By Joshua Stevens
Maybe it’s because guys like Jens Voigt are still winning stages of the Tour of California at the age of 41 and Sven Nys is still winning Cyclocross World Championships at 37, or maybe it’s just because I’m in the same age group and am paying more attention, but I am seeing strong old dudes everywhere I look and I’m wondering how they still do it. I know you’ve seen them too, at your local triathlon or endurance running or cycling event. The old men are everywhere and some of them have been doing this for decades. I’m talking 20 or 30 years or even more. With that kind of consistency it’s no wonder some of them are still tickling the top of the competitive fields or even winning!
Old-man strength transcends the most recent workout, race or life experience. It’s the strength of the years, of the season on top of seasons. Some call it wisdom, some, life experience. It’s not just physical power, it’s emotional fortitude. It’s maturity. It’s the sharing of a life past and mentoring of the next generation while humbly honoring one’s place in the grand schema of this human existence. It’s equally respected when it is witnessed on the race course and in a local group ride.
I’ve noticed they can’t approach training or racing with a bold, brash attitude and spray their power and enthusiasm all over the place with wasted efforts as many of their youthful counterparts do. Their powerful efforts are cool and razor-precise. They meter out their efforts and go all-in when the time is right. The young riders in pursuit seem overwhelmed and bewildered by the apparent boldness of the attack of the “old man.” To the “old man,” the move is the culmination of years of calculations from failed efforts and of the knowledge that only the right acceleration at the right time can be successful against the hordes of youth lurking behind. It’s something we can all aspire to with our advancing age.
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Joshua Stevens, D.C., is a holistic chiropractor in Chapel Hill and Durham, where he utilizes chiropractic, acupuncture, detoxification, nutrition, and cold laser therapy with patients. A two-time Ironman finisher, he focuses on racing cyclocross and mountain bikes … much easier!
