I thought the skills, speed, and strength would come quickly. I figured my body would adapt to the new regimen like it used to when I tried new things in my 20s. I was wrong.
It’s not like I’m not getting any stronger (I am), it’s just that I’m still really weak. What happened to my ability to get in shape? It used to be that if I felt a little frumpy, I would just hit it hard at the gym, on the mountain bike, or on the street running. And in a few weeks: lean and mean! But now? Every gain comes slowly. When I got a cold last October and had to sit out a couple of weeks, I found I had reverted back to using the blue rubber band (that’s the thick one) on my pull ups. Will I ever win?
And the injuries. Low risk activities like jump rope cause them. That’s right; I was just innocently jumping rope and with each little hop I could feel something bad happening in my foot somewhere between my arch and ankle. Over a year later, I think I’m almost healed. And then there was the one time after a particularly latissimi dorsi intensive WOD (that’s “Workout Of the Day”) it suddenly felt like someone punched me in my upper back. I had to sit out for two weeks until the knot untied itself. Two weeks. I used to measure my injuries in days. As in, “Ouch, that hurt – I guess I’ll rest up for a couple days.” Now it’s weeks, starting with a two week minimum. When did this happen?
I’m discovering what life at almost 40 is like. And truthfully, it’s hard to take sometimes. But I find comfort in knowing that’s just a part of being human and there’s really nothing you can do about it. Everyone’s physical abilities fade over time. You accept it matter of factly in others, but it’s hard to take when it’s you. No one is exempt from the wear and tear time and gravity give us. Oddly enough, when I was young, I kinda thought I might be the exception. When you’re young, naturally in shape, and don’t have to try all that hard to maintain that shape, it’s almost impossible to imagine that your situation will ever change.
But my situation did change because time passed, and here I am, in the gym – I mean “box” – that’s what we call it in CrossFit – trying to defy the odds and wear the same pants size I wore in 2009, the last time I was really in shape. Will it happen? Will I ever get a muscle up? Will I ever do a double under? Will I ever be as strong as my younger sister? I’m optimistic, but taking it slow and steady, because that’s what you do at 39.
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