I don’t know what appeals about getting out into the great outdoors as we get older. There seems to be a desire to reconnect with nature, fill our lungs with fresh air, or is it just we have more time? Multi-day hiking away from civilisation is the ultimate, and near the top of that list is the Routeburn Track. While many people have this hike on their bucket list, I had more reason than most to complete this track.
Running is known to be a high impact form of exercise. The stress on soft tissue and the risk of injury can have long-term effects. As we age do the benefits of running outweigh the possible risk of injury and is there an effect on longevity?
The Japanese concept of ikigai is both widely understood in Japan, and connected to longevity in the southern islands of Okinawa, one of Dan Buettner’s Blue Zones (a region where people live much longer than average). So what is ikigai and how do you find yours?