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Back in May I went running. I know, nothing unusual about that. I took my time running through town, proudly sporting my 2010 Boston Tech T, steadily making my way to one of the more popular running roads. As I turned left on to that road, I could see another runner coming from the opposite direction. He was younger, faster and wearing the same shirt. A quarter mile later he caught up to me.
“Nice shirt,” I said as he began to pass me.
“Yeah, you too,” he replied.
He fell in step with me and asked how I did.
“3:32,” I said, “not bad for a old guy.”
“Not bad at all,” he said genuinely.
“You?” I asked.
“2:25”
Cue record scratch sound. Cue my stutter step and double take.
“2-, 2:25? 2:25?”
“Yup.” He almost seemed uncomfortable with it and quickly changed the subject to my then spankin’ new Bikilas. We chatted for another quarter mile or so, but the whole time I was thinking “2:25?” I looked at this kid. He must have been somewhere between 18 – 25 (it’s getting harder to tell as I get older), running along gracefully with the stride of youth.
I started thinking, “wow, I’m old. I could be twice this kid’s age and he’s running a 2:25. Who am I with my 3:30?” Pangs of doubt led to the awareness of the pains of age. Every little pang I usually ignore in my legs suddenly became very noticeable. Suddenly I felt very much like a 40 year old, something I hadn’t felt since I started running.
I asked myself, “why am I doing this?”
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5 months later I answered that question – Why am I doing this?
I’m doing it for this feeling:
Official Time - 3:19:19 - BQ
It was shortly after that run in with “2:25” that I reminded myself that yes, I was probably twice his age BUT I should be proud of that. The truth is, when I was that kid’s age, there was no way I would/could do what I am doing out there today. I was a physically old 20 year old. Today, I am a physically young 40 year old. Comparing myself to this kid was ridiculous, but comparing myself to my 20 year old self made a lot more sense.
Aging is inevitable. Regardless of how well we take care of ourselves, we will eventually have to yield to Father-Time. But how we get from 20 to 40 to 80 and beyond, and how long it is before we must ultimately throw in the towel, is, to a degree, in our own hands. I will be 41 next Wednesday. If I focused solely on the number I would end up down a rabbit hole of depression. In widening the lens, taking in the bigger picture, I realize that at 41 I will weigh less, run faster and be stronger than I was at 21. I may not recover as quickly from a night of partying like a rock star like I used to, but in the end, 41 is looking pretty damned good.
20-something year old Luau
40-year old Luau
Do you know what you want to look and feel like on your next birthday? or are you already there?
Run Luau Run 
the question that begs, did you share beer photo’s of the day back then? sorry, had to, and while I am at it, you are focused on numbers, like how many miles did I run today and how fast did I run, or 1500 miles by 12/22….IMO those are the numbers that you should focus on, not your age, cause really who gives a rats…..
In March I’ll be 50. 5 0. I do not run fast, but I run. I run every single day that I can. I have done a 1/2 marathon, and I hope to someday complete a marathon. In my 20’s I was an anorexic mess. Today, I’m happy, healthy and have 3 beautiful (almost all adult) children. Like you, I say the next birthday is looking pretty good!
looking twice as good at twice the age! i’m getting more and more convinced that age doesn’t matter so much as how you choose to live your life. you make inspiring choices!
Thanks for reminding me that I’ll be 40 this year! BTW… I still love that picture!
You look much better now than you did in your 20s. Why are you comparing yourself to someone else anyway? (never mind a young whipper snapper)… I always only compare my times to my own times as there’s sometimes no way I’ll be able to compete with this person or that… if I beat my own PB I’m happy. And if I don’t, I’m happy too because I CAN run. 😀
In my book you’re pretty young (16 years older here). But yeah, we all age and there’s always someone faster. Life.
I’m in better shape now then I was in my 20’s. I have done pretty much a complete lifestyle overhaul starting at around 28.
Jersey at 38 could kick 20 year old Jersey’s butt. 😉
I LOVE this post and all of the comments. A week from Saturday – yes everyone a Christmas baby – I turn 57. I honor the miles that have been put into this body (and the miles I’m sure are added exponentially for the 25+ surgeries I have gone through) so when I’m getting ready to do a PR next Sunday, I take it down a notch and power walk instead of go all out on a training run. I live in harmony with my body now but I have never in my entire life felt this good, this happy, this at peace, this whole as I do approaching my 57th birthday. I am so grateful for the ongoing healing and transformation and what a joy to share it with you and this amazing running community.
I’m no athlete. I shuffle along, sing and smile .. But running has truly reformed my body and my spirit. At 44 I’m only 4 pounds away from my high school graduation weight. Not bad for an old broad.. I’ll take that over a 2:25 anytime. 🙂 Thanks for the reminder!
I still maintain that I have shoes older than you. You do get better with age. That’s all that anyone can strive for.
Love you,
Mom
Thanks so much for sharing this! As you’ve rightly said – it’s how we feel, not how fast we go. running is running no matter what the pace. And the finish line feels oh-so-good no matter how fast or slow we are getting to it.
Happy trails 🙂
Don’t be dissin’ 20 year old Luau.