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Growing Old (Dis)Gracefully

Posted by John on 08/12/09 • Categorized as Blog

Regular listeners/readers will know that I’ve decided to race again after a 15 year break. It’s something I’ve felt I should do a few times over the years and not followed through on, but talking about bikes and the scene every week and getting involved in conversations with folk from around the world via various means has really got me enthused this time.
The first month of training went well, riding 8 hours a week at what we old school folk call level 2, lost a wee bit of weight, had some fun mountain bike rides etc.
Second month started well but I had a small hiccough when I fell downstairs at home and hurt my hip. My own fault, came out of a bath, wet feet slipped on the stairs, the rest is history. The hip made riding uncomfortable/painful so I cut back to give it a chance to recover. Sensible.
However, as most of you know, I’m a postman and my job involves walking up to 10 miles carrying a heavy bag or on rural duties getting in and out of a van a couple of hundred times in a day. My hip tweaked a wee bit during work but seemed OK, then about a week ago the knee on the same side got a bit swollen, and a couple of days ago my back started spasming. All a result of me working around the hip injury apparently. This morning I’m like an old man and have some trouble getting upright (matron!). (I did some disc damage 6 years ago by coughing whilst bending over to adjust a tandem timing chain believe it or not!) Luckily, it’s my day off.
So, why am I writing this? Do I want pity? Nope. Just wanted to document how things were going and remind some of our more mature listeners that you need to listen to your body. I knew the knee and back were compensating for my sore hip but ignored it with the result that it may be a good few weeks before I can start meaningful training again. At 47 my body is in no way as resilient as it was at 30 and I may have to be more realistic and adjust my goals, we’ll see.
It’s certainly true that my old motto “If a thing’s worth doing it’s worth overdoing!” is going in the bin.

Be healthy

John

  • John,
    I'll be honest, your over the hill and plummetting down the other side fast old son. now I suggest you get some murray mints, rub some cat wee and digestive biscuits into you arm pits and start shouting at random people in the street. Other than that, get well soon, and ride like the wind. Look at Malcombe Elliot ( i think hes older), still kicking arse in the domestic peleton, beating blokes more than half is age, love the show, get a grip, love the Sellindge Flyer (Jonathan Reeves) - do some more sufferfests!!
  • Yeah, sorry for being a self pitying eejit. I'll move on sharpish.

    J
  • Thanks Jan, I needed that kick up the arse. Self pity is singularly unattractive. ;o)
  • janvalencia
    I have every sympathy for your injuries but none for your age, I set my running PR's at 48 years old and now I'm starting road racing and crits at 64, what better time to be injuried than winter? The coach of my running team believed in over doing everything the secret was to go into the hard stuff with a good base I ran 2 years without missing a day and worked 14 hour days. So do what you can do this winter then ATTACK! in the spring after all you Scots are tough not like us pansy Cali boys right? Get healthy and good luck with your comeback and don't let the fact that the whole world is watching pressure you
    jan
  • Awesome. And not in a good way. :-(

    At the risk of being patronising, when you're feeling "old", just ask yourself how many of your peers (note the deft avoidance of the term "people your age"!) are training to race bikes. Feel better now? :-)
  • Errm, no, no injuries allowed for posties. We have one guy, fit hillwalker who recently developed a heart condition. He was told not to claim overtime if he slowed down a bit as a result, it wasn't Royal Mail's fault if he was slow! Un-be-lievable!
    I'll be fine though, just feeling old.

    John
  • Ouch! Wouldn't it be easier to cut down on the work and keep the riding tho', John? Or does Mr Crozier's Utopia not allow for being injured? ;-)

    Hope you're - ahem - upright again soon. We'll organise a wreath in a few days if we don't hear anything... :0)
  • Sorry to hear about this John - best wishes for a speedy recovery!
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