Washington Post Magazine: Marathon Men

Going for the Gold

Two octogenarian brothers who share a love of sports reap the benefits of lifelong exercise and swim for Olympic gold.

Video: The Senior Golden Olympics

Washington Post Magazine staff writer Lonnae O'Neal Parker was online Monday, August 18 at 12 noon ET to discuss her Washington Post Magazine cover story, "Marathon Men."

Lonnae O'Neal Parker is a longtime reporter for The Washington Post and the author of I'm Every Woman: Remixed Stories of Marriage, Motherhood, and Work.

A transcript follows.

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Lonnae O'Neal Parker: Hi everyone. I'm delighted to be with you to talk about the Tatum Brothers. I still routinely think of them as a generation younger than their nearly 90 years. I look forward to your questions.

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Arlington, Va.: Has working on this article changed your own views about exercise?

Lonnae O'Neal Parker: It really has. I used to run four miles, three times a week, then I stopped working out altogether as my life got busier. As I've gotten older, I figured I could no longer exercise the way I used to. What I learned is that we lose our abilities (to run, swim, climb up and down stairs) not primarily because we get older, but because we stop moving.

I may not take up running again, but I realize if I want to be active as a senior, I've need to keep everything moving now.

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D.C.: Thank you for an inspiring piece. After reading your article, I joined my first gym. If these gentlemen can do it so close to 90 years of age, then I'm out of excuses.

Lonnae O'Neal Parker: If they can do it at close to 90, we're all out of excuses. The point that struck me over and over was that no matter what your age, just do something. You may not swim 500 yards like Brad Tatum (then again, you might), but you can feel better, look better and improve functionality at any age.

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Bowie MD: Very much enjoyed your article...and reaffirms my goal...to be in shape and healthy in my senior years so that quality of life is the best it can be. Am in my late 40s and after 11 years of married-and-comfortable, did a radical change 2 years ago - or not so, considering I was healthy, active and in shape BEFORE marriage. Just got tired of excuses, lost nearly 30 lbs, changed eating habits and exercise, lift weights and run 5 to 6 days a week. Older doesn't mean frail and housebound. The Tatum Brothers prove OCTOGENARIANS RULE!!

Lonnae O'Neal Parker: Thanks for that. And congratulations on your lifestyle change. I think more people are getting the word that those kinds of changes make a huge difference in our quality of life as we age.

Basically, we've all need to decide who we want to be and what we want to be doing in our golden years. There are a lot of media messages that tell us we'll be sitting in a chair, watching television, straining to hear or make ourselves understood and many people buy into that notion. But it doesn't have to be our destiny. The earlier you start exercising, the better off you'll be. Just keep moving. Thanks again and good luck.

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Washington DC: That's a wonderful article, Ms. Parker. It makes me want to know something about the diet(s) that the Tatum brothers follow. Plainly, whatever it is hasn't hurt them! Nevertheless, I'm interested in knowing the extent to which their diets complement their fitness activities.

Lonnae O'Neal Parker: Actually, they don't do anything special. I think John may even have a cocktail ever so often. They don't over indulge but they don't follow any kind of restrictive diet either. Good genes play a part but they really just seem to eat in moderation and stay active. Brilliantly simple.

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Central Virginia: So, essentially, it comes down to: If you sit down, you have a lot of trouble getting back up again.

Is that about right?

Lonnae O'Neal Parker: Almost. My editor and I turned that one over quite a few times. The body does lose ability and functionality over time, processing oxygen and blood less efficiently. People fall prey to accidents and diseases, but largely, what we think of as the frailty and loss of mobility that comes with old age is more accurately due to muscle atrophy from disuse. As one researcher said to me there comes a point when an older person decides they can no longer get down on the floor, or climb stairs, or get in and out of the tub, then they lose the ability to do those things, not because of age, but because they let those muscles wither. Dr. Doll, who was in the article, is 54 and says she forces herself to do a cartwheel and a split every year, just to make sure she still can.

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Sibling rivalry?: Reading this made me think of the Williams sisters and how they seem to encourage each other and improve each other. Do you think there is an element of rivalry in the Tatum brothers' swimming success?

Lonnae O'Neal Parker: They would say no. They are genuinely close and genuinely happy to see each other do well. But both are competitive, and as much as John loves Brad, I know he was happy as a clam to have beat him in the 50-yard breast-stroke in the D.C. Golden Olympics.

