Oldmansknees - 40 Something's Fitless Diary

The Knees are Fine, But I Need Soccer Skillz!

2007-11-08T00:38:00.000-08:00

Getting back on board a fitness regimen has been tough for some strange and unimaginable reason. Almost as if it were work!

But naivete and intrepidation have seen me toy with adult soccer and I'm on a team. I've never played soccer before, so just imagine:

overweight guy
late forties
can't run
no fitness
no skills whatsoever
can't even kick a soccer ball

Yet I'm out there mixing it up on the soccer pitch. And folks are playing their backsides off.

So, there I am, desperately trying to sprint fast enough to stay with the lean, skilled forwards.

And suddenly my weight is dropping a bit, I'm a bit fitter, and wearing a great big smile because I'm having fun.

No, this is not work!

Life should include play - must include play.

A great finding was that my knees and back and hips and all that are doing fine - they seem to love the exertion (beats that damn couch, they moan)

OK, OK, but I still desperately need to develop some skills, muscle memory, technique, etc., and that means getting more "touches" on the soccer ball. Hopefully people will start connecting on the FC San Jose bulletin board for soccer ... and I can find some more game (pun intended) there.

Tips and encouragement welcome. Stories, too!

EP

A Flat and Fast Route

2004-07-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder about "flat and fast" running routes? I ran one today, except it was only flat under my feet, not fast.

Flat is OK when you are trying to set a PR, but hilly routes are more interesting; hilly trails are much more interesting. Better yet, Mountain trails through the forest are a real delight, they make a run something much more than running.

Hills, I've theorized, are good for a runner, as they make a runner uses different muscles in different ways, thus helping avoid overuse injuries. Contrary to this home-spun wisdom, however, I developed a somewhat scary back problem after concentrating my running in the hills. It would feel like one of my feet had swollen up to a size 16 mid-run, prompting me to stop, remove my shoe, take out the insole, and tie it loose. One's nerves run through the spine of one's back, I was reminded, and I came to realize it wasn't a foot problem at all.

I'm lucky to the extent I can ease back into it. My hill running compadre, coincidentally, has been having terrible back problems and has been pursuing all kinds of medically interesting, but highly unpleasant treatments; he has not found relief.

Log: 26 minutes running time from a run-walk of 35 minutes. Slightly shorter route than last Friday, and a minute less running, but shorter walk breaks. [3/2,3/2,4/1,4/1,4/1,4/1,4/1]

I was able to run and I should rejoice in that.

Crazy Old Man Flashes Me...

2004-07-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

The guy was sitting in his car at a stop sign, huge grin, flashing me a big thumbs up. Clearly he was crazy, or perhaps a fellow fan of Le Tour. I gave him a big thumbs up right back, we sat there grinning at each other for a few moments, thumbs in the air.

Who knows how many miles that senior citizen may have put into his legs before the years caught up with him? Perhaps tens of thousands of miles! Or maybe just 5 miles, but he watches Outdoor Life Network (OLN).

Log: 1:11 on the same route as last weekend, 17 miles rolling hills. My legs were still stiff from Friday's run, which I could have solved by cycling Saturday. Really nice evening.

Newsflash: Iran. No. I ran.

2004-07-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

After taking something like a 17,000 hour day off, I put my running shoes back on today, a sharp reminder of how hard it is to start training again. It seems there are always more important things to do than run: responsibilities, urgencies, worries, concerns, stresses. Then again, maybe there is nothing more important to do than run.

For the record it was a run-walk, a la Galloway. Partly because that's a smart way to run, and partly because I might not be able to run straight through given my lack of fitness.

Log: 45 minutes around the Sunnyvale campus in a 3/2 pattern, so about 60% running. 27 minutes actually running. Hamstrings felt tight!

Answer: So they can see over the Dikes!

2004-07-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

If you know the answer to the first question:

"Who are the tallest people in the world?

