Old Guys Rule

My first thought as we hit the trails at McAllister park this afternoon was, I've got to jump over the roots or I'll fall. Roots everywhere. Whoa,there's a big one! Another one elevated inches off the ground, get up! Wait a minute! I'm on a bike!
Some buddies at work who I used to ride with years ago have been telling me about all the fun they've been having Mountain biking. I couldn't take it anymore! I wanted to go out and have fun with them. This past Sunday I washed the 6 year old mud that was on my mountain bike, install a seat, and I couldn't decide what pedals to install. Clip or clip-less. What the heck, I'm going all the way. Clip-less it is.
What fun! Fast Twisting, winding, up, down, ruts, rocks! I did chicken out on the steep downhill drops though.
I thought and exclaimed to my friends, "You all can still ride for old guys!"
Lib was the young one at 48 and John was the senior at 62 years old! Mike and I fell in between.
Awesome afternoon.

Spring is here.

Friday was a good day. 40 Miles of bicycle riding in the Texas Hill Country with friends. And grabbing a bite to eat at Alamo Springs Cafe at the top of a hill out in the middle of nowhere.
Yesterday I introduced a new trail runner to Government Canyon State Natural area. An easy 5 mile tour. Then I caught up with an old buddy. We hung out in his garage and worked on replacing the front brake pads and rotor on my Honda. It's always great hanging out with Sal. He and I go way back to adolescence. Sal is a jack of all trades. Handy man extraordinaire, an outdoorsman, and a motorcyclist. His new Honda Valkyrie 1500 is a thing of beauty. He was also once a runner, and the person who helped me complete my first long distance run by just being there, so we can relate on that level too.
Later I prepared a Thai stir fry that was a hit at home, then I was out cutting down some Prickly pear cactus in the greenbelt behind my house and raking up the Live Oak leaves in the back yard. Chores I've been neglecting for some time. Whew! Was that tiring! No wonder I've put them on the back burner.
I had to go out and relax with some running on the trails this morning. John and I leisurely ran at Government Canyon in what seemed to be 90 percent humidity. Spring is here in South Texas.

Strong seniors

My mom's big sister, Aunt Francis, has always been a small but very strong woman. When I called to wish her a happy 85th birthday this past Thursday, she said she'd just returned home from the senior center and she had a great time. I asked if she rode the bus, as she had been doing. "No" she said, "I have difficulty now, but Guess what?" "My little sister, your Aunt Rosa, surprised me and was there with a cake for me" "And, SHE rode the bus!"
Now Aunt Rosa is her little sister, but Aunt Rosa is 74 years old and had to transfer buses downtown! How's that for love? How's that for staying active?
Members of my Mom's family have always been caring, loving, and happy people. I guess that's what keeps them strong.

Senior

Going through my mail today I was reminded, I am a senior! Not as a student but as a person. I have been receiving mail offering me senior discounts, AARP membership and the like for some time now. My friends are calling me old man. Another friend at work who trains new employees and is my age recently stated he has come to resent students remarks about how they weren't even born when he refers to certain points in his career. We had a discussion about it and in the end we were able to laugh at ourselves and at the youngsters.
I've written about this before, but it keeps hitting me in the face. The mail and comments keep coming. My body at times resists the physical demands I put on it.
The worst thing I can do is succumb. I read some stats recently on growing old and staying happy. The one that stood out was the last one. "Come to terms with your age."
I'll keep laughing. Relish in my small victories and the fact that I am still physically able to run and bike. And I'll keep pushing the body, albeit in a slightly modified way.
I'm off to run 6 miles and then hit the weights for upper body maintenance. I won't let my muscles go without a fight!

Every Race is a Championship

"The older I get the Better I Was"
That is the phrase we would recite to an old TriAthlete friend when he would start his rant about his previous accomplishments. Of course it was all in jest. We loved our buddy, and he was a very good athlete in his glory days. But it seemed he would add just a little bit more drama as he recounted his past triumphs. J is now 60+ years old and he still looks great, but he can no longer run, or bike as he once could due to a total knee replacement. J started his athletic feats early and pushed the envelope to the extreme. And often pushed through injury after injury. He enjoyed and relished his victories and now can only reflect on them. None the less, he built a very physical and healthy lifestyle. One he still adheres to, although at a lower level.
I have always been active but I was always a middle of the pack runner and biker. Now that I am older though I am enjoying some success (as far as awards). Small as it may be. Some of this success is due to the fact that as I get older the field in my age group is getting smaller! I won my very first award at a trail marathon in 2005 when I was 46 yrs. old, The masters division. Sure the field was small but hey, I was there to run! Every race is a Championship right? We are there to test ourselves against the course and whoever shows up. Now in my 50's I have enjoyed more victories (3rd place). I am still here and hope to still be enjoying the running experience for years to come. And completing every run or race is a success and a victory.
I am reminded of my uncle Raul, My Dad's brother, who was very active all his life. Uncle Raul was the only one in his family who exercised on a regular basis. He also played softball all of his adult life. In his late 60's I remember him saying to me "I can't wait to get into the over 70 league! Those guys are slow!" Unfortunately, uncle Raul, now in his late 70's, suffers from Parkinson's disease. He still has his wits about him. He just cannot control all his body movements. When I see him he tells me, " You look good. Your still running, I can tell. Keep it up"
These two guys, J and Uncle Raul, challenged there bodies and enjoyed life. They are Champions!
They now have succumbed to our limitations as humans. But they LIVED! And still live.
Do it till you can't do it anymore.

Great friends

You know you have a very great group of friends when they can laugh freely at your expense, and in your presence.
Today after our weekly run at Ike, We were ribbing each other about witnessing our falls on the trail. I recalled the time I was approaching an aid station when the volunteers yelled "yea, here comes a runner", I smiled broadly and !PLOP! I went down. Now how embarrassing is that? The folks were great and ran to my aid, but how many were laughing inside? And how many re-told and still tell that story? Oh well the gang today laughed and I was reminded about the time we were on a group run and as I'm bringing up the rear, I yelled out !UGH! As my friends turn around, they see me with my legs straight up in the air like a dead cockroach.
I do tend to stay down awhile to regroup and assess my condition. Not popping right back up as I did in my younger days.
I also mentioned the time I went down hard and bruised my ribs. Luckily I was with our good friend Liza who comforted me in my pain with a hug.
Great friends indeed.
We had a new friend today too! Vidal joined us and fit right in. He talks almost as much as Chris! But that's a good thing!