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Washington, DC: Lonnae,

I can't tell you how thrilled I was to finally see this article. I was even more thrilled to see that you included John Tatum. The article was informative and very well written. It provided information that even I did not know about my two "elder statesman athletes." Thank you for giving them the exposure that they so richly deserve.

Ben Butler State Coordinator DC Golden Olympics

Lonnae O'Neal Parker: Thank you so much. It was a real pleasure spending time with these two D.C. treasures. They had such stories of a bygone Washington. As I say, talking with them, I'd often forget they were near 90. I'm delighted to have been able to share their stories.

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Olympians: I wonder if Dara Torres read your article? Maybe she'll give it one more go for the gold in 2012?

Lonnae O'Neal Parker: I thought about Dara Torres as I was working on it. Everything just seems to point to the notion that as human beings, we really are able to push past what we thought were limitations with focus and hard work. Torres is my age, although I probably couldn't win a swim race if I had a floaty and flippers, but I found myself really hanging on her story. I'm not a big fan of Nike but they seemed to have the "Just Do It" part just about right...

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NW Washington, DC: Brad Tatum is my uncle and has been physically active since my earliest memories of him. I still have found memories of him teach my sister and I to swim when we were small children. He still plays golf and skis with his grandsons.

He has been inspiration to me and is probably one of the reasons I became a serious weight lifter well over a decade ago. I am now 53.

He proves that if are active throughout life, you will hopefully avoid many of the illness that plague us as we age.

Charles

Lonnae O'Neal Parker: Hi Charles, thanks for weighing in.

I wish Brad Tatum was my uncle! True story, after I started reporting the story, I finally relented and allowed my kids to take swim lessons. One of the first things Brad said to me when I said I had children was "can they swim." I was so embarrassed to say they couldn't--especially since it was only because I didn't want to go to all that trouble with their hair.

Your kids are so lucky to have such an active and involved grandfather. I think the Tatum brothers inspiration will be seen through many generations. Thanks again.

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Lonnae O'Neal Parker: Any other questions or comments, I'd love to hear them. I'd especially love to hear any stories about people who just took up exercising or found that they felt better after exercising again after a long time.

It's kind of funny, after I Dr. Doll told me about keeping in shape with her cartwheel and split, I was reminded that for years, I prided myself on the same thing. After working out I'd always do a cartwheel, straight down a line (as if I were practicing for the balance beam), I'd do a back bend, and finish off with a split for a good stretch.

I was in the gym recently and did a beautiful cartwheel, but fell on my head trying to do a back bend. I've decided I'm going to get the split back though, I'm just a few clicks short of horizontal--and medication helps with the soreness...

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Washington, DC: Thanks so much for your inspiring article (and thank the Tatums too). I used the article to convince my octogenarian Mother to resume putting a weekly swim date on her calendar.

Lonnae O'Neal Parker: Wonderful, I love it. I am about to send it to my 67 year old mother in North Carolina. I would share my Tatum stories with her as I was doing my reporting but she never fully seemed to buy in. She does water calisthenics (not quite aerobics) three times a week but I really, really want her to move more and get healthier. My hope is that a lot of seniors, who have a lot of folks who love them and want them to be around, see the Tatums' example and decide they want to do something better in old age. Thanks for sharing that.

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Anonymous: Thank you so much for the great article about my Uncle John and my Dad, Brad Tatum. They are truly amazing Men. We are all very proud of them. They are a hard act to follow.

Lonnae O'Neal Parker: Well thanks for sharing them with the world. They really are treasures.

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Lonnae O'Neal Parker: Well, thanks folks, I think that about covers all our questions for today. Everyone go call your parents or grandparents for a swim date.

Thanks for reading.

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Anonymous: I have had the pleasure of singing in the Liberty Baptist Church Senior Choir with Mr. John Tatum for about 10 years. I have truly enjoyed reading this article about his life accomplishments, many in which I did not know. However, I do know that he is a genuinely nice person, quick witted and a joy to know. I am so glad to know even more about him. To both the Tatum brothers, I say God Bless you and keep going! Lessie B. Johnson

Lonnae O'Neal Parker: Ah, another posting from the Tatum fan club. Thanks for sharing your sentiments and best wishes.

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