I am not that old yet

I play basketball 2-3 times a week almost without fail. I say that because every now and then real life intrudes and I have to be responsible and do something else. I don’t mind too much, but it is hard to tear myself away.

I have been playing with the same guys for years now, so it is really a very pleasant experience and something that takes my mind off of the stresses of every day living.

In the last couple of weeks I have noticed a number of “age-related” experiences. In no particular order they are:

1) It takes longer to recover from injuries. Some things are just nagging away at me and it makes me irritable. They used to just disappear, I am not that old.

2) My speed is just not the same. I cannot claim to have been the fastest man, but I was never slow. Now it seems that the wheels just don’t move the way they used to. I used to be able to count on blowing by some guys and now I am just blowing alongside of them.

But I should mention that this is not a consistent event, sometimes the wheels demonstrate the abilities that the mind remembers.

I want to keep playing until my body won’t let me go any longer. The one thing that I can guarantee is that if you ask the guys I play with they’ll tell you that I hustle. And that is a trait I hope that my children pick up on.

Some people have more talent and always will be, but if I outwork them I can compensate for it. Nonetheless I am really not ready to give up yet, I am looking at some new workouts to see if I can find some of the youth I was once was.

The one thing that has never failed me is my strength. I am thankful for that, my fragile male ego would break. As long as I am not seriously injured it is one thing that I can count on. Not that any of this really matters.

And now I have gotten myself worked up and I am ready to run again. Too bad the gym is closed now.

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