Rich Roll’s “Finding Ultra” (I highly recommend it!) and Scott Jurek’s new book “Eat and Run” (purchased, but not yet started!) are both written by endurance athletes who have reached the half marathon point or headed down the back half.
Throw the ever running (and writing) Dean Karnazes and the ever-winning Lance Armstrong into this mix of greying endurance athletes and you end up with a relatively old set of guys. These dudes would have long since hung up their jerseys if they were playing football, hockey or basketball.
In fact, if you average up their years, you end up with an average age of nearly 44 years! Karno is 50 this year. Rich will be 46, Lance 41, and Scott a relatively spring chicken at 37 (and a half!). The late Micah True was 52 and still kicking up dust in the mountains a short few months ago. My friend John Teeples ran a 9th place Badwater this year at age 47.
At 45, some guys buy sports cars. Other guys trade in starter wives for younger models. Other guys just run! Or bike! Or swim! These are probably smarter and safer ways to spend time than the sports car or trophy wife!
Why are older guys still seeing success in a business that would dictate victory to younger people?
I have my opinions.
First, I think these middle agers have conquered the mental aspects of endurance racing. They have been in the pain cave before, learned from it and survived to fight another day. They know pain comes and goes. These guys keep moving, make friends with pain and bide their time.
Secondly, they have the patience and wisdom required to train and race using smarts versus body. I doubt any of them “get out too fast” for a race or “miss the nutrition or hydration window”. Smart racing and training comes from experience and knowledge about themselves gained over decades of self-experimenting.
Thirdly, I don’t think they take themselves so seriously as to cause themselves mental stress and drama that drains energy during peak performance loads.
Finally, I think a big difference is the big black competitive streak running down their backs that only gets wider and darker with age. These guys are fierce individualists that still want to beat themselves and pass the guy in front of them.
As one of those guys somewhere between 13.1-26.2 miles on the age meter, I understand. Though not in the same club as the gents I mentioned here, I know the pain, have the experience and still the competitive fight to try to pass whoever is ahead of me.
“Hey middle age! Yeah, I am talking to you!!!!”
louis vuitton, christian louboutin shoes, cheap oakley sunglasses, polo ralph lauren outlet online, air max, nike roshe, burberry pas cher, chanel handbags, prada outlet, christian louboutin outlet, nike free, polo ralph lauren, longchamp outlet, ray ban sunglasses, christian louboutin, longchamp outlet, louis vuitton outlet, sac longchamp pas cher, oakley sunglasses wholesale, tiffany and co, oakley sunglasses, ugg boots, nike free run, ugg boots, uggs on sale, louis vuitton outlet, ray ban sunglasses, gucci handbags, kate spade outlet, louboutin pas cher, polo outlet, ray ban sunglasses, prada handbags, nike air max, longchamp pas cher, jordan shoes, replica watches, jordan pas cher, louis vuitton, oakley sunglasses, nike outlet, oakley sunglasses, tory burch outlet, louis vuitton outlet, nike air max, michael kors pas cher, longchamp outlet, christian louboutin uk, tiffany jewelry
ReplyDeleteconverse pas cher, kate spade, michael kors, coach outlet, burberry handbags, coach outlet store online, uggs outlet, oakley pas cher, guess pas cher, true religion outlet, nike blazer pas cher, michael kors outlet online, hollister uk, hogan outlet, new balance, polo lacoste, north face uk, nike air max uk, abercrombie and fitch uk, michael kors outlet online, michael kors outlet online, michael kors outlet, vans pas cher, ralph lauren uk, true religion outlet, nike tn, lululemon canada, replica handbags, sac hermes, uggs outlet, nike air force, michael kors outlet online, true religion jeans, ray ban uk, nike air max uk, nike free uk, nike roshe run uk, mulberry uk, north face, burberry outlet, timberland pas cher, coach purses, true religion outlet, hollister pas cher, nike air max, michael kors, michael kors outlet, michael kors outlet, ray ban pas cher
ReplyDeleteherve leger, jimmy choo outlet, lululemon, bottega veneta, beats by dre, nike air max, vans outlet, p90x workout, converse outlet, ferragamo shoes, nike huaraches, chi flat iron, ghd hair, valentino shoes, ray ban, lancel, hollister, babyliss, nike trainers uk, hermes belt, baseball bats, ralph lauren, iphone cases, longchamp uk, celine handbags, reebok outlet, asics running shoes, abercrombie and fitch, nike air max, vans, converse, louboutin, timberland boots, north face outlet, instyler, soccer shoes, insanity workout, nfl jerseys, nike roshe run, oakley, gucci, new balance shoes, hollister, mac cosmetics, soccer jerseys, wedding dresses, north face outlet, mont blanc pens, mcm handbags, hollister clothing
ReplyDeletecanada goose outlet, thomas sabo, karen millen uk, coach outlet, juicy couture outlet, supra shoes, canada goose jackets, pandora uk, canada goose outlet, ugg, ugg pas cher, moncler, pandora jewelry, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, moncler, louis vuitton, canada goose uk, pandora charms, moncler outlet, canada goose outlet, moncler, replica watches, hollister, louis vuitton, canada goose, ugg uk, louis vuitton, swarovski, montre pas cher, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, canada goose, swarovski crystal, toms shoes, moncler outlet, louis vuitton, moncler, pandora jewelry, doudoune moncler, wedding dresses, marc jacobs, canada goose, juicy couture outlet, louis vuitton, links of london, moncler uk
ReplyDelete