Can you actually keep getting stronger and improving after 50—or is the goal simply to slow the decline?

Elite climber Steve McClure believes improvement is still possible, but the way you train has to evolve.

In this conversation, Steve explains how he has adapted his training as he’s gotten older—identifying physical qualities that are starting to decline, training them deliberately, and continuing to pursue harder goals rather than settling for maintenance.

We cover:

• Why strength and power tend to decline with age
• How training needs to change after 50
• Why older athletes shouldn’t simply keep doing more of the same
• How Steve targets weaknesses with specific strength work
• Why recovery becomes an increasingly important part of performance
• How he uses finger training, bouldering, weights, and structured rest
• Why having something you still want to improve may matter as much as the training itself

The bigger lesson: getting older may change the methods, but it doesn’t mean improvement has to stop.

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Topics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention

Ageless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.

Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.