When we're young, we can't wait to get older. Every birthday is celebrated with passion and gusto. Every birthday means we're another year closer to driving/graduating/leaving home/drinking/[fill in your desire].....
At some point we reach equilibrium, when we're pretty much the age we'd like to stay at - we're young and active enough to be able to do everything we want to do, yet mature and wise enough to realise the folly in some of the potential endeavours. For me, I suspect that age was around 33-34 years of age. I was fit, I was well educated and I made a comfortable salary.
If we believe the birth records, David Ortiz is 33 years of age. Yet for all of spring, he looked like a man who suddenly either forgot everything he ever knew about swinging a bat, or like the flick of a switch suddenly had his body, in a Duran like moment, just say: "No mas."
Ortiz could not buy a basehit for weeks. He looked like a very old man playing a young mans game.Bill Simmons looked at all of the obvious issues regarding Big Papi's extensive slump, but ultimately focused on age. And reminded us about a very important lesson:
Everything ends badly, otherwise it wouldn't end.
David Ortiz, at least until his recent 10-15 game potential recovery (I'm not counting my chickens just yet), seemed truly like a man who age had caught up with. At 33, playing 162 games per year is draining. If you're actually 36, it's probably even more so.
I tore my hamstring last year, at the age of 36, ironically when turning out of the batters box whilst trying to beat out a ground ball whilst playing for my Sunday amateur team.
A year later with tons of therapy and about 200 miles of running to strengthen the leg, I still feel it....a lot. Granted, I don't have access to the daily physio facilities a professional athlete has, but age has certainly caught up a little with me.
I carry a few extra pounds still, but stamina wise I'm probably the fittest I've been for 15+ years. I run and cycle more than 50 miles per week, I eat relatively healthy and I'm running a half marathon later this year and hopefully a marathon next year.
A year later with tons of therapy and about 200 miles of running to strengthen the leg, I still feel it....a lot. Granted, I don't have access to the daily physio facilities a professional athlete has, but age has certainly caught up a little with me.
I carry a few extra pounds still, but stamina wise I'm probably the fittest I've been for 15+ years. I run and cycle more than 50 miles per week, I eat relatively healthy and I'm running a half marathon later this year and hopefully a marathon next year.
Still.
I feel my age much more than just a few years ago.
Is there a specific cut off point? Or is it, probably much more likely, a combination of factors? If so, what are they? If a professional athlete, making $13m per year, with access to every trainer, nutritionist, coach and fitness professional in the world yet still can't stop the aging process, what hope do we mortals have.
Still.
I don't care. I will run my half marathon, I will run my marathon next year, and if the powers that be allow me to, I will regain that six pack sometime this year.
So what if it still hurts when I turn out of the batters box to beat the throw, or when I try to steal 2nd.
