“Its never to late to be what you might have been.”- George Elliott
This quote is full of hope and the arrogant promise of time leaves no room for argument, only action. Especially when you have had plenty of time to accomplish goals, but yet feel as many more could be had.
I took this quote to heart, and started Crossfit at 47. I have never considered myself an athletic individual, and my fitness career was based on the boring routine of cardio 3 times a week and strength training the other two. It kept my weight under control, but time was taking its natural toll on my body in terms of physical changes. The loss of muscle mass, bone density, torn ligaments and lack of flexibility were becoming increasingly evident. I looked like I was in decent shape, but I knew I was not fit.
My new goal. To be FIT.
After a year of Crossfit, I have experienced many performance improvements and to deny my failures would not be realistic. Failure establishes for me the willingness to take risks and to push myself to new limits. The beauty of Crossfit is that is so broad in scope and deep in technical detail, that there is room for everyone and every level of athleticism. As Greg Glassman says… the fitness we all need varies in degree not kind.
As an older Crossfitter, I have experienced certain obstacles that needed to be overcome or at least considered. I find that gains come slower, but nevertheless they come. Not seeing gains as quickly as my younger counterparts has forced me to work harder and not give up. If I would have thrown the towel after a year of not getting a pull-up, I would have missed the satisfaction that comes from getting my chin over the bar and climbing the rope all the way to the top for the first time in my entire life. Age has given me the advantage of patience, and understanding that the principle is competing against yourself. It’s about self-improvement, about being the best possible version of yourself at that present moment – I’m confident enough to understand this and not rate my physical self worth on how I compare to others.
Flexibility is another issue at hand. According to M. Alter, a leading health expert, the main reason we become less flexible as we get older is a result of various changes that take place in our connective tissues. Increases in the ability of muscle tissues and connective tissues to stretch can be achieved at any age though. As we get older, our bodies gradually dehydrate to some extent, causing our bones to become brittle and more likely to break, our tendons and ligaments less flexible and likely to snap.
Injuries are not fun for anyone, but especially not for the older athlete since we take longer to recover. Research shows that “stretching stimulates the production or retention of lubricants between the connective tissue fibers, therefore preventing the formation of adhesions.” Stretching will ensure large amounts of blood flows to the muscle fibers making them more elastic and ready for the stress of a workout.
As I responsibly continue to train my body and mind to a new level of fitness , I pursue it knowing that I have individual needs and capacities.
Reaching CrossFit worthy goals is a series of progressive acts. It might take days, weeks or even years. But with the right attitude and a little ambition I will continue to achieve new goals and so can you!
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Greatness in someone who works out at Crossfit is not in never having been beaten on your time, been knocked down by the work out you just finished, having sore or injured muscles, knowing everyone in your workout group is in better shape than your are and are probably going to kick your butt, or even that you feel like quitting………..but in the getting up and going to Crossfit……………when you are routinely beaten, hurting, tired, or feel like quitting because you want to reduce your hurried schedule……….to try your hardest, again, again, and again.
To all the young people who have ever had a better time on a work out than us old dudes over 50, you have never beaten us, we only ran out of time, because the workout was not long enough for us to catch you.
(P.S., the above quotes, modified a little, came from Vince Lombardi and Jerry Kramer, a football coach and player for the Greenbay Packers back in the 60’s, if you are under 30, than you probably don’t know of these guys. Back then, in the 60’s and 70’s, football was not a wussy sport like it is now, you could head slap, pile drive the quarterback into the ground when you tackled him, and gunk some stuff like glue called stick-em on your hands so running backs would not slip out of your hands when you slammed them to the ground……Ahhh, those were the days……..oops…..sorry for the violence)
Let us all not go quietly. It is better to burn out than to fade out. Fatigue makes cowards of us all. Work out as if you were getting a second chance and as if you had worked out the first time as wrongly as you are about to work out now. Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.
The measure of who we are, is what we do with what we have.
Wow – what an article, Lidia! I loved the part about even though you may see results/gains slower, they come nevertheless. You are beautiful and strong – a true inspiration to people of ALL ages!
My first doctor told me to sit down, act my age, and manage pain with chemicals. So, after ten months of watching TV and medicating, I was in pretty poor shape when I took my first classes with you Lidia. When I started in February, picking up a nickel from the floor was an adventure. Last week I picked up 255 pounds. Not bad, but not the most important aspect of my CrossFitting.
Now, I am investing in a life that I believe will be active, productive, and rewarding for many years. I think about the future the way people much younger think, but with the advantage of decades of experience.
