Age - it's just a number

From the day we are born, we're one step closer to death.  It's what you do with your steps that matter and if your lucky you'll live to a "ripe old age" having enjoyed good health and happiness - not dribbling in a nursing home!  At this point you're probably wondering what "I'm smokin", but I'll explain.  Maybe it's because I turned a significant age in December that I seem to know more people that are dying.  The other day Shane Warne the cricketer died at age 52 of a heart attack.  I don't follow cricket but he was such a mega star that I remember him at the height of his career.  I can't comment on how healthy his lifestyle was but it just serves up as a reminder that we're only here for a short time so make the most of it.  I do firmly believe that being active gives you the best chance of a healthy life but that doesn't mean running the distances that I do.  Regular walking and some yoga will keep you ticking over nicely.  
Yesterday I was at a friend Colin's 50th.  Half a century!  He's as fit as a "butcher's dog" and still behaves like a teenager which I think is part of the secret of keeping young.  Todays 50 is yesterdays 30!  When I think of my parents and their friends, there was no way they were as fit as my 50 year old friends today, nor did they have the youthful outlook with stretching goals which takes a lot of commitment.
This youthful approach is helped if you surround yourself with people who set the "bar high".  Yesterday I brought a significantly younger pal Chris along for the run.  Introducing a youngster to the group had the predictable effect, we all pushed harder than normal.  I got dropped off the back and with my max heart rate  of 207 and average 187, I felt terrible.  I was blaming my age and the few extra glasses of wine I had the night before until I looked at my data once the run was over.  I was 24 seconds per KM over 15 km - no wonder my heart rate was so high!  I was pleased with those results.
This morning was a beautiful spring day.  Zero degrees, no wind and the sun was shinning.  My target was to do a pacey 12km so I headed out determined to hit the target set.  It was a brilliant run and when it got tough on the hills, I just imagined my friends were running slightly ahead of me so I'd work harder to catch up with them.  It worked as I did my quickest 10k and 12k of the year.  Not bad following Colin's 50th birthday party celebrations.
Age is just a number.  It's your mindset that matters. When I turned 60 I felt down about being "so old" however I've managed to reframe it and I'm grateful to have had 60 good years and hopefully many more to come as not everyone gets to that age.  Assuming I can stay relatively fit and healthy my goal is to run an Ultra Marathon at 80.  I'll be that "mad old guy" that the youngsters will point at as I toe the start line with them.  It will be the tortoise v the hare but it's not a race for me, it's a state of mind!  Spring is here, get out and enjoy the lighter days and the sunshine.  Your body and mind will thank you.