David Hadley enjoys fly fishing, a sport that can be physically demanding.
John M. Bottorff, D.C., C.C.S.T., is a 1981 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic and a second generation chiropractor. He is certified in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma. He is a triathlete and an avid cyclist, runner and swimmer. He can be contacted at Bottorff Advanced Chiropractic at 362-8833 or online at www.Cvillepainrelief.com.
Depending on who you listen to, your genetic make-up can catapult you to the Olympic podium or condemn you to a physical dungeon. This week’s Health Hero Dave Hadley recognized his genetic predisposition and chose to take a proactive plan to effectively nurture nature in his favor.
But for a few short years Dave grew up in Jeffersonville.
“We lived 10 minutes up river on the Ohio River,” said Dave, reflecting of his youth. “We were always swimming and messing around in the woods. It was a great place to grow up.”
After high school, he headed off to Indiana University to study journalism. Upon graduation, David realized journalism wasn’t the right fit and shifted his post-graduate work toward a political science major. In 1969, he was doing a dissertation at Wabash College when a political science job became available. He applied and was hired. He taught for 43 years before retiring in 2012. David also served as Dean of Students from 1991 to 1997.
Ancestors can have an impact on a person’s health and Dave was faced with a harsh reality. His father had his first heart attack at age 50 and another at age 57 that proved fatal. One of David’s brothers had a heart attack at age 42. So, when Dave turned 30 he went to Dr. Keith Baird of Crawfordsville who told him he most likely had “bad genes” and that he should work to overcome them. In response, Dave looked to a book called “The New Aerobics” by Ken Cooper that suggested a point system for improving the cardiovascular system. The “Cooper Test” measured the distance a person could run in 12 minutes and was a quantifiable fitness test, that correlated well with a persons VO2 or maximal oxygen consumption. Dave met with several friends on the Wabash running track and did the test. Something clicked because Dave didn’t miss a week without running for 26 years after that.
Dave was 57 when his running streak was interrupted by a burning sensation in his chest when he ran. Tests revealed he had a 95 percent blockage of one of the arteries in his heart. The time he had to take off for the stint placed to open the restriction was the first he had as a professor — another impressive streak.
Dave has been working out four to five days a week since and is going strong at age 73. He has chosen to go with a program of alternating walking for two minutes and running for two. He does this for 40 minutes. He was recently involved in a pull up contest with his grandson who will lose if he can’t match Dave’s number of 16 straight.
Dave and his wife of 52 years, Sheridan, also keep an eye to their diet. One only has to look at Dave to be jealous of what his body mass index number would be. They keep fried foods to a minimum. No biscuits and gravy during the interview at Allen’s Country Kitchen.
“Lots of fruits and vegetables,” David said. “I normally have a big salad for dinner.”
He will drink a six-ounce soda for lunch with a sandwich but that’s it for sugary drinks.
Dave has a passion for fly fishing, a sport that can be physically demanding. Wading streams, casting a line and landing trout is tougher than one would think and his fitness comes in handy. Dave’s plan has nurtured nature so nature can nurture him.
See you on the walk.
