Comments on: The Grand Illusion

By: soror ienai

soror ienai — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:48:47 +0000

My dad told me something, when I was whinging about how getting older sucks( Im 41).
He said ; welcome to age.
First Rank : everything hurts
Second Rank : everything hurts ALL the time
Third Rank : everything hurts all the time AND IT’S NEVER GOING TO STOP!! (That’s where he is at).
That comment about middle aged cycling was classic!
But as a certified fitness instructor I have to tell you:
1. You have a Rotator cuff injury, most likely. This means you possibly may never be able to lift your weight overhand again. But, this may get you to lose some weight!
2. Losing weight is easy, just start doing some strength training. (You wont get brittle either.)

Everyone can be strong AND fit, but you need to do graduated strength training. Forever. :)

By: plutosdad

plutosdad — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:09:02 +0000

Many people have similar problems, such as competative weightlifters or bodybuilders will only be good at certain movements.

There is a thing I’ve been trying to do more called GPP: General Physical Preparedness. It can start out with body weight workouts, all sorts of lunges in different directions, burpees, medicine balls work, calesthetics, whatever you make up. To using weights such as the “farmer’s carry” or just carrying weight around, short running sprints, pulling a weighted sled or sprinting with a weighted vest, etc.

Basically using the body in more angles and movements to get all those stabilizing muscles stronger, conditioning, whatever other benefits.

By: hombre

hombre — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:26:43 +0000

Feeling yer pain bro.
Been there, done that.

But the good news is, your writing has now returned to its previous insane and enjoyable level (after a most important and beautiful and painful and very sad detour then un-detoured by love and happiness etc etc)–detailing the miseries, indignities, and insults of middle age, cycling etc etc.

Luvin it.

Just one question–got to hear about the kids before. Curious how they are but respectin yer protecting their experience.

By: Al

Al — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:07:34 +0000

Brilliant Fatty! As a 50 year old who also can’t remember when I last woke up without something (usually knees and back) hurting, I am overjoyed that this post has finally allowed ageing riders to find their voice and grumble about, about, about…er, whatever we’re grumbling about.

Having given up running and cycling for a couple for years to make the pains go away (they didn’t) and now riding 50-70 miles a week and hoping to increase it if the sun ever comes out again here (in Scotland) I can definitely agree with everyone that if you have to deal with aching limbs, you might as well do it on a bike. I still feel better for it.

Thanks for the new training regime, too: zero reps, rest, zero reps, rest, zero reps, stop. Cool. I imagine I’ll need at least half a pack of Oreos afterwards.

By: Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:03:37 +0000

Fatty:

With the overtraining you’ve been doing, no wonder you are falling apart.

By: cyclingjimbo

cyclingjimbo — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:40:15 +0000

Truth is, we’re all in the same boat – either all the way in or still with one foot on the dock. Welcome to middle age, and it doesn’t get any better. Seems like after 40 everything is pretty much downhill.

On the plus side, the riding, swimming, running, rowing, etc., etc. keep us fit much longer, and help keep us up and about and much healthier than our parents were at the same point in their lives.

Keep on pedaling, and don’t look back – something may be gaining on you.

By: MattC

MattC — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:13:06 +0000

Just to totally dash the ‘grand illusion’ that I live under, I just peeked in over at Jills (Jill Homer…Fatty’s friend who lives in Alaska)…she did the Fairbanks 100 this last Sunday…her last post talks about the first half of the race.

Apparently I am one of the wimpiest people on the face of the planet…and she is one of the toughest. Way to go JILL! You absoultly ROCK!

(here’s the link in case you don’t have it saved to your favorites: http://arcticglass.blogspot.com/)

By: Jenn

Jenn — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 06:24:49 +0000

@donbiker – way to rock what you’ve got! That is AWESOME!

By: windbreak

windbreak — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:18:52 +0000

amusing as always.
good luck with the ironman.
I actually had to work for the last 2 days and consequently missed registration. I’ll have to wait for next year’s century. I hope the route doesn’t change. I absolutely love and despise the course.

By: db

db — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:04:55 +0000

I think you are just sandbagging again to get us to fall for a really slow time on your ironman contest coming up. You have had this injury for years and haven’t done anything to fix it. Why do anything now. Pullups aren’t a part of the ironman anymay. Think I will do a 100 miles on the track even if I didn’t get registered in time.