1

Gauging physical potential in our 40s (Read 164 times)

dance234


    Hi, everyone,

     

    I'm new to this forum, but I thought it might be the best place to ask about this. I'm in my mid-40s and I'd say I'm in better shape than average, but not top shape because of job demands over the last few years. Dance was one of my college majors, and although I have always worked in my other major field (mostly a desk job), I've never stopped dancing, and it remains my real passion.

     

    Something I've wanted to do for years is to take a 3-week summer dance intensive with my favorite choreographer's company, but work has always taken precedence. Now I'm feeling like it's "now or never," but I'm worried it might actually be too late. The workshop for this year would start on June 1st, so I have about 6 weeks to get in the best shape I can.

     

    What I don't know is how to tell whether I'm capable of getting back into that good of a shape, ever, much less in 6 weeks. I think that what I'm facing is probably most similar to preparing for the Tour de France, but I figure the most common thing that people like me are trying to do it get in shape for marathons.

     

    So I ask you folks who have done that, how can I tell whether the fatigue I get now after an hour of intense aerobics and free weights, for example, is a sign of aging that I can't overcome, or whether I can hope to get in good enough shape in 6 weeks to dance for 6-8 hours a day for 3 weeks straight? I currently work out 5-6 days per week, alternating between cardio- and weight-focused workouts along with ballet, but never for more than 1.5 hours a day. If I thought I could find a coach or trainer who could help me with this, I'd look for one, but I don't think this is a common request.

     

    Thanks!


    Just a dude.

      I don't know much about dance. In Track we have what's called an age grade calculator. This is a tool we can use to compare times at different ages.

       

      According to the calculator, a gal who's 40 and a gal who's 17 are about equivelent (At least for a 5000 meters). But performance is definitely dropping off as the age goes up.

       

      I'd bet at least some of your fatigue is from age.

       

      In Track at least, endurance is something that sticks with people better as they age. It's speed and explosiveness that generally goes quicker. Also, older people generally need more rest days in a week.

       

      6 weeks is a pretty short time to get in shape for anything. If you are already in decent shape, and just need to build the stamina, then perhaps its possible. I don't know. I'd be worried about trying to do too much too soon and getting injured though...

       

      But, all that said, I say go for it. And if you don't make it this year, keep at it and go for it next year. 12 months is surely enough time to either get to the level you need to be for that workshop, or realize that it's just not in the cards...

       

      -Kelly

      Getting back in shape... Just need it to be a skinnier shape... 

      bap


        So I ask you folks who have done that, how can I tell whether the fatigue I get now after an hour of intense aerobics and free weights, for example, is a sign of aging that I can't overcome, or whether I can hope to get in good enough shape in 6 weeks to dance for 6-8 hours a day for 3 weeks straight? 

         

        Thanks!

         

        Hi,

         

        You should feel fatigued after every workout no matter how old you are. It takes a bit longer to recover as you go older and you're probably less flexible. Yoga and stretching should help with the latter.

         

        6 to 8 hours is a lot but you'll never know if it's too much if you don't try. I'm 52 and booked a 10 day fitness vacation last year just to work out 6 to 8 hours a day (including stretching) but I never found out how it would feel as I fell and broke a rib a few days before it began.

        Certified Running Coach
        Crocked since 2013

        LedLincoln


        not bad for mile 25

          Their ^^ answers are good.  Is it possible to consult with the dance instructor(s) before you commit?  I definitely agree you should go for it, if not this year, then next.  Good luck!

           

          (I took up ballroom dance in my upper 50s and am loving it!)

          dance234


            Hi, guys,

             

            Thanks for your replies!

             

            Kelly, you're right, I'm in pretty decent shape, but I definitely need to build stamina, and also more strength. While the weight training is helpful, I also need to do more dance-specific strengthening, which really means more ballet, But it's SO HARD!!! ;-) I also do worry about injury, because I'm already dealing with a recurrence of hip flexor tendonitis that I've had for a while. The good news is that I've already had one appointment with an excellent physical therapist who's also a dancer, so I hope she can help me handle that part, if I decide to go for it.

             

            bap - Thanks, it's encouraging that I should feel fatigued after every workout. I don't really have a concept of what's normal, since I just do my own thing. Some days I feel very "on" in ballet class, and other days I'm "off"... The last time I took a real vacation was 2 years ago, and on one day, hubby and I climbed Algonquin Peak in the Adirondaks, and I had absolutely no trouble with that (if any of you have done that, it might mean something to you). That was 2 years ago, and my fitness level has slipped a little since then due to time constraints impacting workouts plus age, but at least I'm not afraid to push myself.

