There is no doubt about it, I am getting old. After participating in two events centered on physical activity earlier this summer, I quickly came to the realization that my body isn’t as nimble as it used to be.

First there was Bloomsday at the beginning of May. Running a 7.5-mile road race made for an achy body the following morning. Then there was Hoopfest at the end of June. Banging around on the pavement resulted in soreness that lasted through Tuesday.

On May 1, 2022, I ran Bloomsday after more than 20 years elapsed since I last participated in the event.

Perhaps I shouldn’t be too ashamed. Although my past 17-year-old body would have fended off any threatening soreness, Bloomsday and Hoopfest are strenuous events that will take a toll on the bodies of people who have racked up at least three decades on this earth.

Hoopfest had me feeling sore for a few days.

But I was a little less understanding with my aching legs and general slow step this past Sunday.

If you remember from my last blog post, I played in a softball tournament on Saturday. It was a slow pitch, low key affair. However, the soreness that blew through my shins was anything but low key. I started feeling soreness that day and woke up with a limp on Sunday. At least I wasn’t the only one. Several of my teammates were also in various states of soreness when we met for coffee and donuts after mass.

Playing first base and stretching to make plays was something I had not done in a long time.

My state of soreness was that of an old man. A couple games of softball wouldn’t make a young buck hobble, right? As I reflected on my discomfort, I could trace its origins to a couple of specific softball functions. Running at full speed on a dirt/gravel field was undoubtedly one of them. I exercise on a daily basis but my days of sprinting are long gone. Hustling around those bases on an unforgiving surface came at a price. Then of course there was the repercussions of playing first base. Stretching off the bag to make plays activated muscles I don’t use normally in my advanced age.

But you want to know the silver lining in all of this? Sometimes, no matter how much soreness hurts, it feels good at the same time. The same physical discomfort can also be the source of accomplishment and satisfaction…even for an old guy like me. Don’t Blink.