Showing some wear, but moving forward.

Two weeks later and still as repetitive as a stump speech...

Not running. Have made 3 attempts, tight knee symptoms return after ~20mins each time. Continuing with the deep tissue massage, stretching, some yoga, some targeted stability and strengthening. Vowing (again) to try deep water "aqua" running this weekend. Picture me and a herd of blue hairs sporting floatation belts, slooooowly circulating in a small section of the pool, avoiding each other and eye contact. I'm closing in on blue hair club eligibility myself but I'll feel young in their midst, even if the feeling is mere denial, damnit!

Biking and swimming as much as I can, no knee issues there. Actually making some gains in the pool.
Down from mid 10mins to almost 9:08 for a 500yd TT, laid that down on my birthday in fact. Knocking out consistent 1:4x for 100's and threw done some low :40s for 50yds.

This is all incredibly slow for real swimming, but it's progress for me. And, doing it all one year older. When you really suck, it's possible to get faster with age. Set the bar low and every notch up is huge.

An excellent dinner out at Devereaux last Fri. to mark the occasion. Super soup, steamed salmon, carrot and raisin salad, asparagus. All very good, and yes, good for ya. Old albums were unearthed. Remember those killer custom curtains up on The Heights? Great background material.

Cool cards from the intohersixties gal. But that number kinda packs a wallop, eh?

Thanks Ed for the cycling-specific card, spot on. Not hand made, but it made me grin.

Close with a little aging rider humor to close.

Sadly, these physiological declines are just the beginning for maturing roadies. Getting older unleashes a raft of devastating conditions. For example:

• You become acutely aware of the ages of your riding partners. If you beat someone who's 3 months younger than you, you're elated for days. When you get dropped by somebody who's 10 years older, you sagely proclaim that "age is just a number."
• Digital displays become smaller and dimmer. When browsing for a cyclecomputer, you look not at the list of functions but at the size of the numbers. The teenage salesperson at your local bike shop snickers when you ask why they don't stock bifocal Oakleys. (Bifoakleys?)
• You are unable to get through a 2-hour ride without stopping to tinkle. Twice.
• You gravitate toward bib shorts. For comfort, of course, not because they help corral that extra 5 or 10 pounds.
• You start wearing a cycling cap under your helmet. For comfort, of course, not to keep the sun off that bald spot.
• Upon reflection, you realize the 6-hour century you did in '02 was actually pretty close to 5 hours. And you describe your 29th place at the '95 District Road Race as "finishing just off the podium."
• Overnight, your body develops mysterious creaks. Just like your bike.

http://www.roadbikerider.com/sos.331.spin