Can't wait
I was introduced to climbing about 9-10 years ago by my brother-in-law, Amos. I didn't really take it seriously until about 3 years ago and since then I've grown to love it more every time I go out. Kari and I have been several places climbing-Minnesota, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinios, Kentucky, and of course our great state, Iowa.
I only mention this because I'm 36 now and for about a year I've had this thought process going on that I hate. For some reason I have it in my head that I've got about 3-4 good years left of climbing and enjoying the outdoors, which I know deep down is absurd. This bothers me the most when I see in magazines and movies how youth is celebrated and age isn't in the climbing world. I see people like Daniel Woods who is maybe 18 sending V15 in RMNP, or Chris Sharma who is now 26-ish sending 5.15b in Nevada-both of which are amazing.
I think the thing that bothers me the most about all of it is that I didn't get into it when I was young. I kinda blew my youth away, and didn't really do much until I was older. This very thought brings me to an interesting "crux"- I feel better than I've ever felt. I feel like I'm about 25. I've never felt so strong. I know this kinda sounds proud, but that isn't my intent. I'm just trying to get over the age thing.
My plan is to beat the "norm". I want to be even fitter/stronger when I turn 40 than I am now. I'm looking forward to climbing well into my 40s and getting better as I get older. I look forward to taking a lot of you with me.
I may not ever be as good as Chris Sharma or Daniel Woods, but I'm better than I was a year ago.
I felt that way before I moved out here. Personally I think it is a very midwest way to think. Seeing people who where 40+ really pushing it was abnormal. However, out here it is very common. We just went to a slide show by Steve "Crusher" a couple weeks ago. He is totally your average 'Joe' (pardon the pun) and probably over 50. But he is still pushing hard and climbing desert towers that no one else has climbed. And he does it in sweat pants! Now, of course you will probably never be able to compete with Woods or The Man Himself (aka Sharma) and the reality is that you probably never could (at least living in Iowa!). But as long as you find the passion in the journey you are set. Rock on brother!!
I kind of know how you feel man. I feel that way with hockey. I used to get really frustrated, but finally I just had to give it up. I can't go back and play more when I was younger, so I might as well sit back and enjoy the ride that I'm on and keep trying to improve myself. I'll never be as good as probably half the guys I play with, but I'm having fun nonetheless! Amos is right, it's all about finding passion in the journey!
Ask Kari about the lady we met on the Gem Lake trail. She was was probably about 75 and she was still truckin' up the hill with her cane. That's not unusual out here. It's awesome to see people at that age still doing what they enjoy. The other day I saw a guy with a full gray beard (~50 yrs old) snowboarding at the resort. Don't worry, you got a longggg ways to go!
I'm sure you don't want to hear my 26-ish opinion, but here it is anyway! I think that as people get older, if they're not fit, it's too hard to start. But if you're fit as you age, it's that much easier for you. And Amos and Molly are right, there are SO many people who stay fit all the way to the end. Every time I go to a race or triathlon (where they paint your age on your calf), I get inspired because there is a really large group of people keeping fit in their grandparent age. I hope you don't get discouraged by the rarity of it. It's totally possible and you might as well be one of the few. :)
Wow!!!! Whether you know it or not you are still young and look even younger...I tip my hat off to you though because climbing takes courage and lots of it...What I really want to say though is thanks for the encouragement to get out and do something that I always wanted to do and like doing (dancing) but for the last 3 or 4 years I have been telling myself that I am to old, I feel so old and unattractive and I am just now trying to come out of that mind set....But thank you for the encouragement....:-)