Then you will know what the second question is (Why?).

Consider: the average height of a Dutch man is (now) about 6'1", the Dutch have been growing.

The answer to WHY? is complex, but apparently more of height is determined by nutrition and lifestyle, and less by genetics, than you think. You can be assured I am renewing my efforts to get nutrition into my two boys: they'll be taking calcium and vitamin tabs every meal... with their McDonalds. [Note to self, check Holland out in terms of McDonalds revenue per capita...]

Additional notes to self: Nutrition, exercise, nutrition, nutrition!

It was strangely quiet

2004-07-04T22:50:00.000-07:00

Fell asleep trying to watch TdF Stage 1. Le Tour gets more exciting as the days roll on, the race is too long for Stage 1 heroics.

Today, on this day of fireworks in America, the streets of my normal quick cycling route were quiet, but I was joined by cyclists. I started out dehyrdated and when you start like that on a hot day, things do not improve.

The ride was nice though. A fast cyclist passed me, chatting as he flew by; a gal cyclist passed me later, and another guy on a Look, hammered past. A few riders pulled out ahead of me on the road, but the gap between us widened. My cycling memories are of closing the gaps on people ahead of me, but that requires a fitness which has been foreclosed on. I have to pay to get it out of hock.

Log: 17 miles over 1:10 on rolling roads.

How do you log manual labor?

2004-07-03T22:48:00.000-07:00

As Lance Armstrong enterered his 5th scorching minute of this year's Tour de France, flying along the streets of Liege, Belgium, a voice came to me from above, from up the stairs actually, telling me today was the day I would rip out the deck. No playing around on the bike. The demolition was not exactly an aerobic workoout, but my back muscles really felt something.

1993 Tour de France - from Bob Mina's camera

2004-07-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

Check out some pretty nice pictures of the 1993 Tour de France from "Hurricane" Bob Mina's lens. Boy that Lance Armstrong looks like a pretty happy - and carefree - young man. Indurain looks young and focused.

Just like Lance Armstrong...

2004-06-27T18:01:00.000-07:00

When he bonked on Stage 16 of the 2000 Tour de France (forget the Alamo: remember Col de Joux-Plane!)

[OK, maybe not: even when Lance has bonked, few could keep his wheel.]

I finally got myself back out on the road after a busy week of somewhat unusual events. If I am to be truthful with myself, however, I will admit there is no hope of getting fit when 5 or 6 or 7 days pass between workouts. Consistency, not sheer effort, has been my achilles heel over the last few years. "Everyday" needs to be my watch word.

Log: 18 miles rolling hills [the now named: Saratoga-Quito Center Loop], about 1:17. It was pretty warm, and my mouth was dry by the time I rolled out onto the road. Coming home over the last rises I was pretty weak.

The Tour de France starts in 6 days. I am routing for a great race, one that requires a true champion to rise to the ocassion [Go Lance!]

What do you want to do on Father's Day?

2004-06-20T22:53:00.000-07:00

This question was asked of me, after I'd spent much of the day in forced lounging waiting for my Father's Day breakfast. I had been watching the TV, flipping back and forth between Robin Williams on In the Actors Studio, which had me ROTFL, and The Lance Chronicles, which is a serious cycling psych-up.

I really like spending time with my boys, and I've made it a priority. Lately we've played soccer (Dad as the AYSO coach), hiked, goofed around, and done lots of movies as the full family with Mom. There is plenty of more Father-Sons time in the plans for the Summer: working on our soccer skills, riding bicycles, learning computer skills and programming, and BS'ing.

So while some fathers may feel compelled to do something special with their sons and daughters on Father's Day, I've been so blessed with quality time with my boys that I went the opposite direction, and went for a bike ride.

Log: 1:43 over 25 miles of rolling roads. Stood up and worked some of the short hills. Passed like I was standing still up a long hill by one tired road rider. Thought about how much easier it would be if I was 30 lbs lighter. My rear wheel still wobbles, it may have become my mascot (on a temporary basis).

