You know when you feel old because your back and joints are achy, or your knees lock or crack when you stand up. Well, I feel that way as a senior student-athlete on the Arcadia University track and field team.
I remember being on the team and thinking I was invincible with every event, every rep, every lift, and every meet. With every meet, I wouldn’t prepare and just compete with no recovery plan, just wanting to go back to my room, shower, and go to bed. Then waking up fine the next day. Now, I consistently stretch, communicate with my coaches/trainers about how I am doing, go to the trainers, and just make sure everything is physically/mentally good before and after I compete. Especially, after all the injuries I have faced and early morning lifts/practices.
The biggest reason I started to care more about my physical and mental stability in the sport is because of the injuries I have faced. Some injuries I have had are a concussion, a misplaced scapula, general shoulder problems, hip problems, and earlier this year, my hammer throw got smashed into my upper back between the shoulder blade and spine, which left me out of the sport for a few weeks. Even though these injuries are brutal, I am grateful for them because they made me mature in the sport and reshape the way I train.
Before, I would just consistently go and go with no rest days. Now, on top of my training plan with my coaches, I also have a training plan with the trainers, where I have days that I rehab my injuries and soreness, get cupping or scraping done (which hurts but feels good), modify a workout or lift if something is irritating me, or I am just having an off day.
As much as the freshmen will call me old when my back hurts, and I put a brace on to throw, or when they constantly call me weak for taking it easy in the lifts, or make fun of me for constantly being in the trainers getting something done. I have accepted it because eventually they will realize that they can’t just constantly go like I was.
Feeling old in a sport can be tough, but it also makes you smarter, since you understand your limits and when you can push your limits. As a senior, I also appreciate this season more than I have any other year because eventually I will have to turn in the uniform and think back to all the training and every coach, trainer, or teammate that has helped throughout the seasons. And for that, I will be forever grateful for everything I have learned.
Featured image by Karissa Kujawa on Canva.
