Cycling is less stressful on the joints than pounding the road when running
Tuesday July 15,2008
WITH an average age of 60, these four women cycled across America in just over eight days. They tell ADRIAN LEE why their age proved no barrier to fitness...
The 3,000-mile coast- to-coast journey across the United States is one
of the world’s greatest road trips. From the Pacific in California to
the Atlantic in Maryland, the route goes through the desert of Arizona,
over the Rocky Mountains and across the prairies of the Mid West.
Now imagine making the journey on a bicycle. That is the feat achieved
recently by the Serpentine Golden Girls — named after the London
running club through which they met. They cycled in relays, snatching
sleep when they could.
Each amassed 750
miles in the saddle and the team crossed the line in eight days and
five hours, placing them second in their category in the annual Race
Across America.
EDDIE BROCKLESBY, 65, from Vauxhall, south London, is the director of a children’s charity When my husband died 13 years ago, my local running club became my lifeline.
I had a support network of people who would drag me out for a run.
Somehow I seemed to come back with greater strength. Exercise helped me
cope.
Until I was in my 50s I wasn’t
very active but I ran the London Marathon and was hooked.
I took up cycling to build up my strength after rupturing my cruciate
ligament while skiing in 1995. Cycling is less stressful on the joints
than pounding the road when running.
We were the oldest women’s team to finish the race – I am proud of that.
MARGARET SILLS, 57, from Battersea, south-west London, is an academic
I began running seriously in my 30s, completing seven marathons.
Exercise was a way of keeping my weight down. In 1995, I got
divorced and my mother died. I had depression, hardly exercised and put
on two-and-a-half stone.
The Race Across America gave me something to focus on. It was fantastic.
Some climbs were tough but I won’t forget the fast descents. In New
Mexico it was more than 38C but my strength and fitness improved as we
went along.
I’d say to anyone in their 50s or 60s: “Get out there.”
HILARY WALKER, 55, from central London, is a scientist with the Department of Health
I’ve always loved being outdoors. In my 20s I went trekking in the
Himalayas and started running marathons for charity and cycling to
work.
Exercise helps me relax and cope
with all life’s stresses. I’ve run about 150 marathons but as I got
older, my times were getting slower so I took up triathlons.
I’m a relative newcomer to serious cycling but it is a great activity
when you are older. The Race Across America appealed to me because I
wanted to do something different and be part of a team.
The highest climb, in the Rockies, was 10,500 feet and my legs were
aching but the scenery was fantastic. I especially enjoyed cycling
through the desert in the evenings and early mornings.
HILARY WEBBER, 60, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, is a retired accountant
Watching the London Marathon inspired me to take up running. That led
to triathlons. At the age of 45, I learned to swim the front crawl. I
competed at a high level of triathlon but then I was diagnosed with
breast cancer in March 2005.
Fortunately, although the cancer was aggressive, it had not spread to my lymph nodes.
I had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy. I cycled to the treatment sessions
in Southampton – a round trip of 56 miles. I’m sure the cycling helped
me fight the disease.
The idea of the
Race Across America was to show you can stay fit into your 60s and
beyond. The biggest problem was not the riding but the lack of sleep
between sessions.
* The Golden Girls are also raising money for their favourite charities. For more details, visit: www.sggdoraam.org.uk/charities
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