Fifty Plus (50+) - Help with 50

Guys,

I've got two weeks to go before I turn 50. I have been alright with it until now. Getting a little morose. Any words of wisdom to get me over the hill, so to speak, would be greatly appreciated. I just can't wrap my mind around 50. It simply can't be.

Thanks.

Complete some 50 mile bike rides.

Well, there's always the alternative. ;)

Brad

Guys,
I've got two weeks to go before I turn 50. I have been alright with it until now. Getting a little morose. Any words of wisdom to get me over the hill, so to speak, would be greatly appreciated. I just can't wrap my mind around 50. It simply can't be.
Thanks.

What kind of shape are you in?

I did this at 67 years.

http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/South%20Super%20Racer%20Girls/?albumview=slideshow

darkest day of my life man SERIOUSLY! I was a mess, mostly cuz I wasn't with the person i wanted so desperately to be with. if you're having issues I suggest you surround yourself with friends and activities. throw yourself a party

What kind of shape are you in?

Excellent shape. Same weight as in college and doing a little racing.

50 is the new 30. You got 20 years to go. Furgedaboutit,

Excellent shape. Same weight as in college...

You have no worries. Party on!

I'm 54. Thus far, my 50s beat the pants off both my 40s and 30s. Probably my 20s too (I was too drunk and stoned to remember them), and definitely my teens (see 20s).

Excellent shape. Same weight as in college and doing a little racing.

You can now join The Fifty Plus Racers.

I am guessing that at age "almost 50" you are in better shape that many college age kids or mid-20 somethings. Seriously, has anyone really looked that people in this age group lately? Maybe the ones on the left coast are in better shape than their northeastern counterparts, but so many of them are overweight, and breath hard when going up stairs.
And does anyone have any guesses as to why so many college age people smoke?
To use an internet expression "WTF?"

I suspect there will be an increased demand for cardiologists before too long.

Dominae, I am 54. I ride a fixie. Brakes on both wheels. No cycle computer. Welcome to being a rebel.

Guys,

I've got two weeks to go before I turn 50. I have been alright with it until now. Getting a little morose. Any words of wisdom to get me over the hill, so to speak, would be greatly appreciated. I just can't wrap my mind around 50. It simply can't be.

Thanks.

I faced the same and felt the same just over a year ago. I didn't like it one bit. At 50 + a week or so, you will realize there was no change, you are just as capable, just as attractive to the opposite sex and kicking ass in your age group racing. I did take my RSP's (401K) a little more seriously though. Keep smiling, it isn't bad at all.

I am not a guy, but I am 50+. Aside from having my children in my 30's, the best things in my life have all happened after I turned 50. Once your panic subsides, you'll be fine! I love the feeling of thinking, "Hey! I'm 5_, I don't have to do that, go there, take that, wear that..." Relax and feel the power.

Well, I just turned 50 2 weeks ago, and I kind of understand where you're at. I can't believe there's really that much water over the bridge already (should be "water under the bridge", I know, but I've always said it "over"). I look back at things that happened when I was 20 and 30 with ease and then it terrifies me to realize that symmetry means that 70 and 80 are equidistant or, because of the way that time goes as you age, even closer.

There's no solution to the problem but to make the best of it. Tonight I was on a ride with a different group from normal - much younger than my regular crowd. We regrouped after the steepest hill in town (maybe 15%? Anybody from the Twin Cities know how steep Ramsey Hill is?) in which I had held my own. Two guys were talking about how they could still climb well, even though they had recently turned 30. I smiled and said, "I remember 30."

It's a number... just a sign in the road. The real curve sneaks up on you later.

I am guessing that at age "almost 50" you are in better shape that many college age kids or mid-20 somethings. Seriously, has anyone really looked that people in this age group lately? Maybe the ones on the left coast are in better shape than their northeastern counterparts, but so many of them are overweight, and breath hard when going up stairs.
And does anyone have any guesses as to why so many college age people smoke?
To use an internet expression "WTF?"

I suspect there will be an increased demand for cardiologists before too long.

