I have lost my ability to cook. I don't use the outdoor grill anymore, because I ruin whatever I put in it.
Wait, you can’t see too well? Hmmmm, I finally have a chance . . .
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I’m way ahead of you.
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Oh, I have to play dirty pool, do I? Fine, I happen to know of a professional I can bring in, a ringer of sorts. She’s good at distracting the boys with her wily ways, too. Very good.
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I’m on it.
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With more and more COVID19 restrictions being lifted, organized running events are finally being offered again after an entire year of 100% shutdowns. I’m referring to groups getting together for training runs, competitive races of 5K to cross-country to 26.2-mile marathons and everything in between. Some of the largest events I’ve attended over the years have up to 7,000 participants, but none were held in 2020. Since February of 2020, I’ve only been running on my own, but with more frequency than ever before because I retired in the spring of 2020. I haven’t been inactive at all, but I haven’t had anyone to bounce off of as a comparison either. Exercising with others, whether one-on-one or in group settings, really pushes athletic fervor.
This past week, I went out for trials with one of the many local running clubs that offers group trading training programs for marathon preparation. I was surprised and even a little embarrassed at my performance, I placed much slower than I thought I would or should. My knees, which for my entire life have never given me any problems, are stiff, less agile, and a little downright painful. My sprint time has gone from a sustained optimum burst of speed for 30 or 60 seconds to a lung-emptying and heart-bursting struggle that can’t last longer than about 10 seconds. I was grateful that this club is way across the county far from where I live and no one knew me nor did I know any of them. The positive parts are my endurance hasn’t wavered: my stride is still the same, I can climb hills just as before, and I can do the 1 hour or 2 hours of nonstop running, albeit at a decreased pace.
Yes, I have to face it, folks, age is catching up to me. I won’t let it stop me, even if it has slowed me down. Heck, it might even be a temporary thing, once I get in with a group and put in the competitive training, I might restore some of my previous stats.
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I bet I know what one of those external forces is:
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(Nowadays is one word, not three.)