Older folks (note I didn't say "OLD"... I only use that with my parents) usually have some good perspective about life. One of the men I ride with occasionally has a daughter my age, and I think he is cute because he acts like a father to me and other women he rides with. Sometimes he nags us a little. At 54, he is a respectable endurance triathlete. My parents are 59 and 61, and they might have a few more years left before they start using a walker.

He asked me what kind of races I have been up to lately, and I told him I had already dropped triathlons in favor of competitive cycling, but was still playing around and trying to figure out what I want to focus on. He said it doesn't matter and not to stress about it, as long as I stay active on a regular basis. A person's VO2 Max level drops around 1% every year after the age of 30, but if that person stays in excellent physical condition, the decline of VO2 Max can be slowed or even halted. If you keep a high level of fitness up for a period of years or even decades, you may be able to maintain your youthful physical condition. That explains why so many master cyclists and runners (those above the age of 40) are making some incredible accomplishments and in many cases, beating the socks off of the younger athletes they compete against.

When I was in my twenties, I assumed that my body would fall apart as I aged and I would have to give up my athleticism for hobbies such as knitting and walking. As long as I stay in the game and don't lose my fitness, I should be able to remain strong (and get even stronger) for years to come. In twenty years, I hope to be in similar physical condition as the 54 year old triathlete I train with, instead of on a rapid decline like my mostly-sedentary parents.