             

            Led - That's so cool that you do ballroom dance!! That's on my list of things to start one day, too. I'd thought about consulting with the dance company about my concerns, but when I clicked on the link for the registration form, it said the workshop is for "ages 18 to 100". I took that as a good sign that at least they're open to older people taking it  - although I'm guessing that what they had in mind was the people who are interested in choreography, maybe as a later, post-performance stage of their careers. and not someone who just went into a different field altogether. But so far, I've decided not to contact them because I don't want to sell myself short, which I've done at other times in my life and then regretted it. I figure that the worst case scenario (besides totally bonking on the whole thing and having to bail) is that I find I can't do the entire day, but just the 3-hr morning session, and I can spend the afternoon working on my day job. I have to do some work during that time anyway, because I can't really take 3 weeks off from work. It would just stink that I'd spent so much money for the whole workshop, though, if I couldn't benefit from the whole experience.

             

            I had another idea yesterday, though. One of the girls at my doctor's office is a runner, and she trains with a group for 5K, 10K, and half-marathon races. She was saying what a great guy her coach is, so I was thinking that maybe I could hire him to do an assessment of my current fitness level (at least compared to runners), and to try to tell whether I could get into race-day shape in only 6 weeks, based on his experience as a running coach. What do y'all think?


            Feeling the growl again

              I'd caution trying to compare across different types of exercise.  I'm far from the shape of my life but am still running low-17 5Ks off about 40-45 mpw, which is under half of the mpw I used to do.  I could go out next week and run a 100 mile week, I'd be a little creaky but would handle it fine.

               

              My wife wanted me to go to one of her workout classes with her so I did.  "Aerobic Blowout" or something like that.  Yeah, the running parts and just generally active parts I did fine.  But as soon as we got into a lot of ab and quad-pounding, squat-type exercises, my muscles were soon screaming at me.  I couldn't run the next day.

               

              Much fitness is exercise-specific.  If you've regularly been doing dance you are probably in a much better place doing the class than somebody training for a marathon then trying to do the class.  Aerobic conditioning, if lacking, you'll just get pooped early or slow down or lose coordination.  But muscles, once blown out, would ruin the rest of your class.  You're in a better position not to have that problem.

              "If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does.  There's your pep talk for today.  Go Run." -- Slo_Hand

               

              I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills

               

              GinnyinPA


                Is the workshop for other non-professional dancers?  If so, the intensity may not be as bad as you think.  They will probably intersperse movement with teaching, allowing your body some rest time.  And if all the participants are amateurs, they will want to be sure that everyone has a good experience.

                LedLincoln


                not bad for mile 25

                  Led - That's so cool that you do ballroom dance!! That's on my list of things to start one day, too. I'd thought about consulting with the dance company about my concerns, but when I clicked on the link for the registration form, it said the workshop is for "ages 18 to 100". I took that as a good sign that at least they're open to older people taking it  - although I'm guessing that what they had in mind was the people who are interested in choreography, maybe as a later, post-performance stage of their careers. and not someone who just went into a different field altogether. But so far, I've decided not to contact them because I don't want to sell myself short, which I've done at other times in my life and then regretted it. I figure that the worst case scenario (besides totally bonking on the whole thing and having to bail) is that I find I can't do the entire day, but just the 3-hr morning session, and I can spend the afternoon working on my day job. I have to do some work during that time anyway, because I can't really take 3 weeks off from work. It would just stink that I'd spent so much money for the whole workshop, though, if I couldn't benefit from the whole experience.

                   

                  Based on this, I think you'll do just fine.  It's clearly geared for all ages and probably all abilities. I'm guessing that you're going to be well above average in the class, at least among your age-peers.  That said, you may well be sore on days 2-3.  Just a guess.

                   

                  I'm sure ballet is a lot more physically punishing than ballroom.  The latter is challenging enough for me!

                  TripleBock


                    Although cardio is important, I sure would think that stamina in non-cardio high rep "Dance" type movements would be where I would focus.  I am sure you understand what these are much more than a bunch of runners.  I can say being in good running shape does very little for me when I try to play hours of volleyball, basketball or racketball - Maybe because of running, I can play 2-3 hours, but the one is a fast twitch and one a slow twitch sport.

                     

                    Good luck

                    I am fuller bodied than Dopplebock