Still Climbing at 66 — What Russ Clune Changed to Keep Performing

What happens when a life in climbing spans five decades, multiple eras, and some of the most surprising moments in outdoor history?In this episode, legendary climber Russ Clune takes us inside the world that shaped him: the Shawangunks (“the Gunks”) of the 1970s and 80s — an unlikely counterculture just two hours from Manhattan where artists, dirtbags, misfits, and pioneers built the early soul of American climbing.Russ shares rare, behind-the-scenes stories from his incredible career, including:• Competing in a government-run climbing event in Cold War Russia Painted red lines on limestone cliffs, leather-gloved belayers, Soviet stadium crowds, and a Wyoming cowboy becoming a national hero overnight. It’s a chapter of climbing history almost no one has heard.• The quiet era of “competitive free soloing” in the Gunks Russ recounts the friendly, unspoken one-upmanship among friends that culminated in his iconic solo of Supercrack. A moment that revealed both the power and limits of the mind — and marked the end of his soloing career.• What longevity really looks like at 66 Not superhuman strength — but consistency, humility, curiosity, and the ability to redefine performance as the decades unfold.• How to stay connected to your sport when your body changes Russ talks openly about becoming the belay anchor instead of the rope gun, and why aging in climbing can feel meaningful in its own way.📘 Russ’s Book: The LiferWe talk about his excellent memoir, The Lifer, which chronicles his adventures across the Gunks, Yosemite, Europe, South America, and beyond. It’s full of laughter, history, and insight — a must-read for anyone who loves climbing or stories of a life lived with passion.👉 Highly recommended: search “Russ Clune The Lifer” wherever you buy books.Timeline: Support cellular renewal and mitochondrial function with Mitopure, featuring Urolithin A. Get up to 20% off at timeline.com/AGELESSATHLETE 🚀 Love the show? Here’s how to support it If something you’ve heard here has stayed with you, made you smile, or helped you keep going, I’d be honored if you’d consider supporting the show. 👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/agelessathleteTopics: longevity, fitness over 40, endurance training, aging athletes, recovery, injury prevention 💜 Want to stay strong and capable as you age? Join the Ageless Athlete weekly newsletter for practical ideas, deeper lessons, and insights that don’t always make it into the podcast.Join here → https://agelessathlete.substack.com/subscribeAgeless Athlete is a podcast about healthy aging for people who want to stay strong, active and capable for life. Conversations explore strength, endurance, mobility, recovery, VO2 max, muscle and bone health, and what it takes to keep doing the things you love as you get older.Follow Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life for new episodes each week.