Talent or Tenacity Podcast: Dr. Nate Wilson - Real Talk about Athlete Longevity

Dr. Nate Wilson finishing the very last edition of Ironman 70.3 Lubbock (what was “Buffalo Springs Lake Half Ironman” for 30+ years)

Listen to your body, have fun, do what you love!

Coaching athletes, I often emphasize the importance of staying in the present and thinking only about your next foot step, pedal stroke, or swim stroke. But we also need to be thinking about our future selves and what we want our bodies to be able to do for us as we age. Talking about aging seems like an “off-limits” topic for athletes because we think of ourselves as young, vibrant, capable, and ever-progressing. I wanted to interview Dr. Nate Wilson because he is the definition of a high performer. Dr. Nate is a semi-retired orthopedic surgeon who is winding down a very successful practice in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock has a vibrant triathlon community, owing much to Mike and Marti Greer and their FAMOUS Buffalo Springs Lake Triathlon which brought athletes to the area from all over the world. The first year I completed at “BSLT”, Craig Alexander and Mirinda Carfrae were the winners. I was lucky enough to meet a phenomenal group of like-minded athletes in Lubbock and Dr. Nate is one of them.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Nate shared his thoughts about training as an older athlete and how his approach to training helps him stay healthy and cope with small injuries or setbacks. We talked about taking care of ones body and what it actually means to listen to your body; an idea that can be more “talk” than practical reality. Dr. Nate has a fabulous sense of humor and LOVES running with is dogs. He emphasizes the importance of enjoying your training and building on what is fun for you. Finally, we discussed how older athletes can make a start in running or triathlon - something I feel is really important to talk about as these sports can seem so out of reach in some ways. He gave some wonderful advice on how to ease into endurance sports and make the most of ones strengths. 

A HUGE thanks to Dr. Nate for spending his time with us. Every athlete I work with has a desire to keep progressing with their fitness and maintain their health as they get older. I am so grateful to Nate for sharing his insights and providing a model for others to follow. Listen to Dr. Nate Wilson on Episode #4 HERE.