Sometimes a single passion can deliver multiple benefits in terms of longevity. That's what running has done for Charlie Gregory, 73, of Marietta. Just this past October, he completed his goal of running a marathon in all 50 states, and now he wants to do it again. Clearly, he enjoys running, and it offers substantial benefits in terms of physical conditioning. But it is also the primary source for his social connections.
Every Saturday, he goes running with his buddies in a local running group. And when he travels to run marathons in other states, he often gets together with colleagues who share his passion for running. In addition, there is no denying the stress-relieving benefits of regular physical activity. "Going out and doing my hour to hour-and-15-minute run during the week I'll think about things that may be stressful, and that seems to help a lot," says Gregory.
Small emphasizes that you don't have to be a marathon runner to achieve multiple benefits from a regular schedule of exercise. You can simply take a walk every night with your spouse or a friend. In return, you can develop improved cardiovascular conditioning and help to control your weight while lowering your stress level and strengthening your relationship. "Just one simple, daily strategy can have a huge impact," adds Small.
Gregory, Stowell, and Kiely all think the biggest key to their longevity is that they have been blessed with good genes. But experts suspect that genes may be getting too much credit. "Our finding is that [exceptional longevity] runs very strongly in families, but remember that families have a lot in common besides just genes," says Perls, pointing out that behavioral factors that positively impact longevity, such as not smoking, eating a healthy diet, and more years of education are often passed from generation to generation as well.
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