Outrunning Father Time

It’s my birthday, my 48^th to be specific. Normally birthdays aren’t really a big deal to me and overall they still aren’t. I approach them with a fairly positive mind set. After all age really is a state of mind, and due to my healthy lifestyle, my biological age is much younger than my chronological age. Plus I think of myself as ageless. By that I mean I don’t consider myself as being or feeling a certain age, I am just me.

However, the big 5-0 is looming in the distance and I’m not sure how I will react to that once it arrives. But that’s still a couple of years away.  I decide to start my day off with a run, because I enjoy running and I am typically in a good mood the rest of the day whenever I run in the morning.

Outdoor exercise is always like play to me. Whether I’m running, riding my bike, or doing something else, it always makes me feel alive and happy, which is another reason I want to start my day with a run. I always find it fascinating that people are often mystified that I choose to do some type of recreational sport or exercise during my free time and vacation.   

Exercising doesn’t have to be viewed as a chore, in fact in shouldn’t.  Perhaps it’s the name “work-out”.  When working out we are often doing things that we did for play as children. Perhaps a better name for exercise is “play-out”. Then it creates positive imagery.

As George Bernard Shaw said; “we don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing”.  I believe this is true and a large reason why I don’t feel like I am growing older. Play is a major part of my life.

Today I decide to incorporate some speed intervals into my run.  I have some Fall races to run so I want to keep my body tuned up for faster running. Plus, it’s said that the first thing to go with age is speed. I want to run fast to reinforce the fact in my mind that I still got it. 

Today’s workout, excuse me, “play-out” consists of five 800 meter intervals at 6 minute mile pace with a 2 minute recovery jog between each.  I spend the first mile warming up and feel pretty decent. As I dig down to attack the first interval I’m amazed at how strong I feel. That strength lasts through the entire interval. I think to myself; “this is awesome, but how will number five feel?” 

This is such an atypical interval workout because usually this pace is more challenging, but to my surprise I feel strong during each speed interval. I also feel recovered well before the 2 minute recovery time has elapsed.

This is one of the many things I love about running. When you feel “in the zone” and each step is effortless it’s a feeling like no other. You feel alive and powerful! It is sublime! Today was the perfect day to feel this way, a great birthday present from the running Gods.

I read an article not long ago about how the current data on age related decline in performance is based upon a relatively small pool of athletes. It hasn’t been until recent years that more athletes have been competing into their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, and beyond. Therefore, the full effect of age on performance has yet to be determined. There are numerous examples of older athletes performing at a high level in a variety of sports, including endurance running. One that stands out in my mind is a gentleman named Ed Whitlock who ran sub 3 hours in the marathon numerous times between the ages of 69 and 74. 

There are many variables in what determines when and how quickly a person slows down, which is good to know because I still intend to set a personal record in the marathon and go sub 3 hours in the process.

The standard state of mind people seem to have from my experience is that once they hit 40; that’s it! They can’t do anything new or improve and therefore don’t even try. It may sound cliché but truly the only obstacles we have are those we place upon ourselves. So no one should ever feel like they are too old to do something. It’s the quest to learn and grow at all times that makes for a more fulfilling life.

When I started my run there was someone in the distance behind me. That person is still there, it’s Father Time.  He’s sporting some new fancy lightweight racing shoes and running apparel. He’s realizing that he has to up his game if he wants to catch me. He looks like he may be getting faster, but with today’s run I feel like I put some distance on him.  He’s yelling at me telling me I have to slow down. I yell back, telling him that he’s going to have to catch me first.

Making A Louden Swain Effort

I was running across a bridge which spanned high above the river below. About midway across my thoughts drifted to the opening credits of the movie Vision Quest which I had seen on TV just days earlier. The opening credits had the main character running across bridge after bridge. When I saw this movie in the theater when it first came out back in the 80’s I didn’t think much about the opening scenes, other than feeling some motivation to run.  Now, after seeing it approximately 30 years later I’m still motivated to run, but I think; “man there are a lot of bridges in that town!”

Vision Quest is a classic 80’s sports movie about a high school wrestler named Louden Swain who is the champion of his weight class.  However, he’s not content to just remain champion of his weight class. He wants to drop down two weight classes to take on an undefeated wrestler named Shute (pronounced Shoot) who is widely viewed as unbeatable and everyone thinks Louden is crazy to even consider taking him on. But Loudon Swain had a vision of himself as a champion and is on a quest to make that vision a reality.

He becomes focused on his goal and does everything he can to achieve it. This includes eliminating  self doubt, ignoring negative talk from others, following a strict diet and even running to and from work to get in shape and burn extra calories (in a classic metallic silver 80’s style sweat suit no less).

It’s always interesting to see a movie years after it originally came out, especially an 80’s movie, because I am no longer viewing the film through the eyes of a teenager. As an adult it is easy to have a more critical eye. However, with Vision Quest I don’t see the film as being better or worse, I just see it different. For example, Louden Swain’s quest for more is a great metaphor for life.

At some point in our lives, or even multiple points, we have our own Shute to wrestle, figuratively speaking. We have a challenge to take on that may seem almost insurmountable. Or, like Louden Swain, you may not be content with where you are in life and have a desire for more. 

Taking on the Shutes in life is never easy. Everyday there are obstacles and challenges that try to stop you. Many times people begin their quest but become easily discouraged when they encounter obstacles. Sometimes the obstacles come in the form of an event, sometimes it's a person or persons, other times it's something else. In today’s hectic world there are certainly no shortages of potential obstacles that could interfere with fulfilling your quest.  

Making a vision a reality is never a simple process. If it was everyone would be doing it. Not everyone is willing to put in a Louden Swain type effort. In the film there is a scene where Louden goes to tell Shute that he plans to wrestle him. He finds Shute in the stands at the football field. Shute is doing his workout, which involves walking up the bleachers carrying a log on his shoulders. This is how our obstacles may look at times, slightly intimidating by sight. But those who approach life with a Louden Swain effort (are persistent, stay focused, ignore negativity, and are determined) have the ingredients for success.

Spoiler alert; as expected Louden Swain defeats Shute. Don’t let knowing this stop you from seeing the film though if you haven’t already done so. The story is all about the journey, plus it has a great soundtrack and it might just get you motivated to train.

Thinking of this film during my run gets me pumped up to keep running. I make a note to myself that I need to get the song “Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider on my ipod, which is one of the songs on the soundtrack. I think I’ll pass on the metallic silver sweat suit though.