Page 18 - SENIORS ROCK MAGAZINE

CAN'T

NOTHING

BRING ME

DOWN

t’s nothing short of inspirational to have the op- also hope that they take away
portunity to speak with Ida Keeling, a 102-year-old how good exercise is. Exercise and
strengthening yourself, and staying
world-record-holding runner and author of Can’t alert and focused, is so important.
Nothing Bring Me Down, a riveting memoir in book- I want readers to pay attention to
Istores this month. what they’re doing.

What was it about running that
Keeling’s story is filled with in- You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Break- helped you so much?
credible eyewitness accounts of fast, to find out what keeps her
key moments in American history, going strong. When I lost two of my sons two
including growing up during the years apart, I can’t even describe
Great Depression, serving as a lead- If you could speak to every single how that felt. So, when my daugh-
er in the civil rights movement and reader of your book, what would ter suggested I go running because
raising four children on her own in you tell them? maybe it would make me feel better,
a single-room apartment while she I decided to try it. I went on that
worked at a factory. Keeling also I would say that I hope it’s a wonder- run, and soon enough, did another
shares the great sadness of her life, ful experience reading my book. I and another. Running felt so good.
the brutal murders of her two sons hope readers get some new experi- I would come home after exercis-
when she was in her 60s. It was that ences and old age thoughts and feel- ing and felt like it relieved me of
low point in her life that actually got ings and what some stress and bad feelings. After
her to put on her running shoes happened all these years, I can tell you that
after her daughter suggested back then running is a good way to way to feel
that running might offer her and all better, mentally and physically. You
solace in her grief. that have to look where you’re running,
kind of you have to pick up your feet and all
Keeling entered her first race stuff. I that kind of stuff.
when she was 67, set a second
world record at 95 and is the I hear you can still do push-ups?
first woman in history to
complete a 100-meter run at Yes. I have arthritis now, so
the age of 100. Just days ago, I’ve got these aches and
on February 24, Keeling set a pains, but I can still
world record in the 60-meter do them. I have my
dash event at the Imperial Dade bike, my mat and my
Track Classic hosted by Urban weights and I use
Athletics with an impressive them. I like to keep
race time of 58:34 in the 100 moving.
to 104 age group.
What’s the most
We sat down with Keeling, important advice
who was recently profiled you want to
in the HBO documentary If share with our
readers?

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senior’s rock magazine