On my 40th birthday, I remember thinking that, from here on, it was all downhill; unless, of course, I did something about it. So, I did. That evening, I found a pair of shorts (they actually belonged to Jude, who I lived with), put on my pumps and an old tee shirt and off I went. I think I managed about 25 minutes or so through the local streets and around the Stray (in Harrogate). This continued most days with the distance that I ran gradually getting longer. That is until the nights drew in and it got cold and wet. At which point, going running in the dark after a day’s work seemed less of a good idea.
It was then that Jude, who went to a local gym, suggested that I do so too. I think that, among the words that were used in the reply, were narcissistic and meatheads. Mind I didn’t have to look too far to see someone who might have tended towards the former of these characteristics. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained so, off I went. To find, to my surprise that, although it had its fair share of people who were fitness freaks, many were like me; just wanting to get (and stay) fit. That was 36 years ago. Since then, many miles have been run (including two marathons) and much effort expended in pushing weights; a process that continues.
So, apart from self congratulation, what is the point of this blog? Well, to state the blindingly obvious, it’s that no one else can give you a long and healthy life. Indeed, even if you do stay fit, neither of these are guaranteed anyway. However, only you have the power to change things for yourself. No one else can do that for you. So, if you’re like me and getting older but, to quote a song by Loudon Wainwright, “Need a Double Lifetime”, give yourself the best of opportunities to have one. Besides, it does make you feel good!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6QoBraadRU,