Dominae, I am 54. I ride a fixie. Brakes on both wheels. No cycle computer. Welcome to being a rebel.
I agree that our young people are in horrid shape. I live in a small city with a university attached to a football program, so I see a fair number of college students. It always depresses me to see what they have done to their bodies. The only saving grace for me is that I am not one of them. I would have found it depressing beyond my abilities to cope if the college women had looked like they do now back when I was in college.

Hey, hey....Watch your mouth! According to you I am running out of time!

Excellent shape. Same weight as in college and doing a little racing.
So......What's the problem? From where I am, you're just a kid!

I agree that our young people are in horrid shape. I live in a small city with a university attached to a football program, so I see a fair number of college students. It always depresses me to see what they have done to their bodies. The only saving grace for me is that I am not one of them. I would have found it depressing beyond my abilities to cope if the college women had looked like they do now back when I was in college.
From what I see walking around the college in my town, the young women in Georgia are in much better shape than the ones where you live.

I turn 50 in a few months myself. I look at age this way, I am like wine, I just get better with time. If turning 50 is anything like the past 49 years, I am not worried about it. I have enjoyed the past 49, and look forward, and don't think turning 50 will be any different. It might also be I don't really celebrate my birthday like I used to, usually a good meal with the family, and a movie, some quiet time with the wife, and I am good. I am happy where I have been, learned more than I thought I would, and things that used to bother me don't anymore.
It might also be because 7 years ago I went in for a simple physical. Had not been to the Doctor in years, wife insisted I go. I ended up in a cardiac care unit for 2 days. I remember looking around the room, I was the youngest one in there, most folks were in their 70's and more. I didn't do much about the medical problem until about 3 months ago, was back in for a checkup and in cardiac care for the night. I decided it was time to do something about it, bought a bicycle and have lived everyday like it is the last. I hope the next 40 years will be just as fun as the last 49 have, I would not want to repeat them, maybe change a few things if I did it again, but am satisfied where I am, and happy with what life has given me.

You can now join The Fifty Plus Racers.

Yes.

Check out the 50+ sticky racing thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/704193-50-Racing-training-for-racing-Thread) - we have several podium racers in there. They are amazing. You are in great company.

It sux. Read Joe Friel's book, "Cycling Past 50". The first half is a detailed explanation of the physiology behind why getting old sux as far as riding goes. The second half of the book has the good new: If you work really hard and consistently at it, you can somewhat slow the inevitable decline.

Bottom line, as always: HTFU

50 is a number that gets out attention - half a century and all that. After a few weeks of being 50 I came to realize it is just a mile post on a journey. It may well be that the best part of the journey is yet to come so keep your eyes open so as not to miss it. It helps to maintain an 'appetite' for the journey so follow all the trite advice in Readers Digest or Ann Landers; plenty of sleep, eat your veggies, don't sweat the small stuff, and so on and so forth.

Seriously. Schedule it today.

You're at a crossroads in life where parents age and need our help, children fly away (and still need our help), and you re-assess your priorities. Be the same person you have always been, only wiser. Face each day's challenge with determination, humor, and grace. You'll be fine.

Phil

Turning 50 sucked for me(for like one day). I didn't mind 20, 30, or 40. But 50 was bad. It didn't last long.

One day at a time. One interaction with others at a time. One ride at a time. One meal/drink at a time. One song at a time. One sunrise at a time. One bit of work at a time. One walk with the dog at a time. One task in the garden at a time.

If I stay focused on what's in front of me right now, I end up being too engaged for age to mean a thing.

While this is certainly in the realm of a platitude, I didn't really learn the meaning of it until my oldest son taught me how to actually do it. We were on vacation in Europe and visited 11 museums in 8 days. On the third day I made the comment that I wasn't "seeing" anything any longer. I had seen too much and couldn't focus. My son, an artist himself, said I should spend the next hour with him. So, off we trotted. As we stopped to look at a Vermeer painting. He said, "Dad, right now this is the only painting here. There are no others. This is the one you must see. Just focus on this painting like it's the only one you'll ever see again." This from a 26 year old! Well, he was right. That afternoon I got a crash course in how to apply the platitude of one thing at a time. I felt more refreshed, less stressed, and more complete than I had in some time. When I asked him where he learned to do this, he smiled and said, "You taught me. Remember when I was struggling with math homework in middle school? You would sit with me and say, this is the only problem. We only have to solve this one. The others don't matter. This is the only one that matters."

