Meet the woman who swam 88 lengths to celebrate her 88th birthday
<p>While many people her age are slowing down, an 88-year-old Levin woman plans to swim more and more with each passing year.</p>
<p>As autumn deepens, Heather Robinson waves goodbye to the previous year and plunges into the water to do one extra lap as she matches her age to lengths of the pool.</p>
<p>She turned 88 on April 29 and immediately ticked off 88 lengths – a total of 2.2 kilometres. Ninety minutes later, Robinson was still in high spirits.</p>
<p>"I'm lucky I've still got my health, so I just keeping doing it."</p>
<p>Robinson started swimming her way through her birthdays at 60 and said she would not stop until she physically couldn't do it.</p>
<p>"The day will come when I can't, but as long as I can, I will."</p>
<p>She is no stranger to the Levin Aquatic Centre, where she swims 60 lengths a day, three times a week.</p>
<p>Robinson also cycles 25km every Sunday, but has given up on running marathons after having completed three, on top of more than 50 half marathons.</p>
<p>Fitness is important to Robinson, whose advice to other elderly people is to get outside, breath fresh air and keep on moving.</p>
<p>"It doesn't hurt to just get out in the morning and even just go around the block."</p>
<p>Reshape New Zealand owner Donovan Daniels said as people aged they could lose muscle and strength.</p>
<p>"It's important to combat that."</p>
<p>Resistance training and cardiovascular exercise could help with sarcopenia – age-related muscle waste.</p>
<p>It was difficult to say how much exercise a person should be doing, as everyone had different abilities, but even five minutes a day could help, Daniels said.</p>
<p>People could then build up to the recommended period of 30 minutes of exercise every three to five days, he said.</p>
<p>"Even if you have a small capability to exercise, the benefits are there."</p>
<p>Robinson's efforts at the pool were above average for her age, Daniels said.</p>
<p>Swimming is a cardiovascular exercise that can help combat muscle waste.</p>
<p>The Levin Aquatic Centre, where Robinson swims, also has a hydrotherapy pool, used for aqua rehab and helps people getting back into fitness.</p>
<p>Aquatics manager James Richmond said aqua rehab classes helped people suffering from joint pain or who wanted to get moving again after an operation or illness.</p>
<p>"The aim of the class is to rebuild strength, flexibility and joint range of motion safely, under the guidance of a qualified instructor.</p>
<p>"Once attendees have built up sufficient fitness, our aim is to transition them into one of the other water or land-based fitness programmes on offer, so their progression can continue."</p>
<p>The hydrotherapy pool was built in September 2016 as part of a $1.68 million redevelopment by the Horowhenua District Council.</p>
<p><em>Written by Miri Schroeter. First appeared on <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Stuff.co.nz.</strong></span></a></em></p>
