Did the performances of the ‘oldies' in the recent World Masters' Games amaze or astound you, perhaps give you a greater respect for the battle of willpower and ageing bodies? Did you wonder what it takes for a centenarian to compete and win in such contests? ...

One person who has often considered those questions, and has a very good handle on the answers has completed a work which just might help us all to attain something like those achievements.

Associate Professor Peter Reaburn

CQUniversity Associate Professor Peter Reaburn has published his latest work, Masters Athlete and, when asked why he wrote the book, replied, "Being a sports scientist and University educator, I like to practice what I preach."

Peter is 54 years of age and enjoys competing as an athlete, not only for personal bests, but also to match his fitness with others of his age, and to keep youngsters honest. The eldest of 5 children, Dr Reaburn said he's never lost that desire to compete and is privileged to be able to combine his interest in sports science with academic learning and teaching.

On the topic of the competitors in the Games, Peter Reaburn said, in them, "...you've probably got a combination of life-long athletes who were highly competitive as youngsters, and who've never really left sport, except perhaps for those years engaged in establishing and raising a family."

In its 19 chapters the book covers getting into sport, nutrition, training and related topics, with a very strong emphasis on recovery.

Peter said, "As an athlete, getting older, we need to recover longer and harder than we would have as younger athletes."

The book cover

With wide public acknowledgment of the necessity for weight control, Dr Reaburn looks at how we can lose weight, "... through the methods that science has shown work, not only for older people, but athletes as well." He said there's a lot that is known about young athletes, but little when it comes to older persons, and his biggest challenge has been extending that scientific understanding to those older athletes, "The book has really bridged the gap between what science says for young athletes and what's relevant to older athletes."

Masters Athlete is not a scientific treatise, "It's written in lay terms. Yes! One needs a bit of an understanding about basic nutrition, weight control principles and exercise principles, but the normal, healthy, aware older person would get a lot out of the work."

Masters Athlete is published by Dr Reaburn. It is available via ... www.mastersathlete.com.au/masters-athlete-book/