I have been in many competitions over the course of my life
and I know what it feels like to win and what it feels like to lose. Unfortunately, I have definitely been on the
losing side more often than the winning side.
In every competition there comes a point when you know that you or your
team cannot win. It is at that time when you are being tested the most. It is
easy to coast and go through the motions when you know that you are overmatched
or cannot win. I am in that situation
now. I am in a battle I know that I
cannot win. I am in a battle with Father
Time. As we all know Father Time is undefeated as even Tom Brady found out.
What started out as a mild and fun skirmish with Father Time
is now growing more intense with haymakers being thrown and the battle now more
personal than ever before. When I first started to battle Father Time I was
turning fifty and had realized that while I was in rather good shape if I
continued on my somewhat sedentary life I would age rather fast. I originally wanted
to just be fit enough to walk and hike miles in the woods. Nothing special much
like a man wanting to play golf on a regular basis when he retires. Father
Times likes it that way. You are conceding the battle early because he has
convinced you, that in your mind, you are old.
Somewhere along the line I stopped thinking I was getting
old. That I still had something left in my tank. I started doing Tough Mudders,
Spartans and tough trail races. Each year while I was aging I was also pushing
myself to do even harder and tougher events. I will let you know that Father
Time does not like that and there is a reason he is undefeated. He fights dirty. He will pull a muscle here,
sprain and ankle there, and take away a little agility. All reminders that you
are getting old. Just relax and all those aches and pains will go away he is
telling you.
All those little injuries hit me, but they did not deter me.
They actually inspired me, to not only continue but to be smarter about my
fitness. Soon in my sixties I was able attain my greatest athletic achievements
of my life, running a 100 miles twice not to mention almost a two hundred mile
trek across the length of New Jersey. I was feeling great about my health and
fitness and definitely not feeling old.
Father Time was not amused and decided to remind me who the
champion was by landing a couple of haymakers. First, he hit me below the belt
with a punch to my knee and I suffered a stress fracture on my right knee
sidelining me for a few months from any running. Then people I know around my
age started suffering serious health and physical injuries. As I said Father
Time does not fight fair attacking not only you but the ones around you. He is
intent on breaking your spirit and having you concede that you are old.
I have to admit, I was reeling with my injury. The more I did nothing, the harder it was to regain the fitness intensity I had. Yet when I had first suffered my injury I had confidently and with a little cockiness told my doctor I would do another ultra-marathon and send him the picture so that others would know it was possible. I also pushed for physical therapy so I could focus on my comeback.
Despite my bravado it is not easy because my confidence has
been sapped. However, with every run it starts to grow. I not only need to
build up my physical strength but more importantly my mental strength. That
will really piss off Father Time. That is what he wants to do. He wants to
break your spirit.
Obviously, Father Time is the toughest competitor I have
ever faced. I have a strange dream and goal pertaining to Father Time. At the
end of a tough race or any sporting contest the competitors shake hands at the
end acknowledging each other’s efforts.
When my time comes on Earth, and I hopefully ascend to the
pearly gates. The first face I want to see is not any deceased family or
friends. I know that sounds wrong but there will be eternity for that. I want
to be greeted by Father Time.
I want to shake hands with Father Time. I am hoping that he
says “Pinney you really were one of the hardest people I had to fight.” I would
then reply “Thank you Father Time our battle made me a better man.” Then I would kick him in the knee with all my
strength and say “Two can play at that game!” Look I said I lost a lot I never
said I liked it.
