It’s funny how our perception of age shifts as we get older.
The bursar at my old college was a former athletics blue and despite seeming really old to us, he used to turn out for the college cross country team in the inter-college league and always place quite high and he could be seen most mornings running with the university boxing team, with them struggling to keep up with him.
We all thought it was remarkable how quick he was for someone so old.
I looked him up a while ago and he was born in 1939, so when I first met him at college in 1991 he was the same age as I am now
I guess someone in their 50s is ancient when you’re in your teens/twenties . I think it was probably less common in those days for people of our age to still be actively participating in sport.
Having said that, to our 20-something neighbours in the shared houses, we’re probably the old folks in the house at the end
When I visit my parents and go to events, I see many of the same faces from 20 years ago, they are a little slower than they were, but they are still up at the front. There doesn’t seem to be the same number of younger runners coming through, one or to fast young guys, but not that many.
I’ve definitely reached the stage where I’m less bothered about owning things and prefer doing things. Increasingly endurance sport isn’t one! Although I do still want to do one last Ironman
Not bothered about a flash car or big house.
Age is also creeping up, the skin is definitely not as elastic around the face and neck, but that’s probably not helped by the sun and being outside quite a lot.
. I think it was probably less common in those days for people of our age to still be actively participating in sport.
