A star high-school miler in Oklahoma, Cooper ran two Boston Marathons (1962 and 1963) while a student at the Harvard School of Public Health. He improved from 3:54 in his first effort, to 3:24 the following year.
Prior to breaking his leg decades ago in a skiing accident, Cooper logged 38,000 miles of running. Since the accident, he has continued a vigorous fitness program that now consists of roughly 50 percent recumbent bicycling and 50 percent strength training.
Beyond his personal example, Cooper spearheaded hundreds of studies at his Cooper Clinic. This research has demonstrated the dramatic mental and physical benefits of regular exercise, which leads not just to longer life but also to a slower onset of cognitive decline.
Grow Healthier As You Grow Older, available from Amazon and other booksellers.
This website page provides links to four documentary videos about Cooper's life and work.
Here is Cooper's advice about how to adjust your aerobic and strength training regimens through the decades of your life:
Under age 40: Do 80% aerobic exercise; 20% strength
41 to 50: Do 70% aerobics, and 30% strength
51-60: Do 60% aerobics, and 40% strength
60+: Do 55% aerobics, and 45% strength
WHERE TO FIND "RUNNING: STATE OF THE SPORT"
