Jim Steere's Anti-Aging Pill, UjENA FIT Club

This week’s blog pertains to Chapter 7, in "It Has Nothing To Do With Age." I am honored to introduce you to Dr. Jim Steere. Jim Steere, at age 80, was the oldest to complete the Tevis Cup ride. For the next few days, I am going to tell you part of Jim’s story.
By the way, Linda heard a radio advertisement sponsored by the Sacramento airport: "Do not take your workout clothes on your trip because you probably will not use them." They wanted passengers to pack efficiently. They might have said. "Do not take those extras sweaters and shoes." Well, we are taking workout clothes!
Chapter V11 Jim Steere, DVM: Renaissance-Man and Athlete Extraordinaire
In memory 3 – 15 – 1925 to 8 –3 – 2010
When Jim Steere reached 35 years of age, he was in a midlife crisis. This crisis lasted for about 25 years. He was troubled, married, a Dr. of veterinary medicine, and he had six children. He had just returned from Denmark on a Fulbright scholarship. It was in 1960s, and unbeknownst to him, other factors were to contribute to his existential questioning how to make his life and career meaningful.
Living and studying abroad in Denmark made a significant impression on Jim. To illustrate, Denmark has zero population growth, complete medical coverage for citizens, and they view suicide as humane. Their values were certainly different than ours. One day, Jim and a group of about 30 to 40 scholars took a bus tour of Hamlets Castle. During the tour, there was a heated discussion about medicine, illness, and medical coverage. Jim remembered from that conversation that the Danes did not consider complete medical coverage as socialized medicine. In their country, a group of people hired their own Dr. to treat their illnesses, and they called that practice a cooperative. If you were rich or employed, you would pay the doctor’s fees. However, if you were poor or unable to financially contribute to the cooperative, you would receive government assistance to pay for the doctor’s charges.
The discussion of suicide touched a personal nerve in Jim. In Denmark, suicide does not carry criminal charges or have a religious connotation. Jim’s grandfather, a California pioneer, committed suicide by ingesting strychnine. In the US, shame and guilt are associated with suicide, it is not openly discussed, and it is a crime and therefore punishable. The Danes are both more humanistic and progressive when it comes to depression and mental illness.
To be continued at a later date.

Bob Anderson, the founder of Runner's World magazine and publisher for 18 years, invites you to join the Bob Anderson's UjENA FIT Club inspiring a fitness revolution one step at a time.  Since running and walking helps you lose weight in less time than almost any other sport, this will be our main focus however all workouts count.   Our club is for people at all levels including serious athletes.