As I came off a very hard week I had an illumination. One of those brief introspective moments of clarity that puts life in perspective. first I had a week where I was not able to finish all of my scheduled workouts. On top of that I took the Rockport Test for Cardio and was categorized as poor. After two years of training, three or four sprint triathlons and even increased efforts on sprints I was poor! While I did accomplish my running goal for the week and swam nearly a mile, I felt futile and discouraged. It was in the pool near lap 42 that I was struck with the truth of it all. I am not doing this for anyone else but me! I am not training for the Olympics or even for a local competition. My better days are slipping by as age is not only creeping up but will eventually defeat all my efforts. There are no medals, accolades or cheering crowds. Only me pacing myself through the water for 1500 yards.
It is easy to become discouraged and depressed when older and seeking fitness. Muscles are not as reactive. We don't heal as fast. Recovery is painful. We simply cannot lift as much weight or get any faster. Most importantly, there are few people on the sidelines cheering on or congratulating us at the finish line. I remember once telling someone about finally getting my first mile after my hernia operation. "Only a mile? Why I do that just mowing my lawn!" It made me angry and I could have taken it and quit, but I didn't. I used it as incentive to keep on training and reach for that mile in under 12 minutes while lengthening it to 2 miles. You see the effort in fitness is not for others but for ourselves. It is for our benefit. It is to live a better and stronger quality of life, if the Lord so allows.
Instead of giving up because it all just seems so hard or pointless or lonley, bear down and reach from within for motivation. Look to others for inspiration. After my swim I spoke to Clarence who is 72 and has had open heart surgery. He was pretty happy with his days work, a mere three miles on the treadmill and 20 minutes on the bike. I thought to myself as I walked out of the gym, "Now that's what I am training for! I want to run the good race at 72." In order to do so I have to train now for it.
Original source: http://jgwalker.wordpress.com/?p=121
