March 21, 2011
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Past my prime
I played tackle football with some fraternity brothers yesterday. On my team were the alumni, playing against a bunch of kids who are still in college. Physically, I felt fine, despite a slightly sore hamstring from helping my father clean the basement the day before.
It was a crazy game–someone hurting their shoulder within 10 mins and had to sit out. I was happy to remember my mouthguard because there were lots of hits and many close calls.
Three hours later, my sore hamstring was bothering me and I had to stop. Today, I woke up sore, but not like I got hit by a truck. At the same time, I felt it yesterday–how I’ve aged so much in the last couple of years and how much slower I was on the field. Sure, I was still able to blow past my defenders, but I had to try much harder than I did before. I always considered myself to be a great WR, but I have to face it–I’m past my prime.
Physically, I keep on pushing my body, but what I should really be doing is conditioning it. Although I exercise and in pretty decent shape, I should still put in more time with exercise and workouts. I feel like an old athlete, still trying to show the young guys how things are done, but there are only so many tricks I have before my body starts breaking down.
We were up 4-1 at one point and stopped the game to teach them how to beat us. This match was meant to be a coaching session to prepare them for their real match against another team. By the time I left, we were down 6-5. That’s the thing about youth–as long as you know what to do, your body will react and follow. Once you get to a certain age, you feel like you think a lot faster and your body just can’t keep up.
I can believe that my body failed me, but I know I have failed my body. I guess now that I’m older, I just have to work that much harder to keep up. Can’t let age get the best of me. Not yet at least.
It’s funny how we spend so much of our youth, trying to grow up, but spend much of the rest of our life, remembering how great being young was.
Anyway, I’m curious to know if anyone feels the same way as I do–like you know you’re not “old,” but your body feels a lot older.
Comments (14)
Well honestly, I have an impossibly hard time with going to bed too late. It wrecks me for days.
oh definitely. the last time i played tackle football, i was hurtin for a full 3 days afterwards. and i didn’t even get hit that hard.
i believe that there comes a time when being out of the proverbial action settles our physical selves so much that the instantaneous call to an unscheduled physical activity doesn’t register in our heads as quickly and thus our bodies.
but i still believe that in some measure, and with conditioning, you can reverse this trend.
Yup, especially just in the last 2 years. I can’t tell so much with exercise, but with what I eat. My stomach gets upset at the smallest things; I have to pop Tums fairly often and I never needed to before. I dread that one of these days I’ll have to give up hot wings!
I WILL NEVER GROW OLD!!!!!
I was never in very good shape until I hit my mid 20s and was running a lot. I stopped, got fat, and now, I’m getting back in shape again and I feel pretty damn good so I can’t really relate. The only real sign of aging I’ve noticed is that I can’t party as much as I used to but that’s probably a good thing.
I only condition when I work out now~ I learned my lesson on pushing myself too hard and having a hard time heading to work the next day. The most noticeable aspect I notice about my body is the decreased flexibility~ stretching is o so important. Hope your muscles recover fast~ if not… you can always take some amino acids
I’m not sure if it’s age or all the prescriptions I took for awhile, but something tanked my metabolism. That definitely makes me feel old.
i feel old sometimes. i cant keep up with children these days they make me so tired
@lanney - LOL! I take prescriptions and it does make me feel older and harder for me to wake up.
I don’t know how old you are, I’m nearing 30 and finding myself harder to do anything… with meds, wife, and baby, school, job, well heck, with life in general.
I don’t play sports so I couldn’t tell you if i feel older.. but I did get into a fight almost 4 months ago… my hands, knuckles, pride felt old for about 2 months. Plus, I felt retarded for still fist fighting at an age where I should be at home spending time with my family.
i totally feel the same. I can’t go out 2 nights in a row anymore. I feel that music is too loud at a restaurant, and it cuts into talk time with your friends. My joints hurt when I run for too long. Yea…. this list can go on for awhile.
@BenelliMan No wonder you feel old. It sounds like you’re burning your candle at at least three ends!
I feel and look like I am 75…
i think it’s the beard. shave it off and you’d look at least 5 yrs younger. i swear.
LoL Thats the truth. My mind is a hell of alot faster than my body. Before they used to be on somewhat equal standing but jeeze. I do something thinking its fine and the next day im tired as hell LoL. I just turned 30 so yeah I think im still young but jeeze LoL. Good subject ^^