Being a part of the medical team for the Olympic Trials has its perks. Some pretty cool SWAG, great camaraderie with other like minded professionals, and maybe even a few post-shift libations.

The only hard part, really, was squeezing my 6’3″ frame into a dorm room twin bed after a long day. But just about the time I wanted to complain about aging and how tough it is to be in my 40s, the gun went off for the men’s  5,000 meter race. I watched the monitor as I see another forty something–an Olympian in the race. It’s Bernard Lagat and he’s forty one years old to be exact.

Bernard Lagat came from behind to win the 5,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials. His final lap was a 52.8 seconds. As he took his victory lap, he held his hand up high showing five fingers, signifying he is on his way to his fifth Olympics next month in Rio.

Needless to say I found some extra energy and had a little spring in my step for the rest of the weekend.

So today I say, it’s a good week to be in your 40s.

Go Team USA!!!

-Russ Case PT, OCS, COMT, FAAOMPT

500 Foothill Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84148

VA Salt Lake City Health Care System – Physical Therapy

Russ is the Assistant Director for NAIOMT fellowship program and is a Clinical Specialist in orthopedics for the Salt Lake City Veterans Hospital. He serves as a Clinical Instructor for the  University of Utah/ VA’s joint residency program. He became board certified as an orthopedic clinical specialist (OCS) in 2009, completed the NAIOMT Manual Therapy Clinical Fellowship in 2011, and became a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Therapy (FAAOMPT) in 2011. He specializes in outpatient orthopedics and sports. Russ has been practicing physical therapy for 17 years. He graduated as a physiotherapist from The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1998.

Following graduation, he worked as a physical therapist in outpatient sports and orthopedics while adventuring in Texas, California, Montana, Oklahoma, and Oregon with his wife. Russ is a Marine Corps Veteran who enjoys the challenges of the outdoors and staying fit. He competes locally in sprint triathlons and is continuously challenged by the game of golf. Russ and his wife Kate reside in the Salt Lake City valley and love the outdoors and raising their 3 children.