LIFE AFTER MEDICINE
Strong Legs , Stronger Hearts
Too many doctors to count !
Back in January 2014 , I had a brief sabbatical from several decades of nonstop clinical work . I found I had extra time to do a lot of things that previously my full-time job had kept me from doing , and in particular , I wanted to become more aerobically fit .
At the Prospect coffee shop , one cold and snowy January morning , as luck would have it , I ran into my longtime friend , Dr . David Nightingale . That year he was a very fit 84-year-old and was walking three to five miles each morning , most days of the week .
David , a retired vascular , thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon , has been exercising all of his life , winning his age group in the mini marathon in his 70s . He had also won his age group in multiple Triple Crown races here in Louisville . He is now in his early 90s and doesn ’ t slow down . by HENRY SADLO , MD , FACC
That day in 2014 , he told me energetically about his Tom Sawyer Park walking group , and how much he was enjoying the group of people he ’ d been walking with for several years . And he said that if I wanted to do a second walk , he would do a second walk any day I wanted to . He said I could start a second group , and he would do both . Wow . What an inspiration !!
He and I walked three to five times every week , anywhere from two to five miles , and I realized how enjoyable it was to be outdoors , and I also enjoyed the social aspect of getting exercise with friends .
In July 2014 I went back to full-time work , but we still kept our walks up on the weekends , and over time , more and more people heard about it and would call us to join in .
Doctors , accountants , dietitians , police officers , artists , radio personalities , schoolteachers , lawyers , federal judges – and don ’ t forget Sadlos of various kinds – we developed a fun group of people from all aspects of life . Former University of Louisville
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