Yeah 50 can be a mind trip, if you let it. However, I think it's better to let it go and just focus on what's in front of you right now.

Your getting closer to retirement, and a life of leisure!:thumb:

So if fifty (seven years ago for me) is "over the hill", when do I get to stop pedaling and start coasting?

SP
Bend, OR

Your getting closer to retirement, and a life of leisure!:thumb:

Says the man who works from 5am to 9pm... ;)

50 was great. It fell on a Saturday and there was a 75 mile tour that day so I celebrated by doing the ride and turning into a century. Then went out to hear a couple of surf bands at a bar until 1AM. Yes, there was nap in between, I was, after all 50. I know a bunch of guys half my age that couldn't do that.

When I was 32 I had two friends pass away within a week of each other. One was 3 weeks younger than me. Since then I decided I would never complain about getting older because there are too many people who won't get the chance to be old.

I teach a spin class at 5:30 in the morning and my 50th birthday fell on a class day. I announced to my class that it was my 50th birthday and that they were going to have an old lady run them into the ground. I then proceeded to do one of the hardest classes I've ever done - it was great motivation!

Funny, a couple of years ago I wondered about turning 60 (which I will do in 1 year and 54 days). but, I ride with so many in the age group of 50-70 that , no worries!

Thanks for all the great thoughts and ideas. Keep them coming. I guess I'll just have to learn to accept myself as an immature 50 year old! I'm going for a ride.

Oh yeah...rhubarb pie.

Thanks for all the great thoughts and ideas. Keep them coming. I guess I'll just have to learn to accept myself as an immature 50 year old! I'm going for a ride.

Oh yeah...rhubarb pie.

oh, we were only referrng to growing old, not growing up!

I turned 50 last year, and I was very happy to do it.

7 months before I turned 50, my best friend died from brain cancer a week after he turned 49. At the 50th party my wife threw for me, my wife and I were the only ones at the party who knew another friend's secret, that his pancreatic cancer had metastisized. He died this past January.

A month after my 50th, I made a 3 hour drive to spend the weekend with another guy from the same group of friends who was having his 50th. We both acknowledged how happy we were to be healthy 50 year olds, we went on a steep 8 mile hike to celebrate.

3 years ago a friend spent much of the year while he was 49 training so he could celebrate his 50th by riding the Eastern Sierra Double Century, and when the time came, he successfully completed the ride. That was a little ambitious for me, but I did enjoy a lot of good rides when I was 50.

I have another friend in his mid-80's who likes running 5K's. He used to always win his age group in the local races, until some youngster turned 80 and started beating him, and when I see him on his bike, I know I could have lots of good time left.

You may have decades of good, active life in you. Or you may have no time at all. Life is good, turning 50 is good, because as was posted elsewhere, there's always the alternative, and in my opinion, turning 50 is so much better than the alternative. Don't mourn the loss of youth, feel the joy in the fact that you have made it this far and live life.

50 is nothing- Still only halfway there- wherever that is. Still the same hills to climb except you know what they are like now.

Experience counts.

Guys,

I've got two weeks to go before I turn 50. I have been alright with it until now. Getting a little morose. Any words of wisdom to get me over the hill, so to speak, would be greatly appreciated. I just can't wrap my mind around 50. It simply can't be.

Thanks.

The proper cure is a slice of pie.

Growing older doesn't mean getting old. I just turned 57 and returned to the saddle myself !
(after a 15 year absence...) :)
In the words of Béla Károlyi : "YOU CAN DOOOOOOOOO IIIIIIITTTT ! "

The bad news: You will still do stupid stuff.
The good news: You won't remember it.

How old would you be, if you didn't know how old you are?

