12/21/2025
“I can’t do that anymore”
“That’s for the younger folks”
“I don’t want to get hurt”
Losing the ability to move powerfully and explosively can partially be attributed to age (1-3% decline/year starting sometime in your 30s), but that isn’t what’s primarily responsible for the decline.
The lack of exposure to these types of movements and activities on a regular basis leads to detraining of these specific capabilities, weakening of tissue capacity, and blunting of the nervous system. This lack of exposure accounts for far more capability decline in middle-aged and older adults than does aging alone.
We need to reframe how sprinting is perceived and approached in order to reintroduce this as not only a possible, but essential, training option for nearly everybody. With a smart approach (see slides), you can build at your own pace and reach whatever potential you may have left.
The concept is simple. Wherever you are now is just a shell of where you could be with the proper build up and exposures. You may never have blazing speed, but your ability to move fast and powerfully will be much better than it is now. Everything is relative.
When you’re capable of moving powerfully at high effort levels, you’re much less likely to get hurt doing something mildly demanding in everyday life. In other words you can be either be afraid of getting hurt from training (where you create the safest and most calculated environment to progressively) or you can get hurt from running across the street (or any other activity where stress levels are not controlled for and may exceed what your able to safely do).
Agree, disagree, questions, concerns? Let me know!
