
Am I a sports junkie?
I spent most of the last week of the year lying around. A stubborn flu left nothing else to do, fortunately without any side effects such as aching limbs, headaches or other pains. I had planned some intensive training sessions, all of which I had to miss out on, of course.
On days like these, when you just feel tired and weak, thoughts that are difficult to suppress almost inevitably arise: How much will my fitness suffer? Will I regain my usual physical strength and stamina?
This time it went quite well, patience and trust prevailed – and lo and behold, on January 2, 2025, I started with 90 minutes of strength training – and with a new personal record: 12 pull-ups! Not bad for an old man aged 79.
I can’t imagine life without strength training at the moment. It’s a wonderful way to take care of my body, to be mindful of myself and my body. As the saying goes: you have to torture your body, otherwise it will torture you. There is a kernel of truth in that. However, I never see exertion in sport as torture, but rather as a sensual experience that gives me an intense and lasting “high”. After every full-body strength session, I feel light and supple. The same applies to running and cycling, of course. Am I a sports junkie? Maybe. In any case, my sweetheart always likes how my sport has a beautiful effect on my character and my charisma.
The fact that my knee pain has almost completely disappeared after the difficult summer last year is thanks to the specific knee strengthening exercises. They are hard, but they work. I am convinced that if I keep up these exercises consistently, my knee muscles will be so strong that the arthritis pain will no longer stand a chance. And running is already really fun again – through the winter months with two units of one hour each on the AntiGrativy treadmill, at 85% of my body weight. The interval sessions often take me back to my younger years as a passionate runner.
Next spring, we’ll see what it’s like outdoors without support. I am confident.