A top Marine shares his secrets to keeping fit at 50

"For every military service chief, there's a senior enlisted advisor, the person responsible for what's often the most human side of command, including things like troop welfare and fitness. In the Marine Corps, that's Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz - tall, upbeat, and, at 50, still running miles alongside Marines across the globe. While generals shape strategy and operations, senior enlisted leaders focus on how those decisions impact the troops who execute them. For Ruiz, that means staying fit and setting the example himself."

""A little bit of running, a little bit of gym, and a lot of PT with Marines," he told Business Insider of his routine, using the military's acronym for physical training. That "little bit of running" might be an understatement though. He recently completed the Corps's annual marathon in Washington, DC, over 26 miles. These days, Ruiz's priority isn't busting records in the squat rack or leveling up in the Corps' martial arts program."

Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz serves as the Marine Corps senior enlisted advisor responsible for troop welfare and fitness. At 50, he runs alongside Marines worldwide and recently completed the Corps's annual marathon in Washington, DC. He balances cardio and resistance work to protect joints, favoring dumbbells, kettlebells, and machines instead of heavy barbell lifts. He focuses on longevity rather than bulking, maintaining his natural build and often outperforming younger Marines. He continues to take the Corps' two annual fitness tests, including a three-mile run (fastest about 16:30), pull-ups, and a nearly four-minute plank. Top pull-up scores for men and women are usually just over 20 and 10, respectively.

Read at Business Insider