Oh, yes. I rec'd a digital camera for Father's Day, so pictures should be coming, down the line.

The wireless surfboard, what you've been wating for

2004-06-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

Tech World reports on the wireless surfboard, finally an answer to the Internet toilet.

OK, for anyone curious, I'll let you in on a secret: there is no way you could keep a WiFi connection on a surfboard in the surf. Unlike the gidget movies, and the more familiar mall walkways, the ocean's surf zone is not nearly flat, except on those days when surfers would not bother. The signals could simply not penetrate walls of saltwater.

Unless of course, one hangs the WiFi antennas (access points) from a helicopter overhead.

It's OK: no one wants for not being able to do two kinds of surfing at one time. But all the folks headed to the kitchen table to brew WiFi Buoy start-ups might want to sleep on it.

The Two Sides of Truth

2004-06-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

I took another bike ride this afternoon, that same ride as Thursday: about 13 miles in about 53 minutes. The effort level felt high which may have been the wind or not being morning fresh or anything else.

On paper it may look like I am making progress, but there is data unseen in this log, and I've decided that I need to post my sins as well to keep me honest. I've also decided on an incentive: I will post my weight and diet on any non-exercise day. That ought to motivate me to exercise.

Log: Cycled 53 minutes over about 13 miles on the local loop.

Sins: Cheetos, Ice Cream, and an In-and-Out burger last night. Ooh, that is embarassing to admit, how have I gotten to the point that such food seemed OK?

And on Saturday he did... well, something.

2004-06-12T23:07:00.000-07:00

My sons were hopping around like Mexican Jumping Beans, and needed to get out. They actually asked me if I could take them for a hike, which happens only slightly more frequently than they ask if they can have vegetables for dessert. So goodbye bike ride and hello hike. We hiked, at their pace, for over two hours, on trail and sidewalk, and they learned they can walk to their school either by the city streets, or over hill and trail, a real town and country contrast.

Log: 2 hours easy hiking over and around blossom hill, maybe 4-5 miles.

Discovery of a Potato Chip at 6AM

2004-06-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

I have not pedaled a bike down a road in some while, but this morning was to be the start of a brighter future. So I was up at 5:30 and outside rolling my bike toward the street at 6 AM. Except, my bike didn't roll.

A quick diagnosis revealed a back wheel that would not turn, brake pads that could not be separated wide enough for the rim to pass, a huge rear wheel wobble, or as unaffectionately known to some, a potato chip wheel.

Why oh why now when I finally am suited up early and have a head full of initiative? I released the back brake completely so that it was inoperable, and I was able to get the rear wheel spinning in a chaotic orbit. I thought: maybe. And gingerly took it out for a test.

Wow, my bike feels light, and what a nice sensation rolling down the road, even with the occasional rear wheel squireliness. But how could I have "potato chipped" or "taco'd" my rear wheel while it was sitting motionless on the bike trainer?

Well, yes, I'll admit it: a few days back I had managed to crash in place on the bike trainer. I discovered that only a small diamater screw bore the rider weight and pedaling forces, wore a puzzled panic on my face, and crashed sideways at 0 mph. They shouldn't let old men near bikes.

But today I got out on the road.

Log: 55 minutes. About 13 miles of rolling roads, empty except for the garbage trucks, at a pedestrian pace that fully reflects my fitless.

Is This the End or Just the Beginning?

2004-06-09T16:52:00.000-07:00

Or more likely an ugly middle?

Where a triathlete stood, a 43 year old fat dad sits, hips, knees and back in pain. This then will be the log of my struggle to win back that feeling of vitality, vigor and invincibility.

When will I cycle, run, swim, lift weights, or do aerobics, and can I even manage these, again? Will I ever see the top of a mountain, again?

I will try to make this a daily posting ritual.

Readers comments are invited.