On the right, Masters athlete Marian Bergdolt after she won Ramblin Rose overall title. She once said to me “But I”m old, coach!”
HA!
Several athletes said this to me this week in casual conversation. Rest assured they were given a gentle reminder that age is no excuse. And here is one for the rest of us.
“But I get injured more easily”
Yeah, and do you rest more, wisely plan hard workouts, listen to your body, do regeneration work, address flexibility?
“But I tire more easily”
Ok, then build in naps. Plan more rest days. Establish a recovery protocol and stick to it; you might need more than beer or water!
“But I just a moved an age group; I should be winning more”
Um, really? Get faster as you age and compare against yourself, not others. Winning a smaller age group equates nothing but ego strokes. Train hard and smart and get STRONGER to defy your age!
“But where do I start?”
It’s a complex dance of training: variables to manipulate include time to train, resources, life stress, recovery, functional strength, stability, volume, intensity, resistance work, speed, diet, sleep, race choice, tapering, peaking, resting and trusting yourself and your abilities.
Sounds like time to hire a coach to lead the dance…
stacey@tristacey.com
ps-
Don’t you dare tell Lance Armstrong or Dara Torres they are old! Read below…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/sports/profiles-in-speed/age/index.html
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Love this post- found that when I try to do exactly what my 10 years younger training partners do and need to rest more and use more strength training.
have just spent the past hour reading some of your tips and advice, great blog. As a keen cyclist and runner i am about to enter my first triathlon and now dont feel QUITE so daunted !