RE people over 65,

I do not know why people that age (65-70...and above) are expected to be that decrepit. My parents stayed in their Paris apartment well into my father's 60s. There was no elevator (200 yo building-too narrow staircase) and we lived on the 5th floor. It was right in the center of town, everything of interest accessible by foot, they liked it there. Needless to say they would climb those stairs several times a day. That was a good thing because my dad used to smoke more than a pack of cigarettes a day, and one day he walked up these stars a bit too fast and got "winded" as you say. He stopped smoking, entirely, the next day and never touched a cigarette again. He looked like he "rejuvenated" at least 20 years after that... and never got "winded" again (and no he never developed lung cancer). My mom only had knee "limitations" if walking over 4-6 miles and then climbing back home.

Rock climbers do not stop at 70.

At 70 you should be able to walk at 4 miles an hour for 15 miles+ without a "pause".

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