- Satchel Paige

I work for a company with over 4000 employees. We have guys dropping from heart attacks in their 30's and 40's all the time at work. Be thankful that you made it through 5 decades and still weigh what you did in college (not many in BF can say that). You'll probably live to be an octogenarian at least and continue to pedal your way to happiness.

I'm 60, retiring soon, working less, riding more. For me 60 is better than 50, 40 etc. Sounds like you've got your health, so you've got a lot going for you. Lot's of others at what ever age we pick, do not.

Get on that saddle and ride............

How old would you be, if you didn't know how old you are?

- Satchel Paige

This needs to be a Thread or has it been?

I am 54 and I remember that day I walked over the line. I thought it was no big deal then I started to get depressed. That lasted a few days and then I got on with life. I now look at every day as another gift and try to enjoy it. Things changed, in my work I am now considered less an agent for change and more as a resource full of experience and sage advice and a mentor for the next generation - better that than a curmudgeon. They know my time there is limited, only 5 or 6 more years. I feel healthy and vibrant, my bum knee bothers me a little more than usual and I struggle more with keeping my weight in check.

You are probably in better shape than most of your peers. That just means that the odds are good you will have a better quality of life for a longer time. Enjoy it!

FWIW, I trained all winter and early Spring before my 50th birthday on June 19th. This was 15 yrs. ago. Rode my rollers and rode hard in May and early June. I was determined that I would do a 20 mi. route (one of my TT rides) at 20 mph. This was on my steel framed & chromed MAZA TSX bike with Athena gruppo. Not the lightest but not bad "back in the day." The day came and the weather was just right. No warm up just TT-ing it all the way. Hit the traffic lights through the Univ. of Conn. just right. At the end of the ride I checked the computer did some math and clocked 19.98 mph. I called it good and had a beer. Turning 50 was a great day for me.

I agree that our young people are in horrid shape. I live in a small city with a university attached to a football program, so I see a fair number of college students. It always depresses me to see what they have done to their bodies. The only saving grace for me is that I am not one of them. I would have found it depressing beyond my abilities to cope if the college women had looked like they do now back when I was in college.

Lots of colleges where I live, for the most part they all look pretty good to me. They may not be athletes but not blimps walking around campus. I also go to Boston quite regularly to visit grad students on campus, they young'ns look pretty good. You may have been right some time back but I think things have changed, IMHO the young population is getting the message. Even at work I have noticed people are getting in better shape. We still have a few of out-of-shape middle aged men/women but gradually that seems to be changing. I think as our country drops to third world status we will see our population adopt a third world physique, thinner and willing to work harder.

It's no big deal - i am 61, feel like i am 30 and look like -- we'll let that one slide. If you feel good, think young, 50 is just a number. If you have your health and are physically able to do what you want, you have this 50 thing beat. Now go for a ride and enjoy the day.

50th birthday was just another day, too busy to labor over the fact that I was 50. It is just a number!!!

The wife still says I act like a 12 yrs old though.................



I turn 50 in a few months myself. I look at age this way, I am like wine, I just get better with time. If turning 50 is anything like the past 49 years, I am not worried about it. I have enjoyed the past 49, and look forward, and don't think turning 50 will be any different. It might also be I don't really celebrate my birthday like I used to, usually a good meal with the family, and a movie, some quiet time with the wife, and I am good. I am happy where I have been, learned more than I thought I would, and things that used to bother me don't anymore.
It might also be because 7 years ago I went in for a simple physical. Had not been to the Doctor in years, wife insisted I go. I ended up in a cardiac care unit for 2 days. I remember looking around the room, I was the youngest one in there, most folks were in their 70's and more. I didn't do much about the medical problem until about 3 months ago, was back in for a checkup and in cardiac care for the night. I decided it was time to do something about it, bought a bicycle and have lived everyday like it is the last. I hope the next 40 years will be just as fun as the last 49 have, I would not want to repeat them, maybe change a few things if I did it again, but am satisfied where I am, and happy with what life has given me.

And may you continue for another 50 years!!!