Somewhere in space floats a piece I wrote many years ago. It mused away upon the subject of knowing when one has attained his/her peak. My best example was the Cuban high-jumper Javier Sotomayor. In 1993, in Salamanca, Spain, Sotomayor broke the world high-jump record, setting a new mark of 2.45m (8ft ½in for you ‘Muricans). Here he is, 27 years ago.
That record still stands. No one has seriously threatened it.
My question is, as the bar wobbled and settled, the crowd erupting, did Sotomayor know, in his heart, that he had reached the limit of his powers? Or did he believe that the next day, or the next week, he would break the record again?
Sir Roger Bannister ran 3:59.4 for the mile in 1954, breaking the mythical 4-minute mile barrier. A few months later he ran even faster, then decided to retire to concentrate on medicine. I’m sure he knew he could never again equal those times.
And so, after running a lousy 58.34 for 10k last Sunday, should I do a Bannister and pack in the running? Or at least the racing? Having just turned 67, and with a dodgy knee, I’m not going to improve by much. Another marathon is way out of my reach, and I’m beginning to think a half-marathon might be as well.
Arm action needs attention
I’ve had a good 16 years at it, having started aged 50. I was never a natural runner but I like to think I at least attained ‘respectability’ as regards race times. Three marathon finishes, maybe 20 half-marathons, innumerable shorter races. I’ve loved race days, pinning on a number, chatting with like-minded souls before, during and after races.
Taking up running certainly saved me from sliding into an unhealthy, overweight mid-life. Time to pack it in though. Just go out for enjoyable little spins with the Jersey Joggers. Forget racing.
Nope. I’m not finishing on a lousy 58.34. These new babies, £120 worth, will soon have me flying again 👍 😃
Back On The Rock 
That’s the spirit, Roy! Keep running and racing if it makes you happy. I would listen to my knee… but I’m not a runner.
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Thank you Juliann. My favourite running quote is ‘The day will come when I can no longer run. Today is not that day.’
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I admire your perseverance and hope it is accompanied with wisdom. They do have master’s events where you compete with others in your age bracket. So there is always hope.
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Thank you Pat. Too much wisdom is restrictive 🙂 We don’t have dedicated Masters’ races and indeed I think everyone racing together. Giving it a crack against the younger ones is part of the fun 🙂
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You had me going for a few minutes there, Roy. Be smart about your dodgy knee, but as long as you’re not hurting yourself (and I know I’ No-one to talk), keep soaking up the joy of running. There are age-conversion calculators you can find on line that will show you that your 58:34 at 66 is the same as 35:10 at age 30! Reset your peak!!🏃🏽♂️😊
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Thanks Jane. Yes indeed, I was happy last year to set a 10k PB when adjusting for age. I’m a bit off that at the moment. Of course you’re well aware of how addictive running can be. And as they say ‘You’re a long time retired.’ I’ve made great friends through running as well so, even when I stop 😦 I’ll keep involved.
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Roy, I love the snazzy shoes and they look like they’ll have you flying! 😀 I understand you are disappointed and admire your drive to continue … just mind your knee!
Having spent a year barely able to work following two slipped discs, the ability to stride out for hikes across the hills, coastline, moors means the world to me … parameters are no fun, but not being able to do anything was miserable. It’s hard learning to accept the ‘new’ me to start with but I’m thankful for the gift of walking, pain free!
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No way you are finished. I don’t think you run to “make a record,” anyway. You run to show you can, to feel the fresh air in your hair (I didn’t say hairs..:-) ), to connect with friends and enjoy the scenery and to push yourself to your personal best. Until my knees crankily told me ABSOLUTELY NOT, I ran at least three times a week and beautiful “races” in SF and Monterey and Carmel and Napa. I never came in first. I never even came in 100th in the big ones. But. I R A N. I think of these “races” in running (and now for me, in walking) similarly to our writing. We write our stories/books. We’d love to come in “First” on Amazon and make a million. But that’s not our intention. We just love the writing and sharing our stories. RUN/WRITE on, Roy.
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That’s absolutely correct Pam. I’m the biggest advocate of running for pre enjoyment and the associated benefits. Tomorrow (Thurs) we’ll have another 20 or so completing a 5k for the very first time here, followed by a bit of a party. But I get a buzz from racing, pushing to the limit, trying to challenge my times, to beat a few others at least.
I’d have loved to have travelled more widely and possibly to have run a few of your great races in the USA 🙂
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I miss that euphoria of racing, and the adrenaline. Also, when running, all other thoughts/worries/plans go out the window (or more likely, out into the sky). Yoga does that for me now, but not the same adrenaline. My daughter has run the Boston Marathon twice here, and one in Rhode Island (beautiful) and the NYC marathon. She’s been training for the Chicago Marathon but most have been canceled or postponed right now. Me? I say race for yourself, no one else.
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Your daughter must be good to have qualified for Boston. That’s one race that I might have crossed the Atlantic for if I’d been good enough to qualify. NYC & Chicago are also very popular with Brits.
Yes, sadly even our local upcoming races have been cancelled. I’m not sure that actually helps the situation in any way, but we’ll have to live with it.
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My cousin was going to do the London Marathon this year to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer. Her Dad, my uncle, died last year. I think it is much safer to postpone all group activities during this time. My mind wandered to the last great pandemic of 1918 and I realized that it is likely that my great-grandparents both died then. My Nana, who would have been 22, stayed at home and looked after the younger children. She would never tell me what they died of despite my incessant curiosity. Be safe and well. K x
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Indeed, group activities, even where not specifically cancelled or banned by now, are frowned upon. Even my little running group, with separation between us all, is having to go into hibernation – not for health risk reasons but for perception issues.
Were you able to track down your g-grandparents’ details, except for cause of death? Were they Scottish?
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They were Irish but living in Bootle where they had a furniture store business. They were wealthy but I guess that all changed when they died. Most of the children married well and were middle class but Nana married an Irish farmer who died young of cancer.
I think they were trying to hide their Irish roots because our name was changed from Maguire to Pinkman (the English translation). All my great aunts had plummy accents from their private education. They rarely mentioned their Irish roots. As far as I know, I have no Scottish ancestors.
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