This statistic stopped me in my tracks: being positive about aging can add 7.5 years to your life. That’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?

I’m sharing my personal coming of age story. It didn’t happen in young adulthood like we often see in the movies. It started when I turned 50. It was a pivotal time and it’s when I first learned about today’s guest. I picked up his book to find out about running marathons and I was hooked.

Joining me is Jeff Galloway, the author of Marathon: You Can Do It! And 33 other books. He inspires people with his simple message: you can do it. He wants to talk to beginners which is what I was when I bought that first pair of running shoes. Jeff’s book helped me get started and that’s why I wanted him on the podcast.

Prepare to be inspired!

To start us off, Jeff explains the run walk run program. He developed this when he started working with a small group of people who had never run but wanted to train for a marathon.

Jeff explains that limiting yourself will prevent you from trying things that will enrich your life. Running doesn’t just help you physically it can also extend your life by an average of 7 years. It also helps with positive shifts in attitude.

Having a healthy lifestyle and a life-long healthy diet helped save Jeff’s life. He was impacted by agent orange years ago during his time in the Navy. He wasn’t aware of the impact until last year when he had a heart attack.

His medical team shared that his healthy lifestyle contributed to his recovery. And yes, he’s running again.

Jeff shares how anyone (yes you!) can get started.

·        There is no age limit. There are people past the age of 100 still running marathons!

·        When you run/walk for 30 minutes and longer you don’t just feel better physically but you grow new brain stem cells.

·        Periods of rest are recommended to make sure your body recovers after a workout.

·        With Jeff’s run/walk program you are in control. You run and walk in time periods that work for you.

·        Taking charge of your experience gives you the ability to grow and develop physically and mentally.

·        When you run/walk/run nothing has to break. Jeff shares that he’s had new runners (who had never run before) use his program with no injuries.

·        Hear Jeff outline the technique that people with arthritis can use to run that has less of an impact on your knees than walking!

There are running groups all over the world that follow the Galloway running method. If there isn’t one in your area why not start one.

Three Keys from Jeff:

1.   Warm up to prevent injury.

2.   Stay motivated by having a goal. It does not have to be a marathon. It can be getting out every other day.

3.   If you have difficulty during a run, walk for 3-5 minutes for a reset.

For more information visit Jeff’s website. He offers retreats (which I recommend) and there’s even a way to email a question from the site if you have a specific concern.

Remember, you can do it – not matter your age.

 Connect with Jeff

Marathon: You Can Do It by Jeff Galloway

Jeff’s Website

 Connect with Barbara:

Love Your Age: The Small-Step Solution to a Better, Longer, Happier Life 

Barbara Hannah Grufferman website

Instagram @Barbara Hannah Grufferman 

Facebook @BarbaraHannahGruffermanAuthor

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