Articles

Keeping Age from Slowing You Down

Mike Sandrock On Running

Boulder Daily Camera Monday, June 17,2002
By Mike Sandrock

On Thursday, ultra runner and physical therapist Douglas Wisoff will give a free talk starting at 7 p.m. at Runners Choice, 2460 Canyon Blvd. In Boulder, titled "Challenging the Myths that Limit." Wisoff is big on running with proper form, and in his talk he will also tell people ways they can protect their muscles, joints and ligaments, as well as how to use running to reverse degeneration and heal joints.

According to Wisoff, the "biggest obstacle to being active and athletic into our 50s and 60s is a miseducation as too how to use our bodies.

While other local ultra runners such as Buzz Burrell, Dave Mackey, Steve Peterson and Peter Bakwin get more attention, Wisoff, 53 is an accomplished long-distance runner in his own right. He has won the 50-year age category at the Leadville 100-miler three times.

The fit-looking Wisoff is himself an example of how to beat aging. When he was 25, Wisoff had knee surgery to remove some cartilage. Doctors told him that the operation would extend the life of his knee for 30 years. However, when he was 40, Wisoff was diagnosed with arthritis and told to have more surgery and to give up running.

Being a true runner, "this was not an option," said Wisoff, who then began studying ways to heal his knee.

"I learned there were ways to learn how to direct your body, your tensions and your movement that would protect the muscles, bones and joints," he said. "And if you learned to master certain basic techniques, you could turn some degenerative processes around and actually heal your joints."
Wisoff knew he was on the right track when he earned a coveted "Silver Buckle" at the Western States 100-miler, which features 22,000 feet of down hill running.

He will discuss what he sees as the basic principles of "good body use."