxExercise Ambassadors like Don Soule, Meredith Soule, Dawn Hart, Ken Wendling and others were joined by new CCREW volunteers like Kyle Clark & Sara Rapp. Thanks you all for producing CC events with the utmost in hospitality. You make CC events special!

9. So many individuals whose remarkable stories I know about and who continue to play in my memory, inspiring me to keep on keepin' on with always-special CC events.

10. The 8th Annual Challenge Aging 5k next year will see each of us one year older, stronger, and smarter. To "Successful Aging"!

Run, Walk or Volunteer - Challenge Aging 5k @ Como Lake, Sunday, Sept 22

Walk, run or actively volunteer for the 7^th Annual Challenge Aging 5k Event, this Sunday, September 22, at Como Lake, St Paul, MN, 9 AM Start.

Fabulous fall forecast for colorful autumnal Como Lake: Sunny, 47-68 F. light winds, and “Miles of Smiles”!

For more information including online registration option go to http://charitieschallenge.org/

We'll Party in the Park on Saturday morning with amazing athletes of all ages leading the way into advancing ages!

We'll celebrate:

1. A unique “Celebrating Strength & Successful Aging” Theme.

2. The inspiration of running and walking with truly remarkable and inspiring “Well-Aged Athletes” demonstrating The Power of RxExercise to improve lives throughout all our years.

3. Unique Bib Numbers Assignment: Bib #s will be going in inverse order of pre-registered athletes’ ages. (So far, #1 will be worn by a man age 78!)

4. Earning a one-of-a-kind-in-America road racing “Challenge Aging 5k” commemorative t-shirt.

5. Enjoy the cheerful welcome and expert support of CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers, and healthful tasty treats.

6. Recognition by race announcer & Ageless Motivational Music.

7. Fabulous photographic record and online CC Photos slide show of your racing the event. See last year’s event photos via the CC site.

8. Recognition for many race division winners.

9. Great Harvest fresh race rolls, whole fruit, hot & cold beverages

10. More memorable “Miles of Smiles”!

Why “Challenge Aging”?

The BAD NEWS: Because advancing age beyond age 35 is highly related to increasing adverse risks to health and happiness of “Usual Aging”.

“Usual Aging”, according to gerontologists, involves a variety of serious challenges to health and happiness and even good relationships.

“Usual Aging” is how most people age...badly and sadly.

The GOOD NEWS: Alternatively, we each can choose to actively pursue what gerontologists call “Successful Aging”.

There are a variety of personal habits that contribute to successful aging. But, one habit is paramount: Exercise.

Strength through exercise is the major variable in “Successful Aging”.

Note: “Real Aging” for physically fit & athletic individuals after age 40 is slowed to ¼ the rate of “Usual Aging” effects in sedentary individuals.

Active athletes are really younger than their chronological years and tend to be happier-healthier than sedentary individuals.

Exercise is a big part of why, for example, my own “Real Age” is 54, eight years younger than my chronological age of 62.

How would you like to be ten, or twenty, years younger than your advancing chronological age?

You’re welcome to visit CC’s Challenge Aging 5k page http://charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_aging.html to find links to online programs that allow you to estimate your real age, and then come Saturday to celebrate your youthfulness through your RxExercise.