He´s Fit. He´s Fast. He´s 80!
Reprinted from:
Peak Running Performance
When Norton Davey is poised on the starting line, he concentrates on
four things to get the competitive juices flowing. "I tell myself that
I've trained harder than ever, that I know the course well, that I'll pace
myself and that I'll keep track of the competition," says the Oceanside,
Calif., man. Davey's personal pep talk isn't unique in the world of
serious competitors, but one thing does distinguish this athlete: he's 80
years old! "A lot of people don't believe I'm that age and I certainly
don't feel that age," Davey said. Davey is actually a latecomer to running
and triathlons. The retired Continental Airlines vice president didn't
begin hitting the pavement until about 25 years ago - when he was in his
50s. "The company doctor told me to exercise and I told him I didn't need
it. But he told me to 'Get out of here, get on your feet and get on the
street.'"
Reluctantly Davey followed the doctor's advice. He began
with the Royal Canadian Air Force exercise program and Dr. Ken Cooper's
book on the importance of aerobic exercise. He soon discovered that he
"felt better than I had in a long time," and as his pace picked up, he
shed 15 pounds. Then at age 59, he entered his first 10K.
"I got hooked on the competition because some guy beat me and I didn't
like that," Davey explained. Four years and 25 marathons later, running
wasn't enough. "Someone told me about the Ironman, and I thought I might
be able to do it."
Like most runners, Davey's first foray into the pool was disappointing;
he could barely swim one length. But persistence paid off and in 1982, at
age 63, he entered his first Hawaii Ironman. "Occasionally someone will
ask, 'What's an old guy like you fooling around with stuff like this?'"
Davey said. "My answer is, 'Hey, I got addicted.'"
In any given week, Davey swims an average of 300 laps (7,500 yards),
bikes 150 miles and runs 30 to 40 miles in his six days of training. His
training varies a bit, though, depending on what "quarter" he's in. He
divides his training year into four sections, beginning immediately after
the October Ironman. During the first quarter, he trains at a low level,
but after the first of the year, the pace picks up. During the last
quarter, he concentrates on speed and endurance.