I don’t have the credentials to advise on the psychology of aging, (Here comes the “but”) but I see many people my age quitting. The career is winding down, children are long gone, and women don’t see us (inside joke between white hair guys). So, let’s use a little Chardonnay to take the edge off the boredom (Not to be confused with being fully engaged in living).
So, what does CrossFit Coastal do for this 58-year-old? The physical aspect is obvious; stronger, better wind, lower blood pressure. I’ve written a bit about my optimistic outlook. However, most rewarding for me is associating with smart, hard-charging younger-than-me people. They pull me up. I’m influenced by their determination to get stronger. They tell me I can, when I’m thinking they’ve got to be kidding. And I’m touched by their caring.
And women can see me again. I know this because they look at me and say hello.
Life is good.
Lidia, you are in inspiration. You are a great coach, you are so strong, and you look amazing!
What a great place to be! The support and the friendships are incredible. It is great to workout with such inspiring people and to see the results that come with the hard work and dedication. When I feel like I am the weakest, slowest, etc… everyone is there to help push me forward and say things like, “You are an inspiration to me,” or “I look up to you.” What a great group of people.
All you “older people” huh! Crossfit breaks down those age gaps and brings everyone together. I’ve worked out with young guys in highschool and all you “older people,” and I’ll tell you that I’m pushed even harder by the 54 yr old guy sweating his heart out next to me than I am the younger guy flying through next to me. And I’ll even have to admit that most of you old guys have beat me fair and square in more than one WOD. “Older” does’nt mean rotton and decrepid and declining health. At crossfit being older is just a fact of age, not what defines you as an athlete. So all you OLD guys and gals keep up the hard work, I only hope to be half as strong as you in my “older” age. Continue to be an ispiration to all. 3-2-1 GO!
mommmmmmy.
what a good role model you are, i hope to look just like you when im your age(29)
What a great article! Awesome feedback as well – I love everyone’s participation on our blog. You know as I’m coaching my classes I look at guys like Mark, Bill, John, & Dwight and hope to be in as great shape when I am their age- I mean how old are these guys?! Mark has to be at least 70, but stronger then guys 1/8th his age.
All joking aside – it’s a priviledge to be able to teach and be in contact with such a great group of dedicated people. Also, it’s an even bigger priviledge to be able to learn from you as well – I attribute a lot of our success to the wisdom, advice and encouragement from Frank B., Ed, Chip, Bill, Jeff R. Heidi, and Tom.
I want to thank everyone who loves this place as much as I do and everyone that has helped us grow – this would be impossible without the supportive and encouraging atmosphere that everyone here creates – both in exercise & life.
Well this one brought me out. As one of the senior “geezers”, I can only say thanks for helping me get back on track. I was a gym member that would jog a few miles and work the weights @ 3 sets of 10. Needless to say there were no goals and no support from the robots around you. I found that it was easy to focus on work, live large, and think that you can jump back into the game at any time. No way. Things stop working, parts go bad and the Dr. puts you on meds. Things were depressing and I wanted to be a part of something good. I stopped by and asked Zeke if old guys were allowed in the program. He was supportive, but I had to get a permission letter from my Dr. It’s been worth it. I’m stronger, 20 lbs lighter and living without meds. I am completely impressed by the attitude of the members and attention provided by the coaches. Crossfit is really a team sport based on individual efforts and there is proper way to lift weights. While my ‘old’ buddies think I am crazy, I can only laugh and remember the saying ‘Life is not a dress rehearsal, you only get to live it once’.
The above article and all the comments that followed
define what Crossfit is for me. Pouring your heart and soul
into a wod without regard to your exhaustion inspires me a great deal. Whether
or not your time is great , if you are giving 110%, that’s so motivating for me to
watch.
Lidia…you are so inspiring! Keep pushing yourself, because the harder you work the harder I want to work! Right now I am frustrated because I am stuck in a hotel room and not able to join you for a WOD. Just the inspiration I needed to make up my own WOD…
Amen.. I started Crossfit at 42 . Never have been athletic. But always thought I was in pretty fair shape.. Boy was I wrong. I’ve pushed my body to do things I’ve never done. I’ve been crossfitting now for 3 months, and the strength that I have developed, along with a much more confident attitude is amazing. My first pull-up came at about week 4. Now I love to kip and can get in about 10 on a good day. Certainly I struggle more then the younger ones, but man, I don’t know that I’d have it any other way. I never knew I was so competitive. I never knew I had this much drive. Crossfit has changed my life, my day to day functioning….