This is really about the small stuff.
I used to be a serious runner. Five marathons. Best time was the Detroit Free Press International Marathon in 1979; 3:06:01. One year I averaged over 40 miles a week. Washboard abs. 155 pounds. I started running Labor Day Weekend in 1977 at age 33. At the time I was freelancing as a photographer and teaching some classes at Wayne State University. But then after reading What Color is Your Parachute? In August 1980 I got a full-time job as a writer/producer in the news department at Channel 7, the ABC affiliate in Detroit. Really messed up my running. My starting job was as the morning producer, 4 AM to noon. Yikes!
When I left in January 1986 as the result of one of the first big corporate mergers, I started getting back into serious running. Age 42. I rebooted with about three miles a day six days a week. After a couple weeks I went to four one day, three the next. The following week I bumped it up to five and three. And I kept bumping. When I got to 30 miles a week I broke down. Something hurt here or there. Did some rehab work on my own and did a reboot. Threes…threes and fours…repeat…reinjury…rehab…reboot. After two or three reboots it was time for my annual physical.
I asked about these breakdowns. “How old are you?”
“43.”
“I have two words for you. Cross Training. You need a break. You might make it up to 30 miles a week with every other day.”
I kept at it with a casual nod to regular training but pretty much stopped in the mid-2000s. Since retiring in 2013 the only regular training I’ve done has been in classes. I’ve tried motivating myself but had little success. Swimming, weights etc et al… if I’m in charge; not happening.
When Susan and I retired in 2013 we agreed that our treasure would be devoted to our well-being. If anything was left over, we’d spend it on whatever we wanted. So I’m doing individual fitness training sessions three days a week. Lots of Pilates, big time stretching and very light weights. No Pain, No Gain does not apply. I tried that in weightlifting class my freshman year at Albion. BOINK!!!! Hernia.
The results to date:
I weigh 185 lbs., five pounds more than when I completed Army Basic Training in Sep. 1966 at Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri. Of course the weight is distributed a little differently.
I have a resting heart rate of 48 bpm. One of the great residual effects of all that running. The weight is the result of a wise diet for which I give Susan all the credit. On my own I would be in trouble.
There have been issues. I had eyelid lifting surgery in 2002 because they were so droopy, they were a visual impediment. Carpal tunnel surgery fall of 2021 because I could only hold my trombone for 5-minutes before my hand would go numb. Now I can practice for an hour at a time… no problem. In Winter of 2022 I had another hernia surgery. Cause unknown. Outpatient left me with three, quarter inch scars. The 1963 scar is four inches long and I didn’t wake up from the anesthetic for two days. I have several dental implants. And prostate cancer that the specialist says to leave alone.