The Power of Personal Bests as we Age
Posted on November 14, 2019 by Mike Kennedy, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.
How accomplishing a personal best 405lb deadlift helped me make the transition from many years as a competitive paddler.
A couple of months ago I accomplished a personal best deadlift of 405lbs Not bad for a 60 year old.. As a positive aging coach, I am passionate about making the best of our ‘Longevity Bonus’ and in order to have credibility with my clients it is important that I ‘walk the talk’.
The thing is, that everyone’s journey is different so the things that work for me, that give me confidence and a feeling that yes, age is in fact just a number, may not work for you. The good news is that it doesn’t really matter what field of endevour your personal best is in, it is the knowledge that we can continue to get better at something at any age.
The power for those 50+ is this, the aging process will inevitably include declines in certain areas. The important thing is to acknowledge but not to dwell on these declines. Easier said than done you may think. One of the best ways I have found to do that is to find another area in your life where you can continue to improve and grow.
“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength”. – Betty Friedan
After many years as a competitive paddler, including representing my country at four world championships while in my 50’s, I needed to come to terms with the fact that with the need to have both shoulders replaced, my competitive paddling days had come to an end. This was the close of an amazing chapter in my life and I ran the risk of it having a major impact on my overall happiness, not to mention my fitness.
Enter, striving for personal bests in my deadlift. This has played a prominent role in helping me successfully navigate this difficult transition. It gives me a terrific feeling of accomplishment and a reason to continue to get to the gym four to five times a week. The message is, to always have a new adventure in the wings to take the place of activities that are presently providing you joy, but do have an expiry date. As one chapter closes another one begins!
