Are Old MX Riders Athletes?

Of course we are. If anyone doubts that have them ride a few laps on any MX track. MX takes physical skills, fitness and mental toughness. Athletes......you bet!

I recently discovered a group that is all about remaining an athlete no matter what your age. I have included their list of secrets for remaining in the game. These secrets apply to any sport for any age group.

Let's go racing!

The Ten Secrets of Forever Athletes™

1. Realize you are never too old or too young.

2. Understand that your body adapts and regenerates.

3. Collect your winnings from the genetic lottery. (Over 99% of us won!)

4. Reject inverted social norms.

5. Practice the delicate art of self-discipline.

6. Be a cheerleader and surround yourself with cheerleaders.

7. Start now. (It’s always the right time).

8. Dream big; get there one baby-step at a time.

9. Create your own (happy) reality.

10. Bask in your rewards.

The 10 Secrets Briefly Explained

1. Realize you are never too old or too young.

The human body is designed to last a hundred years or so and remain fairly robust the whole time.  An old age that includes dementia, walkers, nursing care, assisted living, etc. is not inevitable.  In fact, the human organism is capable of functioning at a high level mentally, physically, and emotionally up until the very last moments of life, however long you live.  The decrepitude that we commonly associate with “old age” is brought on by the abuse of consistently following poor lifestyle habits, e.g. not exercising, being overweight, overindulging in vices (rich foods, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs), too much bad emotional stress, not enough sleep, etc.  Conversely, having a strong mind and body into your later years happens, less from accidents of hereditary genetics, more from consistently maintaining healthy lifestyle habits.

2. Understand that your body adapts and regenerates.

Even if you have spent many years not taking very good care of yourself, as long as you are living, it’s not too late to restore your health.  It should be obvious that “restoring health” must mean different things to different people at different levels of fitness versus impairment.  The important point is that the human organism has a remarkable ability to restore itself, provided that you take the right steps and give your body the chance to do what it will do naturally.

3. Collect your winnings from the genetic lottery. (Over 99% of us won!)

Many people (though no serious genetic scientists) mistakenly believe in a kind of “genetic determinism,” which might lead to something like the following idea, “I won’t live a long and healthy life because I don’t have the right genetics,” as if the die has been cast at birth and, virtually no matter what people do, the healthiness (or unhealthiness) of their lives will play out along certain predetermined lines.  For 99% of the human population this notion is completely false.  The truth is that your health and fitness will be determined predominantly by the way you live your life.  The good news is. . . you have near complete control over your own destiny in this regard.  Paradoxically, the bad news is. . . you have near complete control.  This may be the most vexing “secret,” especially for those who want their health (or lack thereof) to be because of factors outside of their control — basically people who have a problem with self-accountability.

NOTE: We’re not talking here about the kind of genetic heredity that helps one person grow to a height of 6’10”, while another grows to 5’10”.  No, there’s no amount of self-accountability that will help you run the 100m dash as fast as Usain Bolt or play basketball at the level of Kobe Bryant.  But you can probably enjoy close to the same level of health and overall fitness that they enjoy.  And that’s at least as valuable, isn’t it?

4. Reject inverted social norms.

We have, unfortunately, set-up our society in such a way that, generally, athletics have become the province of an anointed class of elites.  Essentially, sports have become something, that for most of us, we watch professionals and elite collegians do on TV, rather than something that we participate in ourselves.  There are many false beliefs that tend to go along with this “inverted” societal norm, e.g. “I’m not an athlete,” “I hate competition,” “I don’t like sports.”

5. Practice the delicate art of self-discipline.

The word “discipline” conjures many unpleasant associations.  Try to disregard those, and think differently about this word.  Try to see “self-discipline” only as what it is: the essential tool of the Forever Athlete™, used to consistently take the actions she wants to take, while avoiding those she wants to avoid.  For her, self-discipline is not some Herculean exertion of will, but rather the practice of a delicate, multi-faceted art.

6. Be a cheerleader and surround yourself with cheerleaders.

We are social beings.  We need each other.  We influence and are influenced by the people around us.  We can do and say things to help build others up, or tear them down.  Likewise, we can associate with those others who demonstrate love towards us; those who know us and have our best interests at heart, who inspire and aid us.  At the same time, we can avoid those individuals (or groups) that tend to work against us.

7. Start now. (It’s always the right time).

A chasm exists between action and inaction.  Although this chasm might be infinitely deep, it is extremely narrow.  Because of its infinite depth it may appear difficult to get over.  This is an illusion.  Actually, it is easy to cross.  We must simply overcome the relatively weak inertial forces holding us in the place of inaction.  And the time to cross it is always now. (read: not tomorrow, not next month, not next year, not when my kids are older, not when I’m less busy at work, etc.)

8. Dream big; get there one baby-step at a time.

Think for a moment about all the “impossible” things that humans have accomplished.  Every single one of these things was achieved the same way.  First, it was envisioned (dreamed of).  Second, the dreamer took the thousands or millions of tiny incremental steps he needed to take along the path towards the ultimate goal.

Having your own impossible dream as an athlete provides motivation that will sustain you over many months and years, many trials and tribulations.  It will tend to give you a “greater purpose” for your daily training.

9. Create your own (happy) reality.

You are the only person who can be you.  You are the only one who can actually mold the clay of your existence.  You are the only one who can know what you really want, what you really like.  You are the only one who can live your life.  And you can believe whatever you want to believe about your life; tell whatever story you want to tell; see the events of your life in whatever light you want to see them in.  Be a Pollyanna.  Tell your life’s story as a happy tale, even if this means practicing a “healthy oblivion.”

10. Bask in your rewards.

Congratulate yourself frequently, many times everyday, for every tiny little thing (or huge magnificent thing) you get right; for every goal – great or small – that you accomplish.  Take the time to note and appreciate every single good thing that comes your way, every blessing.  Give yourself lots of pats on the back.  Love yourself.

Learn more by visiting www.forever-athletes.com

Share your own secrets as a Forever Athlete by completing a quick survey: http://forever-athlete.com/survey

 © 2010 The Forever Athletes, LLC.