Strengthspan: We’re Not Past Our Prime, The Game Has Changed

“It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” — Socrates

The more I see what the so-called longevity experts are pushing, the more I want to avoid that industry for fear of being lumped in as just another “longevity guy.” But the truth is, now that I’ve crossed the half-century mark myself, I’m more interested in the topic than ever.

What I don’t want is to “ease” into the next 50 years with single-leg toe touches and Zone 2 cardio at exactly 7:24 a.m. so the right amount of sunlight hits my eyes to trigger melatonin for bedtime in a perfectly darkened cave. That’s not me. My punk rock soul still wants to wake up to Rollins Band’s Life Time cranked to eleven, middle fingers up, ready to rip iron off the platform or roll six rounds on the jiu-jitsu mats.

For those of us who live under the bar, on the mats, or grinding the trails, that version of longevity just doesn’t cut it.

Because when I see bad-asses like 84-year-old Ann Buszard from Greysteel pulling 205 pounds, 75-year-old Mike Burch setting a world record with a 510-pound deadlift, or “Jiu-Jitsu Grandma” Elaine Wynn competing at Master’s Worlds at 77, I can’t help but expect more out of myself. And you should too.

Dan John reminds us: “It’s not the years, it’s the miles.” Research showed strength, when trained, lasts well into your fifties—and with smart training, years won’t claim you first. That idea resonates deeply here: strength earned now isn’t just preserved—it propels you onward.

Exit Lifespan, Enter Strengthspan.

I landed on this term because the conversation around “longevity” was ignoring the very people I train and coach every day: the aging meatheads, the lifelong athletes, the ones who still want to compete, push, test themselves, and yes, kick ass into our twilight years. We’re not looking to fade quietly into a chair by 60. We want to stay strong, powerful, and resilient while building health and adding years to our lives.

Strengthspan means refusing to choose between performance and longevity. It means training for powerlifting in your 40s, jiu-jitsu tournaments in your 50s, obstacle races in your 60s, or just being the kind of person who can still sprint, lift, and scrap when life calls for it.

It’s not about denying aging. It’s about embracing it with strength as the throughline. Because a strong body doesn’t just survive longer, it lives better, sharper, and with more fight in the tank. I don’t remember who said this, but no-one who makes it to their 70s, 80s, or beyond ever complains about being too strong or having too much muscle.

So when you hear the typical longevity prescriptions that feel more like “maintenance mode” than living fully, remember: We’re not past our prime. The game has changed. And Strengthspan is how we play it.

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3 Training Principles of Strengthspan

1. Strength First, Always
   Strength is the foundation that supports every other physical quality. Keep a barbell in your life, whether it’s squats, deadlifts, presses, or pulls, and you’ll hold onto the muscle, bone density, and power that make everything else possible. And if you want to test yourself on the powerlifting platform, go for it. Just save the PRs for the meet, not the gym.

2. Condition to Compete
   Don’t settle for “cardio to live longer.” Train your conditioning so you can roll hard rounds, sprint up a hill, or finish an obstacle race. Your heart and lungs deserve the same intensity your muscles get. This doesn’t mean neglect the low intensity stuff either, just don’t become a Zone 2 turd.

3. Move Like an Athlete
   Mobility, agility, and resilience matter just as much as max lifts. Carry heavy loads, get on the ground and back up, grapple, climb, swing kettlebells; train movements that prepare you for the chaos of sport and life.

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That’s the heartbeat of Strengthspan. Not just more years in the game, but more fight in those years.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s article, and as always, stay strong and healthy!