Off--154.5#
Regular season football is officially in full swing. Some love the game; others hate it, but anyone who has a rudimentary understanding of the game has to admit that it provides us with not only beautiful displays of teamwork but also some elegant and impressive displays of athleticism. Few things are more beautiful than a player in an all-out sprint for the end zone, ball neatly tucked and chugging to the rhythm of the gait. In case you couldn't tell, I happen to be one of the ones who loves the game, so I was excited to be able to spend my Sunday curled up on the couch. Sunday night's game was between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. Football fans instantly know that means we'll be seeing a lot of Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison--and hearing a lot about them from the commentators. Much of the talk tonight was about Harrison's being the second oldest receiver in the league, having been born August 25, 1972. 36-years-old. The "experts" have their doubts that he'll be able to maintain the level of play that he has held so well for the last 11 years. They feel he's topping the hill, if not over it, professionally.
My initial response to this conversation between the commentators was sadness for Harrison, though rumor has it these conversations just fire him up and inspire him to play that much harder. Then, a moment of panic hit when it occurred to me that he is only a year older than I am. It was only a moment, though, because I quickly realized that in this area I am actually at an advantage over an elite athlete. As a matter of fact, most of us have that advantage. At the elite level, youth definitely works in an athlete's favor. Years of hard training, hard knocks, and life take their toll on the human body, and whether we like it or not, with time we become slower, often weaker, and really don't perform as well as we had the potential to once upon a time. The good news is that because most of us didn't maximize our physical potential at any point in our past, we have to opportunity to be better now, at this age, than we were in those years that the "experts" feel should have been our best. Though I ran 6 miles a day at age 20, I am definitely better conditioned now than I was then. I am definitely stronger. And since I still have room to go, next year I will be stronger still.
WORKOUT: None. Today was an off day.
SATURDAY'S WORKOUT:
Workout 3:
8 rounds of 2 16kg TGU's per side
Then...16kg snatches 1 min R/1 min L/1 min rest for 8 rounds.
Your observations are accurate, in my opinion. I was last picked for everything (HATED sports and PE) and only became semi-athletic as an adult. And as I close in on 50 (what?) I find that I may not be faster than I was 10 years ago, but I'm certain that I'm more tenacious, more determined, and definitely more athletic. I think that what "goes" is the balls-to-the-wall speed that may peak in your late 20s/early 30s. But since I'm not training to be in the Olympics, nor is sprinting my sport, I'll take tenacity and determination over speed any day -- they serve me well in my life today.
ReplyDeleteAgain, excellent post! Oh, and I like football (especially the sounds of football) but my husband LOVES it, and this year he bought the special cable package where he can watch every single game -- he's in heaven!