Ageless Athlete - Longevity Insights From Adventure Sports Legends

• #77 Still Racing at 73: Triathlon’s Wild Origins, Daily Rituals For Recovery, Energy, Clarity, and Why Sport Is the Real Fountain of Youth

  “I call my age group the 70 to death—and we show up early, because we still can. If you want to feel young, hang out with people chasing PRs, not prescriptions.”Bob Babbitt has raced more than 300 triathlons, co-founded Competitor magazine, helped popularize the Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon Series, and has spent decades spotlighting athletes of all abilities through storytelling.At 73, he’s still training, still racing, and still waking up at 5:30 a.m. for his morning cold plunge.But this episode isn’t just about endurance sports. It’s about how movement, community, and a willingness to reinvent yourself can keep you young—physically, mentally, and emotionally.We dive into:The chaotic, hilarious origins of Ironman (including Big Macs and boomboxes)How triathlon went from fringe to global by aligning with city economicsDaily habits Bob swears by for recovery, clarity, and energyWhat the “70 to death” age group can teach us about aging wellThe work of the Challenged Athletes Foundation and how sport empowers identityWhether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or just someone thinking about how to age on your own terms—this one will stay with you.🔑 Key TakeawaysLongevity is built through reinvention. Bob’s career spans media, sport, and philanthropy—and each chapter began with curiosity, not certainty.Movement fuels mindset. His fitness routine isn’t performance-driven—it’s how he stays clear, focused, and in motion.Community is everything. Surrounding yourself with people who “refuse to act old” is one of his core longevity strategies.Sport = transformation. Whether you’re a first-time triathlete or a challenged athlete rebuilding after injury, crossing that finish line changes everything.🗣️ Notable Quotes“I call my age group the 70 to death. And we show up early—because we still can.” “Sport is what makes us whole. As long as there’s air in your lungs, you should be moving.” “If you want to feel young, hang out with people chasing PRs, not prescriptions.”🙏 Enjoying Ageless Athlete? Help keep the show going and Buy Me A Coffee! Every contribution helps keep the mic, and the inspiration flowing. Thanks for being here ❤️--- Subscribe to the Ageless Athlete newsletter — 2× a month, no spam. We share behind-the-scenes reflections, longevity tips, and athlete wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. You can sign up at https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/ 📩 Support the show

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• #76 Four Times Across the English Channel: What One Impossible Swim Can Teach You About Identity, Grit, and Starting Over

  At midnight, Sarah Thomas stepped off the coast of England into darkness—swimming into history as the first person to complete a four-way crossing of the English Channel, nonstop. That alone would be astonishing. But what makes her story unforgettable is what came before: a breast cancer diagnosis, grueling treatment, and the slow, painful journey of rebuilding trust in a body that no longer felt like hers.In this powerful episode, Sarah opens up about more than just world-record swims. She reflects on how to start over after loss, how movement can become a form of healing, and what it really means to “still float”—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Whether you're an athlete, a survivor, or simply navigating your own midlife turning point, her story is a quiet masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and grace.🔑 Key Themes & TakeawaysRebuilding After Crisis: Why Sarah’s swim wasn’t about proving strength—it was about rediscovering identity in a different body.Grit ≠ Perfection: How embracing her limits post-cancer helped her redefine success, and why being “less than 100%” doesn’t mean giving up.Movement as Healing: The power of returning to the water—emotionally and physically—as a space of control, anonymity, and joy.Longevity Lessons: What Sarah’s approach to endurance can teach us about aging well, training smart, and honoring the long arc of performance.The English Channel as a Metaphor: How a swim so steeped in history became her proving ground for something deeper: presence, surrender, and quiet strength.Start Small, Stay Present: Why big goals demand micro-focus—and how thinking one stroke at a time can carry you through life’s hardest miles.🔗 References & Resources🌐 Sarah Thomas’s Website: sarahthomasswims.com📺 TEDx Talk – “Go Big”: Watch on YouTube📚 Ocean’s Seven Challenge (Wikipedia): Learn More📰 TIME Magazine – “Sarah Thomas Swims English Channel Four Times Nonstop After Surviving Cancer”: Read Article🎖️ WOWSA Hall of Fame Inductee: World Open Water Swimming Association Profile📍 Lake Champlain 104-Mile Record Swim: Coverage by Marathon Swimmers Federation🙏 Enjoying Ageless Athlete? Help keep the show going and Buy Me A Coffee! Every contribution helps keep the mic, and the inspiration flowing. Thanks for being here ❤️--- Subscribe to the Ageless Athlete newsletter — 2× a month, no spam. We share behind-the-scenes reflections, longevity tips, and athlete wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. You can sign up at https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/ 📩 Support the show

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• #75 The Thinking Climber: What a Philosopher’s Double Life Reveals About Curiosity, Reinvention, and the Long Arc of Mastery

