Too old not to know the difference between "to" and "too".
Too old not to know the difference between "to" and "too".
No! If you love running, if it makes you feel alive, why should you stop? I see so many people going through life almost asleep, with no interest. I prefer to see people with a burning passion in the heart: it does not matter if you don't qualify for the Olympics. Do what makes you happy, and stop caring about social conventions.
I am not sure about making it your life but here is my story.
About ten years ago I was pre-hypertensive, overweight, etc. I worked long hours and ate what I wanted while still running the occasional ten miles to prove to myself that I still had "it." At 6', 240# I was a mess. I was going from heavy lifting to moderate cardio to eating the hell out of a steak and cream spinach at Smith and Wollensky's.
One doctor visit changed my world. I asked if I could make changes via diet and exercise (I think the doctor may have even chuckled). She agreed (God I love her) to six months and that was my wake up call.
I bought a bike, rode year round to work (~10 miles each way) in Chicago weather. Not a day was missed unless I traveled. I dropped my first 30# but I plateaued. I changed jobs, quit traveling, joined a gym, hired a trainer and off I went. I did a 50 mile cross-discipline race solo, ran a couple marathons (yeah, I know, a rookie still) but found greatest joy in just lacing up and running. I enjoyed my vacations so much more doing this. I would visit Caribbean islands and while the wife lounged poolside with a drink, I was wrapping up my daily tri's (pool, bike and run). In the evening I would run to explore. I have my gps maps from my Garmin from several vacations.
Now, ten years later, I am breaking my body apart doing stupid things like commuting (doubles) running. Less distance but still, that is hard. Still I love the pre dawn commute run and knowing that I am running in negative wind chill weather. I am taking yoga a couple times a week. I am working on functional mobility. But my body is reminding me that I need to slow my roll. I have gone to doing duathlons with rental bikes during my commute (bike a mile, run a mile, bike a mile, run a mile, or two, until I arrive.)
I use my running to get my personal/exercise time in. I use my time with my wife and kids for just that. I surf this blog once in awhile. I have other hobbies too. So, running does not consume me. Not by a long shot.
But make no mistake. When I am healthy, I am one guy that loves to run. Sub135 (my login) is my goal. Run hard and keep heart rate sub 135bpm. I am turning 50 this year. I plan to rock that 50-miler I mentioned above. Hell, I would love to run rim to rim at grand canyon. For now, I need to get back to 102/72 which is my best recorded bp since being on this journey.
Namaste my fellow poster. Run and be happy. I promise I am.
Jamón wrote:
Not at all. I've also found that people without hobbies often don't spend that extra time with their families. Unless watching sportsball can be considered a hobby. It's amazing how much time people waste being a sports fan. I think my wife puts up with my running because I don't make her watch sportsball all the time. But somehow that's more acceptable than actually doing a sport because you can force your kids to watch with you. Other people waste time on religion. I cut those two things out of my life and replaced it with running.
Great point!