|
May 2018
2:52pm, 16 May 2018
22,519 posts
|
LazyDaisy
Hear hear V'rap.
I'm delighted that some people have the genes and the luck to be very fit into old age, and I'll do my best to stay fit myself. But I'm not inspired by them.
|
|
May 2018
3:04pm, 16 May 2018
5,443 posts
|
Jovi Runner
I ran county level 200m as a junior (up to age 18/19). I then gave up in favour of partying. I returned aged 38. I tend to podiym in my age category ay races now althihgg am way of top level. My father was also a runner and played football at quite a high amateur level. I always loved running & on one hand regret the 20 'lost years' in some respects although on yh8e orher hand do wonder whether I'd be more worn out now if I'd kept running?
|
|
May 2018
4:24pm, 16 May 2018
11 posts
|
jb62
Thanks for all the interesting response on your 'running CVs'.
HS - that knee has been a real sod. Hope the event in June goes well, of course.
|
|
May 2018
4:52pm, 16 May 2018
663 posts
|
Andrew65
I have become quite sanguine about getting old and the inevitable decline in my body as the years pass.
I am still a relative youngster (53), there are many at my club who have amassed many more years than I have. However, I have abused my body in many different ways over these 53 years; I have never been athletic and not much of a sportsperson, even as a youngster.
I will admit that I started running back in 2006 with the intention of trying to stave off the evils of old age for as long as possible. Prior to that time, I had never run more than a mile in my life (I even used to cheat on cross-country runs at school).
Not surprisingly, my running CV has been chequered with injury and underachievement.
Now, I accept that running is likely to do more harm to this unconditioned body than good. And that any health benefits that might be gained from running are likely to be counteracted by the 40 odd years of abuse that preceded it. But I am not running for physical health, I run because I love doing it. It is a kind of meditation for me, I cut myself off from the stresses of life for a short time and just enjoy being in my own world.
Sure, a bit of weight loss would be an added bonus (I have a wardrobe full of clothes that I would like to wear again if possible), but I am not going to get caught up in any kind of 'health anxiety', I don't want to live a long time (if at all), I just want to enjoy whatever time I have left, and hope to run when I can for as long as I can.
Anyway, the point I wanted to make is that, whilst I am always impressed by the achievements of others, I don't feel inspired by them either. Life is not a competition; success is measured by happiness.
|
|
May 2018
5:11pm, 16 May 2018
6,917 posts
|
Markymarkmark
Whilst I can still do a 5k faster than any people half my age, I'll be happy! 
And whilst I often say my actual target is to live to 120 and enjoy it, the emphasis needs to be on the "enjoy it" bit. I don't want to live to 80 and it feel like I've spent 120 years of self denial and misery to get there!
That said, I don't intend to die of anything I could reasonably be expected to avoid/that is in my control. I suspect it's time to stop climbing on the roof without a safety harness, or using a chainsaw without training, or even stop riding up and down dual carriageways on my bike!
|
|
May 2018
5:31pm, 16 May 2018
665 posts
|
Andrew65
But where is the fun in that Marky?
|
|
May 2018
5:34pm, 16 May 2018
1,884 posts
|
Canute
Jovi, if a person’s aim is to achieve elite level as an athlete, taking a break during the years 18 to 28 is not likely to be the optimum strategy. However if a person’s goal is to achieve longevity as an athlete while obtaining maximum enjoyment from involvement in athletics as part of an interesting life, I suspect that remorseless training throughout young adult life is rarely the best strategy.
In my own case, I have no regrets about my decision to engage in a range of interesting activities (academic, social and athletic) in my 20’s and 30’s. Perhaps I could have achieved a little more as an athlete if I had pursued that goal single-mindedly. However, as I see it, the satisfaction of a few transient athletic triumphs is unlikely to have been as great as the satisfaction from the diverse opportunities that have come my way on the path I have followed. Nonetheless, at all stages of my running career, I have wanted to be as good as I could be on that selected path. Over the years, whenever racing, I have enjoyed competing with individuals who are at my level. In practice, this usually means setting my sights on the runners who are immediately ahead of me in the final stages of the race. Nowadays I rarely race. I am happy enjoying the country-side, but I still derive pleasure from trying to run well.
Andrew, I suspect that running is usually beneficial for both well-being and health even after many years of neglect, provided you are attentive to when your body tells you are overdoing it. But as you imply, letting concern for health get in the way of well-being is usually a poor choice.
|
|
May 2018
5:52pm, 16 May 2018
22,069 posts
|
DocMoye
As a child I learnt to trip over deliberately near the start of every running race to avoid the humiliation of always being last. So having come to running in my 40’s and being able to come in the top half of my age group in many races that I run ( regularly top 3 at park run) I’m totally chuffed with myself. Being a late bloomer definately suits some of us 😄
|
|
May 2018
5:55pm, 16 May 2018
666 posts
|
Andrew65
@DocMoye- I shall remember to trip over at the beginning of my next parkrun "yeah, coulda had a PB if it wasn't for that rock!"
|
|
May 2018
5:57pm, 16 May 2018
22,071 posts
|
DocMoye
..... you get much more sympathy for a trip than you do for coming last.
|
