Why do some people keep racing, training, and showing up well into their 70s and 80s—while others gradually stop?

Bob Babbitt has been part of the endurance world since the earliest days of Ironman. Now in his 70s, he is still racing, training, and surrounded by athletes who have kept going for decades.

In this conversation, Bob shares what he has learned from a lifetime in endurance sports about staying active as we age.

We talk about:

• Why community may be one of the most underrated parts of longevity
• What keeps athletes showing up decade after decade
• How Bob uses sauna and cold plunges as part of his routine and recovery
• Why continuing to race gives training purpose
• What he has learned from athletes competing into their 80s and even 90s
• Why movement becomes easier to maintain when it is social
• The remarkable early days of Ironman—and how the sport grew from a tiny experiment into a global movement

Bob’s philosophy is refreshingly simple: sometimes the reason to keep doing it is simply because you still can.

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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.