Is there something you used to be good at doing, but have lost the ability? Not because of physical disabilities.

I don't feel like my cooking is at the same level it was 10 years ago.  I don't play piano as well as I once did either.  I've lost the ability for small talk and "do you know" questions with people whom I have just met.  It drives me a little nuts in fact.  Either we have something to talk about or I'm fine being silent.

Reading books for pleasure. :(

Although, I tried again recently and I need new glasses and/or contacts. Physical disability could nearly be a legitimate excuse! 

Surfing. Lack of practice, Adelaide doesn't have any waves to speak of.

 

  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.

~

This post was edited by Randy D at June 22, 2021 1:21 PM MDT

I use to read 2 books a week and it was those big thick paperback books. Since then, my attention span has been significantly affected by mental illness. There's no way I can read a book now and build my own personal world around it and remember it.

Yeah I used to be real good at bluffing  people with my poker face then taking all the money in the pot Now a days people can read me like a book. Cheers and happy weekend!

Running up and down stairs everywhere like a complete Darwin subject. This post was edited by CosmicWunderkind at June 22, 2021 1:22 PM MDT