  What if your best climbing wasn’t behind you—even at 65?This episode is a masterclass in longevity, discipline, and duality. Our guest is a rare figure who has spent decades pushing hard at the edge of two very different worlds: as a tenured philosophy professor and a lifelong climber still sending 5.14s.Bill Ramsey started climbing before sport climbing existed. He trained on treadwalls before they were popular. And today, he still maps out meticulous 8-hour training days—designed not to get stronger, but to stay sharp, adaptive, and resilient.This isn’t about avoiding aging. It’s about rewriting the rules.🧗‍♂️ In This Episode, We Cover:Balancing the cerebral and the physical: how philosophy and climbing feed each other—and why he believes doing both makes him better at eachThe “Pain Box”: his metaphor for rethinking discipline, suffering, and the tradeoffs behind fulfillmentWhat changes (and what doesn’t): honest insight into how the body, mind, and motivation evolve from your 30s to your 60sHow to train in your 60s: → self-coached 8-hour training days → projecting with purpose → the importance of fingerboarding on send days → ice-cold hand tricks to climb harder in the cold → why he avoids certain types of dynamic board problems to prevent injuryRedefining success: why mastery isn’t about grades or PRs—but about curiosity, adaptability, and the joy of still tryingThe inner life of a veteran athlete: what 50 years of climbing has taught him about loss, community, and legacyBeing a mentor, not a martyr: how he shares wisdom without needing the spotlightAging without apology: why aches and recovery delays are just part of the deal—and how to climb through them with grace and fire🧠 Why It Matters:Whether you're a dedicated athlete, a desk-bound dreamer, or someone wondering how to keep chasing meaning as the years stack up—this episode offers more than inspiration. It offers a roadmap.You’ll walk away with:A mindset for long-term performanceTools to stay physically and mentally engagedA fresh way to think about identity, reinvention, and the decades ahead🙏 Enjoying Ageless Athlete? Help keep the show going and Buy Me A Coffee! Every contribution helps keep the mic, and the inspiration flowing. Thanks for being here ❤️--- Subscribe to the Ageless Athlete newsletter — 2× a month, no spam. We share behind-the-scenes reflections, longevity tips, and athlete wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. You can sign up at https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/ 📩 Support the show

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• #74 Ketones, Fasting, and Flexibility: The Science of Optimizing Your Energy Systems for Endurance and Longevity with Dr Brianna Stubbs

  In this episode of Ageless Athlete, we dive into the metabolic engine room with Dr. Brianna Stubbs—world-class endurance athlete and leading researcher at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Brianna bridges the worlds of elite performance and cutting-edge science, specializing in how ketones, fasting, and metabolic flexibility can shape our ability to recover, sustain energy, and age well.This isn’t about dieting fads or silver bullets—it’s about understanding how your body fuels itself, and how those energy pathways evolve over time. Whether you’re an endurance athlete or someone simply trying to stay strong into your 40s, 50s, and beyond, Brianna’s insights will give you a fresh way to think about performance and longevity.🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What metabolic flexibility actually is—and why it matters more as we ageThe role of exogenous ketones vs. endogenous ketones (and how they’re used differently)Why elite athletes may be “canaries in the coal mine” for agingHow fasting can impact energy regulation, muscle retention, and cognitive performanceSurprising myths and truths about the ketogenic dietWhat separates “TOPe’s” (Top Older Performers) from “NOPe’s” in the Buck Institute’s MOVE StudyHow Brianna personally trains, fuels, and recovers today—backed by both experience and data🔬 References Mentioned:Buck Institute for Research on Aging: https://www.buckinstitute.orgMOVE Study (Molecular Optimization Via Exercise): Recruiting older athletes for metabolic and molecular profilingKetone Ester Research: Stubbs et al. (2017), Cell Metabolism – PMID: 28399454TOPe’s vs. NOPe’s framework: conceptual model comparing high-performing vs. low-performing older athletesHVMN Ketone Ester studies – Commercial application and early human performance trials👤 About Dr. Brianna Stubbs: Brianna is a former world champion rower for Team GB and currently serves as Director of Translational Science at the Buck Institute. She holds a PhD from Oxford in Metabolic Physiology and has spent the last decade studying how ketones and metabolic regulation affect performance and aging. She’s also competed in Ironman Kona and multi-day ultra-endurance events, making her both subject and scientist.🙏 Enjoying Ageless Athlete? Help keep the show going and Buy Me A Coffee! Every contribution helps keep the mic, and the inspiration flowing. Thanks for being here ❤️--- Subscribe to the Ageless Athlete newsletter — 2× a month, no spam. We share behind-the-scenes reflections, longevity tips, and athlete wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. You can sign up at https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/ 📩 Support the show

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• #73 Unstoppable: The 80-Year-Old Who Runs 100+ Mile Ultramarathons—and Reminds Us Why Showing Up Still Matters

  Bob Becker didn’t start running until his 50s.Today, at 80, he’s tackling some of the most brutal ultramarathons on the planet—100+ mile races across deserts, through mountains, and far beyond what most of us think is possible.But this isn’t just a story about age-defying endurance. It’s about meaning, resilience, and the unexpected ways we impact others. In one unforgettable moment, Bob recalls finishing a race just past the cutoff—only to learn his effort may have saved someone’s life.In this episode, we explore:Why Bob started running in his 50s—and never looked backThe mindset that gets him through the darkest milesWhat it’s like to attempt the Badwater Double and other extreme ultrasHis reflections on aging, purpose, and carrying the weight of others’ hopeHow he balances racing, community, and family over decadesWhy it’s never too late to begin something extraordinaryIf you've ever felt like it's too late to start, or wondered whether your efforts truly matter—Bob Becker’s story will change the way you think about aging, goals, and what’s still possible.🙏 Enjoying Ageless Athlete? Help keep the show going and Buy Me A Coffee! Every contribution helps keep the mic, and the inspiration flowing. Thanks for being here ❤️--- Subscribe to the Ageless Athlete newsletter — 2× a month, no spam. We share behind-the-scenes reflections, longevity tips, and athlete wisdom you won’t find anywhere else. You can sign up at https://www.agelessathlete.co/newsletter/ 📩 Support the show

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