This was in today's "Dear Abby" column in the paper:
DEAR ABBY: I am a 55-year-old female who competes in triathlons for fun, fitness and health. I consulted my doctor because I was having foot pain. When I told him I was a runner and was preparing for a marathon race, his response was, "At your age, you could hardly call it a race."
I was shocked. I repeated the insulting comment to my husband, who has never supported me in this nor attended my races. He replied, "Well, you don't actually consider yourself an athlete, do you?"
I am so offended that I want to dismiss both my doctor and my husband. I just finished a race with 5,000 women. Every one of them was fabulous and serious, no matter how old or what they looked like. It was the spirit of the sport that mattered. At what age does one stop being an athlete? -- OLDER ATHLETE, EUGENE, ORE.
This raised some interesting questions in my mind about support, encouragement, or the lack thereof. I don't want to discuss the "athlete-yes-or-no" question. Instead, I'd like to know how people out there deal with non-supportive spouses, friends, co-workers, doctors, etc.
My own experience includes being teased by my co-workers for "getting beat by a 70-year-old woman." (This was after a big meet where they viewed my results on the Internet.) This came from men who are at least 50 pounds overweight and can barely walk from their cars to their desks.
Former Member
Thanks Muppet. I hope I do show him. I do think his goals would be higher for me if I was 30 years younger. By the way, I have been able to comb my hair with my right hand for about three weeks now.
Thanks Muppet. I hope I do show him. I do think his goals would be higher for me if I was 30 years younger. By the way, I have been able to comb my hair with my right hand for about three weeks now.
Ah but can you comb it with the left??
Hehe Just teasing Jean. Keep showing that Doc wrong!! Kudos, and good luck in your continuing recovery ;)
Rich
I saw somebody I know at the Y yesterday. This guy (Tim)is a real inspiration. He had a hip replacement several years ago and told the surgeon that he planned to play basketball and racquet ball again. The surgeon was horrified. Tim finally said that he would give up the racquet ball, but no way was he giving up basketball - that it was important to have some fun in his life.
The end result is that Tim played full court basketball with the Y "lunch bunch" until well into his 70th year and had a lot of fun doing it. Plus the hip did just fine too.
Tim pretty much told me that same thing that Muppet did - to go for it and show them!!
Thought I would let you know that things are going well for me, and I am now able to swim backstroke as well as freestyle and breaststroke. Haven't tried fly yet, but it will come. I don't see the doctor until the end of the month, and he will see that I am capable of much more than being able to comb my hair. Thanks for the encouragement muppet!
Awesome news, Jean! Keep up the hard work! After my wrists, the first time I tried to do full butterfly was at a meet. I love me some butterfly, but I told myself it can wait. Back then I didn't want to take any chances, and I think you're wise doing the same!
Doctors always have to prepare you for the worst. I find it motivational: "You tell me I can't swim in a full arm cast, well I'll show YOU!" (I did). Just be prepared that your body could behave as bad as the doc thinks, but also as you are finding out, if you work hard, you will surprise both him and yourself.
Happy Rehabbing! :wave:
Thought I would let you know that things are going well for me, and I am now able to swim backstroke as well as freestyle and breaststroke. Haven't tried fly yet, but it will come. I don't see the doctor until the end of the month, and he will see that I am capable of much more than being able to comb my hair. Thanks for the encouragement muppet!
That's great news, Jean. Some folks accept limitations, and some go out and discover their own. Sounds like you haven't found yours yet. Nice going. :applaud:
I was real pleased with how the backstroke went - surprised even. However, I think I will definitely need more time before I tackle fly. I like fly which along with breaststroke is the best part of my IM, but I think I will wait on trying it until the freestyle and backstroke feel really topnotch (they still feel a bit lopsided).
My 1/2 cent contribution is: I was swimming 72 laps 5 times a week till
I broke my leg on clear ice on Dec. 21, 2005. My wife till then would
frequently suggest I walk instead of swim. She walks briskly 6 times a week
in the morning for 1/2 hour; she also leads a group at Curves, an
exercise chain. Over the years I have tried unsuccessfully to convince her
of the advantages of swimming. Thankfully I have returned to swimming
and we have reached an understanding; I swim and she walks. We do
walk together at times for companionship. (BTW, I am 76 and still
work full time, and she is 70 and works 35 hours a week. So it would seem
that our individually preferred exercises helps us both.)
