"Loneliness of long
distance runners" was a well known movie way back in the sixties.
As a teenager i used to watch
it several times,trying to concede meanings of stamina,endurance and new habbits of nutrition needed to make me a long
distance runner as well.
Yet,i was not naturally born to be a runner.Not long distance one,though.I am 6 feet 2 inches high,and as a 16 years old i was too heavy-95 up to 100 killogram.Not the ideal size considering those legendary athletes fron Kenya or Ethiopia.
So i have turned into basketball mainly,as sometine i used to swim as well. I have never made a name for myself,besides being a regular member in my high school team,and later on-in Tel Aviv university.
During the years ,concerned with marriage life,fatherhood,livelihood and other aspects of life,i have neglected my sports almost absoloutely,not taking in consideration going to swim from time to time.
Then,while 45, my family doctor called me and warned of high values of cholesterol and triglycerides in my blood,caused of over weight and non activity.
His order and advise was as simple as that:You should loose weight immediately as well as making at least 5 times of walking during the week.
So i joined a walking group in my country club.We used to train twice a week-5 kilometers on Tuseday afternoon,and 10 kilometers on Saturday morning.
It did not take me a long time to fell in love with this enerjetic side of sport,and as a very competitive person i decided to aim for new records of speed,fiering calories and more.
I also made myself new friends with whom i used to train in other days of the week.I have became almost professional walker,manageing my life by the needs of this hobby.
Then it came to my mind how boring is being involved with walking only.
So i upgraded myself to
running.I used to train 5 miles (8 km.) and participated in competitions of 10 km.It became almost obsession.I encouraged friends to call me,and in some time i used to run everyday,ignored little pains in my left leg,appearing from time to time.
Then,one day,i felt i must check up my hip.The pain was really incredible.The x-ray ,followed by bones maping were cruel and decisive:Cartilage joint wearout.
Now i am in a very painful process of accepting the new situation of my life.I took some phisiotherapy in which i have learned stretching exercises,and i am taking anti infection pills-advil mainly when pains arise.
I quit running forever.I envy while watching these young people running in the park-but there is nothing to do with.
I am doing a lot of swinning as well as biking-simply because i can only make a sport in which my hips are leaning on something.
I am too young-so the doctors say-for having an opration of exchanging my hip joint. Such an operation is made only when nothing works out relaxing your pain.
What would i advise to younger people:Don't make over-sport.Do'nt run if you are heavy.Take care of your weight,and don't get into sport's obsession when you are over 40