Celebrating 45
Message from a Happily Aging Athlete
Attention!
I'm testing something new. For the first time, I have translated a Das Z Letter into German. By hand and with love. Take a look and let me know what you think, okay? Here you can find the German Das Z Letter "Die 45 Feiern":
Today is my birthday. I am not sharing this information intending to receive many birthday greetings, but to draw attention to the fact that I have turned 45. Quite old. Especially for a runner. Or is it?
First things first: fortunately, I'm not one of those people who think too much about their age. I would be lying if I said that the number 45 doesn't feel any different than 32, but as soon as I try to name a winner, I realize that every age and every stage of life has had and has its good and bad sides. Let's say almost every stage of life. There were also some that simply sucked from A to Z ;-)
Back to the topic. So this Das Z Letter is not intended to talk me into celebrating my 45th birthday. Rather, I want to encourage you that you can still enjoy running and everything that goes with it to the full, even beyond the halfway point of your life. As always, I can only speak for myself first and foremost, but for me, it feels like I've only just started.
I actually started running in 2013, just over 10 years ago. I've already told you a few times how it came about.
More importantly, I have never regretted my unconscious decision to end my time as a musician and dedicate my life to something new. I would rather not pit these two life passions against each other, any more than 45 against 32. Strictly speaking, I don't even want to compare them. They both came into my life at the right time and did the right things. I am genuinely grateful to both, music and running.
In 2013 I was... Wait, I have to do the math... 34 years old. My life was one big fairground with a ghost train, bumper cars and lots of food stalls. "105 kg fighting weight" many food stalls. Running cleaned up my life and completely realigned me. My innate ambition and curiosity did the rest. Within a very short space of time, I not only wanted to run, but also to train, compete and immerse myself in the world of running.
Even though I have had to struggle with major athletic deficits my entire running life, I now even see my late start in running as an advantage. My physical wear and tear is nowhere near as advanced as that of someone who has been doing sport since their youth. The same applies to my performance curve. Although I am fighting against the natural, age-related physical decline, most training stimuli work very well for me because my body is surprised (or taken by surprise?) for the first time. As recent events have shown, you can still run half-decent times at 45.
Speaking of natural decline. The Das Z Letter is not a medical journal, but as far as I know, I actually counteract the progressive self-decay of my body by running. Running increases bone density, slows the age-related loss of muscle mass, improves cognitive function, promotes the release of endorphins, serotonin and other neurotransmitters, and there was also something about telomeres lengthening, and therefore your whole life. And all this for jogging a few times a week? A good deal.
I hope this Das Z Letter gives off the positive vibe I'm feeling today on my 45th birthday. I'll talk to you again in five years.
Everything not Running
Due to current events: Runcation was yesterday – Writecation is the new thing! The principle is the same. For a few days, I reduce my life to three things:
writing
eating
and sleeping
The only exception is my birthday, which falls somewhat unhappily in the middle of my runcation.
By the way, when I say "writing", I don't mean it in a highfalutin artistic or intellectual way. I'm not sitting here with an author's scarf, quill, parchment and inkwell waiting for inspiration. It's simple, tangible work. Work that I love and that fulfills me.
Writing is like breathing. Or walking. We all can and have been doing it since childhood. All I do is give writing space so that it can happen. At least an hour every day and many hours a day in this Writecation. I can't imagine anything better.
In your writing you always come across as a 23-year-old. It’s your enthusiasm for the things you write about, I think, that makes it seem so. Happy Birthday!
Ois Guade!