Well I ran about 4 miles this evening and it proved a little more stimulating than usual. Ran past 2 youngsters that were shouting at passing cyclists and they shouted abuse at me too. I stopped and confronted them. Both my height and I suppose they could have been anything from 15-17 years of age. The cockier of the 2 threatened to punch my lights out or something if I said another word. Well I did say another word but then he repeated it. I had to back down and carry on. Last thing I wanted was to end up in a brawl on the side of the road with a couple of youngsters - police - other members of their families etc.
The above has happened to me a number of times in the past. I once confronted a gang at our local playing field - I was pissed off with them hitting golf balls. When I ran up to them they changed from small teenagers to towering young men.
Still, had my say to both groups and then carried on. This time though I was assailed with such words as: ‘yeah, run off you old c***’.
Boxing lessons for me I reckon - or will do some sparring with my mate. Used to do karate but I think boxing is far more potent and less complicated. You never know when you really do have to become physical.
It’s a sad state of affairs isn’t it, MKJ? If you knew they were perhaps of school age, you could take a photo of them (from the back, sensibly) and send it to your local paper, Facebook, the police or even their school if they are ext seen in uniform next time?
Otherwise, as Rehab44 says, it’s best to change your route or ignore them. Hopefully they will leave you alone.
I don’t think self-defence is the answer as you could get into all sorts of bother. Just not worth it. Then again, some extra self confidence is always good for the self.
Hope this is the end of it pal.
I dunno about that. I reckon you should face your fears. Just kids really. Could put me in hospital if there are enough of them but does it matter? Never thought I would last to 60 to be honest with you. Kinda exciting.
After some thought I’ve decided to post my exercise routines on here which are adapted from my regular forum Muscletalk. See link below.
This may be of help to any gym users or people keeping fit with weights. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions about routines, jargon, etc.
So keeping things brief, today saw me do some straightforward three-setters with my usual starting weights as a benchmark. All very well until I found that keeping up that pace for a third set wasn’t too easy at all. But then it’s not supposed to be a doddle is it?
Thursday 11/8/16 – back+biceps:
Lat pulldown, underarm grip:
20x40 w/u
16x50 – 3 sets
Intense b****** like myself by the looks of it. I have trouble with the old brain-box too and exercise definitely plays a part in sorting it out. There are so many who need the same too.
Sorry to hear of your encounter with the young generation Mark, I’ve also come across that kind of heckling myself. Just smile at them and try and think of something witty to say and not provoke them and just jog on. Like you Mark, I would never change my route because of either fierce dogs or scrotes. You feel better when you tough it out.
If it came to a situation where it was either them or me I would not hesitate to floor the one with the mouth, but it would be the last resort.
Guernsey is so hilly and every run I’ve done since I arrived here has had some serious climbs, but it’s amazing training and if I lived here I would be such an awesome runner. I’ve been posting my progress in ‘Bob’s Bits’ if anyone is interested, and if not, I’ll be back on here soon…Good running and lifting guys.
It looks as if there are various types of fitness. The best runners and cyclists are usually as thin as rakes. Those who lift weights mostly will have more overall muscle and bulk.
It must be hard to get all aspects of the body fit. A runner or cyclist could not lift weights but would a person who is good at lifting weights also be a fair runner/cyclist? Perhaps so because the muscles in all parts of the body are well-developed. Possibly not as good as the dedicated runner/cyclist though.
Maybe a combination of lifting and running/cycling would be needed for ultimate fitness …plus the time and detemination of course.
It’s a combination of everything, Mart.
Look at athletes and especially the Olympic stars right now. For example, swimming. All of these people exercise in the gym but it doesn’t necessarily mean they get big and bulky, unless their particular sport requires it.
A professional cyclist will probably have massive legs but spindly little arms. On the other hand, a long distance runner would weight around 7-8 stone wet through but train cardio-vascular for up to six hours a day in the gym, maybe throwing in some light leg exercises as well.
It’s all relative.
Myself, I’ve dabbled in bodybuilding to a very good standard (20+ years ago) and try to maintain a reasonably decent physique by lifting moderate to heavy weights. I do very little cardio as my job sees me on my feet all night at work.
Thanks Floydy. I know one thing. A very fit 50 year old person will always beat (at anything) a very fit 71 year old person (that’s me). However, a fit 70+ year old can often beat a 50 year old, or even children, who don’t exercise very much.
I’ve quite often come across much younger people who race past only to fall behind later, especially when it comes to riding up hills. They are capable of a burst of energy OK but don’t seem to have the stamina to keep going.
In the end, I suppose I will lose the ability to ‘see off’ even those people. Nobody can stay nimble in the face of increasing age I suppose. I hope to keep the fitness level up for a few years yet though.
If I were silly enough, I could run around the foreshores of Pumicestone Passage all day and confront nothing more belligerent than the odd buck kangaroo.
Exactly mate. I only have to look at some of my younger work colleagues. They have absolutely no ‘go’ in them, they’re half asleep all the time and hunched up from playing computer games all day on their phones.
Jeez! I’m falling deeper into that ‘grumpy old man’ syndrome very swiftly indeed!:shock:
Morning Guys, there is also another thing to consider when assessing fitness and that is the distribution of Fast Twitch and Slow Twitch muscles.
The long distance runner will have more slow twitch than fast twitch and therefore can release moderate energy over a long period whereas the sprinter will have more fast twitch muscles and can release all of the power very quickly as does Usain Bolt.
It is possible for say a 10K runner or marathon runner to improve the efficiency of his fast twitch by working out in the gym, but he will always be primarily a longer distance runner.
Mart, it is a credit to you to be still maintaining your fitness at seventy, although I’m catching up age wise it’s blokes like you who help to keep blokes like me realising that there is still plenty of reason to keep on going.
Morning Old Grey Fox, and everyone. [:)]
Good info there bud ^. When I used to go out running I would basically go as fast as I possibly could up a road called Steep Hill (very apt name!) in Lincoln until I had to stop. Each night I would try to go further until I reached the top with moderate ease. That way I knew that my strength and endurance was at its strongest. Talking about 20 years ago mind…
My training schedule involves intensive training down the pub, my half litre snatch is a joy to behold although I think I may have peaked a bit to early, for the Oktoberfest championship. I was hoping to bring back a gold.
