At 86, Ringo Starr isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. The Beatles drummer is still touring, taking his place behind the kit and, perhaps most importantly, still putting in the work in the gym.
Speaking in an interview with USA Today, Starr shared that he’s relied on consistent weekly training to stay fit while drumming on stage.
‘You know, there’s no special way. It’s just that no one can do it for you,’ Starr said. ‘You’ve got to get out of bed and do it.’
Ringo Starr’s Workout Routine at 86
Starr explained that he continues to work with a personal trainer three times a week, but his training doesn’t stop there. With a gym conveniently close at hand, he’ll often add another one or two sessions by himself.
‘I have a trainer still three times a week,’ he said. ‘And the gym’s just there. I go in on my own at least one day, usually two days, when she’s not there.’ That means Starr can be training as many as five days a week, combining cardio with resistance training.
‘Just to get my heartbeat [up] and get on the treadmill, do a bit of running and weights,’ he explained. ‘I’ve been doing it so long, it’s just like, “Oh, I’ll go over to the gym.”’
It’s a routine Starr has followed consistently enough for exercise to become a natural part of his lifestyle. His advice for anyone hoping to follow suit? ‘Get in that gym, loosen up. You can blame me. “That Ringo made me come in here.”’
Starr’s training appears to be doing the trick. With more shows scheduled, the drummer joked that he may even have the edge over fellow Beatle Paul McCartney when it comes to staying on the road the longest.
When asked whether there was a competition between the pair, Starr replied, ‘Well, it may look like that, but I’ll be the longest.’ At 86, and with five gym sessions a week under his belt, his chances are looking good.
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Kate is a fitness writer for Men’s Health UK where she contributes regular workouts, training tips and nutrition guides. She has a post graduate diploma in Sports Performance Nutrition and before joining Men’s Health she was a nutritionist, fitness writer and personal trainer with over 5k hours coaching on the gym floor. Kate has a keen interest in volunteering for animal shelters and when she isn’t lifting weights in her garden, she can be found walking her rescue dog.