I’m in the market for a sport.
It used to be that I stayed in pretty good shape by going to the gym a hell of a lot. In college I’d make it four or five days a week — an undergraduate schedule and a lack of real hobbies besides binge drinking made this relatively easy. But as I’ve gotten older I’ve been spending more and more of my time sick*, traveling, tired, working late or complaining about my knees. My post-work gym attendance has fallen off to about once a week (generously), and I’m increasingly unable to fool myself into thinking this will change.
Charles’ boxing and yoga adventures have been an inspiration, too, and I think he’s right when he says that I need to change up my routine. My short term goal is to find something I can do outside on weekends that’ll actually get my heart rate up.
My longer term goal is more important, though: I want to find an activity that puts me on the path to one day being able to play the crazy old coot: the sinewy codger whose tanned hide hangs off his shoulders like a chieftain’s furs, and who takes no greater pleasure in life than embarrassing the callow, pudgy fratboys who show up at his mountain/river/field, unaware that they are about to witness geriatric feats of strength and finesse.
It’s ambitious, I know. But I think it’s doable. My first thoughts are rock climbing and kayaking. I’m terrible at climbing, but know I enjoy it. I’ve done a lot of whitewater stuff, but never kayaking. The former seems a little cheaper, but right now I’m leaning toward the latter. Although the Potomac is disgusting, and climbing will probably lead to a more satisfyingly leathery payoff. So it’s tough to say.
Anyway, I’d be glad to hear any suggestions from you, good people of the internet. All I know is that I don’t want to be one of the weird old guys at the Y** who compete in endless handball ladders.
* This includes now. Yes, I’m sick again.
** Ask me sometime about the guy who either has Tourette’s or listens to too much WTEM
the N would go rowing with you. it involves early mornings, which seem stupid, but he seems to enjoy it.
I’ve been pushing four-square four years. You can even play while drinking a beer! (although somewhat poorly)
The dirty secret of workaday adulthood is that the only way to maintain any kind of real fitness routine requires early morning workouts.
Everyone you know who is fit and works a day job stays fit by doing whatever they do in the mornings before work. You can fight it all you want (as I did) but in the end you will discovery the truth of what I say.
Those of us blessed with friends have too many distractions after work to maintain a routine.
Kayaking is fun but not at all practical as a regular fitness routine as it requires way too much time and effort before you even begin physical activity. Fun on weekends but then one work out a week is not your issue.
When you are serious about fitness, you will start getting up earlier and getting to the gym (I know, not glamorous like rock climbing or kayaking) on your way to work. Eventually, your body adjusts to the new schedule, and I really do have a better day after morning exercise.
Good luck!
Rowing: the early morning thing makes me suspicious; the fact that it’s one of those exercises that uses your knees a lot but which people say is somehow still good for them makes me more so. But I do appreciate the offer.
I really don’t think mornings are an option. Not anytime soon, anyway. And yeah, I recognize that outdoor activities can’t serve a primary fitness role — I’d just like something that gets me into the sunshine and isn’t totally sedentary. I’m not planning on cancelling my gym membership anytime soon.
If you’re interested in kayaking, I encourage you to check out the Chesapeake Paddlers Association. There are tons of places to paddle in this area, and the CPA is a good place to find out about them and get general good advice and information, not to mention the occasional great deal on used gear. Within CPA you can find people interested—if not expert—in specialties like racing, navigation, endurance paddling, Inuit-style skinboats and Greenland paddles (I’m still working on carving mine), kayak camping, you name it.
Thanks, Katie! Any opinion on good places to take lessons? Charles and I have been looking at Potomac Paddle Sports.
Back in the day, I played soccer all the time. It was a great sport because there were clubs, so I’d know all the people, and a large age range and talent range. Anything with a club element will probably keep you coming back more often, even if it’s a bit harder to get into at first. Also, soccer is great because there are so many different styles of games to be played depending on the number of people and the venue (outdoor vs. indoor), which changes it up a fair amount.
Rock climbing gets my vote. I’m nowhere close to physically fit, but I’ve found rock climbing to be a non-tedious way to keep in shape. If we ever live in the same metropolitan area we can be climbing partners.
Dear aspiring athlete:
If you are lucky, and I mean very lucky, you will be blessed to be one of “the weird old guys at the YMCA who compete in endless handball ladders.”
Please, weird old guys: take no offense. I realize that will inevitably join your ranks one way or another, barring an early death. I still don’t intend to play handball, though.
Do try paragliding, even though it doesn’t really contribute much to fitness.
dude you are a good climber, I’ve seen you