I grew up in a family and social atmosphere that expected sports/exercise to cease after high school. For them, activity is reserved for work and watching football on TV. I followed that plan until the age of 29 when I started running again to lose a beer belly. I was amazed at the world that opened up for me. I've been a competitive AG runner for the past 13 years. My experience in the last three years attempting Tri has been humbling, to say the least, but I get better each year. I can't imagine my life without running, tri, adventure racing, etc.
My wife and kids are incredibly supportive, but my extended family still thinks I'm nuts. Not the good kind of nuts, like, "wow, that's crazy. good for him." They honestly don't get it. Grown men shouldn't act this way. At 44-years old, they want to know when I will stop this foolishness. They've asked every year since I was 29. It is as if they are embarrassed for me. (I won't even mention the shaved legs issue)
What began and continues for my own pleasure has grown into something more important, however. I have two young sons who now take for granted a lifetime filled with health and activity. They don't know anything different. They discuss remaining active into their old age as a simple reality. They just naturally assume they will be running across the Grand Canyon when they are 70.
I still do this for the fun - smoking a 27-year old in a 10K is fun, working on my swim is (a masochistic) fun, feeling that groove in a paceline is beyond fun. But what keeps me going is knowing that in a single generation I've ended a familial mindset of sedentary apathy. Will I still be as active as possible into my 50s, 60s and beyond? You bet your ass.
My wife and kids are incredibly supportive, but my extended family still thinks I'm nuts. Not the good kind of nuts, like, "wow, that's crazy. good for him." They honestly don't get it. Grown men shouldn't act this way. At 44-years old, they want to know when I will stop this foolishness. They've asked every year since I was 29. It is as if they are embarrassed for me. (I won't even mention the shaved legs issue)
What began and continues for my own pleasure has grown into something more important, however. I have two young sons who now take for granted a lifetime filled with health and activity. They don't know anything different. They discuss remaining active into their old age as a simple reality. They just naturally assume they will be running across the Grand Canyon when they are 70.
I still do this for the fun - smoking a 27-year old in a 10K is fun, working on my swim is (a masochistic) fun, feeling that groove in a paceline is beyond fun. But what keeps me going is knowing that in a single generation I've ended a familial mindset of sedentary apathy. Will I still be as active as possible into my 50s, 60s and beyond? You bet your ass.