Forget Lance Armstrong-I Wanna Grow Up to be Like Doug
My favorite bicycling magazine to read is actually the electronic bicycling newsletter roadbikerider.
Over the last few weeks they have had a few articles on athletes and people who appeared to be fit but then had heart attacks. They received an email from an 81 year old bicyclist name Doug Murray. Here is what he said:
I guess I should be more leery of the unexpected results of fitness exercising than most. I am 81 years old. I bike one hour — 50% in the fitness level and often in the performance level — 3 or 4 times a week. My friends and family worry about it a bit. But I explain that I believe everyone has the right to do what they want, as long as they know they might have to pay for it.
You can die slowly and unhappily on a couch, or you can go quickly on a bike. Fate will decide. But I find maximizing the fitness possible at my age keeps life interesting, vital and happy — and that’s accepted as a bonus by my friends, my family and me. The only limit I impose is common sense — which is hard to remember when the day is sunny and the wind is at my back.” — Doug Murray
I hope that when I am 80 I still am able and enjoy riding my bike so much that on a sunny day with the wind to my back it is hard to contain myself.
Mr Murray you are my hero.
June 8th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Lance Armstrong was cool until he became a celebrity. Then he seemed to become mostly an arrogant ass. Doug Murray is definitely cooler by far.