Parkour and Freerunning > Age 30+
Welcome Quatrogenarians!
dwellens:
Heck, at 37, by all rights, you're still a young pup!
I am fortunate enough to live in San Diego, which by the way, has the BEST weather, all year around, of any place in the continental U.S. And that also means we have OUTDOOR sporting activities 12 months out of the year, including a non-stop parade of triathalons, duathalons, 10Ks, 5Ks, you name it, we have it, unending. ( I personally don't participate in any of them 'cause "long distance" ANYTHING bores the hell out of me--the very reason I love PK--a LOT of fun in a small space & time.) Observing participants who engage in these activities in my neck of the woods includes ALL age categories--forget 40-somethings--we're talking 70+somethings in damn good shape. One thing that those guys (and gals) have in common is that they have PACED themselves those 7 decades to still be able to enjoy those activities.
In sharp contrast, I have a very close personal friend who will be turning 80 next month. He is/was a natural-born athlete, high school and college baseball star, drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals, went into engineering instead, but continued his athletic endeavours in his personal life. In the mid-60's, he was probably one of the first to take up "recreational" running, based on a ground-breaking book that came out at that time, the "bible" for training astronauts, called "AEROBICS"--a term we are all NOW familiar with. If you weren't alive (and aware) in the mid-60's, NOBODY was running the streets for "fun". You were a freak if you did. The only people running were high school or college athletes training for track or cross-country, or some other athletic endeavour. He bought the very FIRST "running shoe" (by a new company called Adidas) that was specifically designed for street running, and by todays standards, prehistoric in design, with almost no real cushioning in the sole of the shoe for miles spent pounding asphalt and concrete. After about 15 years of averaging 5 miles/day with very few missed days and not running with a very smooth-flowing gait (he would land HARD on his heels), he had to hang up his shoes after suffering from shin-splints, knee problems, hip problems, you name it.
But it didn't stop there. He simply transferred his activities to the tennis courts for the next 15 years or so, where he diligently continued to degrade the situation--just at a slower pace. His rewards--shoulder replacements, hip replacements, spinal degeneration--a complete structural breakdown, where he now moves about like a man who is 120, instead of participating in a 5K's with the rest of the 80-somethings, which he could have easily done had he PACED HIMSELF!!!
I hate to beat a dead horse, but at 37, you potentially have a long and useful athletic future ahead of you as long as you keep it all in perspective. Find the things in PK that "fit" you--DON'T go trying on someone else's moves just because they look cool, but will probably ending up breaking YOUR neck. To each his own. Stay within your comfort range, and if you are going to attempt something OUT of that range, do it in such small increments that it won't be such a big deal to accomplish. Think "gradualism"--it works.
As a P.S. I receive Jesse's WOD--and cringe. Because of a lingering wrist injury, I am completely unable to even attempt half of the exercises he suggests, and certainly the numbers of reps are completely out of the question. But what I do is to take each WOD, find the exercises I can do, ramp the reps WAY down so that I can make an honest attempt at the numbers of SETS he is shooting for. The foundational philosophy that the WOD is based on (Crossfit) is revolutionary. I just have to make it work for me within my limitations.
Go and sin no more.
Pat Kerby:
I'm 48. I used to do this stuff when i was younger and it had no name. I was a stunt man/martial artist, and always loved being able to clear an obsacle when not many others could. I directed a movie last year (www.sirenthemovie.com) and got pretty out of shape (too much stress, Red Bull, and sitting in front of an editing console). It wasn't until the end of that process that I discovered Parkour on the internet. Old passions immediately emerged, and I started on the road to get fit again. After a serious bout of shinsplints that I'm just getting over, I've lost 20 pounds, I can do most of the vaults pretty well, and am determined to get a muscleup. I live in Las Vegas, where the weather is just cooling off enough to do some stuff outdoors. I'm a filmmaker, and hope to do some Parkour films soon. Thanls to the administrators for making a thread for us old guys.
dwellens:
Hey Pat--great websites--especially "Episode DEW" (which happens to be my initials, by the way).
With a stuntman/martial arts background, you certainly have a history of "body movement"--along with the realization of "use it or lose it". There's probably only going to be a few of us with enough "water under the bridge" to lend some perspective to the younger demographics of PK. (You may want to think twice about trying to keep up with them--all of your parts are off warranty!) I recently just had my left foot stomped on on the basketball court which has sidelined me for the last three weeks from hoops and PK. I'm not happy about it, but easing off is the only route of return. (Fortunately the surf has been good so I haven't completely atrophied.)
Anyway, the two of us have a valuable perspective to lend to this forum, both to our "generation", and especially to the younger ones who think they will always be young and invincible. Please feel free to contribute.
Pat Kerby:
Absolutely. I can speak from experience about injuries that will haunt you for the rest of your life. Never take for granted that extra minute or two to warm up (ripped hamstring when I was 19) or doing something you really should know better (shoulder separation during a horse fall when I was 38). As much as the younger crowd thinks that they are indestructable, we can let them know that these things can haunt you for a long time. That being said, it's still a blast to take my out of warranty body to places most people can't go.
I'm glad you liked the website and Episode Dew, and I'm jealous that you get to surf. Have you ever seen the documentary "Step into Liquid"?
dwellens:
"Step Into Liquid"--seen it, love it, own it.
If you want to really blow your mind, try on "Riding Giants" for size, produced by Stacy Peralta of "Dogtown & Z-Boys" fame. It's the history of big wave riding--mind-boggling & death-defying! More on the "longevity theme", PBS produced a great little piece called "Surfing For Life" which is truly inspirational. Check 'em out.
Hey, it's Sunday afternoon. The sun is out, the waves are up--I better go "take care of business". M2 wants everybody outside on the weekends--I don't want to piss him off!
Mahalo
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