Father Time is catching up; a.k.a. Trying not to be a dead closet!

[bunnyman666]

Today was a shit show. I was sweating more than a hooker in church. My reflexes are getting poorer. In the end, I felt really bad in net today.

I don’t know if it’s just my age or my age combined with the number of surgeries I have had. It seems every nine months, I need another medical procedure. I just can’t seem to get my fitness back. I don’t want to quit, as I still feel like I have some left in the tank despite feeling like poo today. 
 
Any of the seniors (45+) have words of wisdom?

Edited July 15, 2021 by bunnyman666

[DL42]

• get beachbody on demand, add some pre-workout before  working out, do more strength and less cardio based, dynamic stretch before, static stretch after. take protein after workouts, 

for the reflex part better to read the play and anticipate with better postioning,  ingoalmag premium and pasco valana videos on youtube. 

[RichMan]

I don't have the health issues you are dealing with but I do have sore knees/hips sometimes, a back that locks up now and then, but I see Father Time watching from the bleachers and I too am getting behind in my performances and my usual competitive self. Just remember to fight 'til the end...t'is but a flesh wound

  

[ser33]

16 hours ago, bunnyman666 said:

Today was a shit show. I was sweating more than a hooker in church. My reflexes are getting poorer. In the end, I felt really bad in net today.

I don’t know if it’s just my age or my age combined with the number of surgeries I have had. It seems every nine months, I need another medical procedure. I just can’t seem to get my fitness back. I don’t want to quit, as I still feel like I have some left in the tank despite feeling like poo today. 
 
Any of the seniors (45+) have words of wisdom?

although I am not an elderly person, I will only turn 45 in two weeks)) I would like to say that I also have such failures in the game as you do. and this is due precisely to the physical form. Moreover, it doesn't matter whether I am tired due to intense physical activity or simply the accumulation of general fatigue by the end of the working week, and I play on Fridays, it still affects my reaction. the only thing that helps me is a good warm-up before the ice and lying with your feet up between the end of work and the ice

I hope this time Google translator was at least relatively correct in conveying my thoughts. lol

[bunnyman666]

30 minutes ago, ser33 said:

although I am not an elderly person, I will only turn 45 in two weeks)) I would like to say that I also have such failures in the game as you do. and this is due precisely to the physical form. Moreover, it doesn't matter whether I am tired due to intense physical activity or simply the accumulation of general fatigue by the end of the working week, and I play on Fridays, it still affects my reaction. the only thing that helps me is a good warm-up before the ice and lying with your feet up between the end of work and the ice

I hope this time Google translator was at least relatively correct in conveying my thoughts. lol

I felt like a dead closet!

Translator seemed to do a good job Thank you!

[ser33]

3 minutes ago, bunnyman666 said:

I felt like a dead closet!

Translator seemed to do a good job Thank you!

exactly!)))) now you know exactly what this phrase means)))

[bunnyman666]

4 minutes ago, ser33 said:

exactly!)))) now you know exactly what this phrase means)))

I could have been the picture next to the word!

[bunnyman666]

1 hour ago, ser33 said:

exactly!)))) now you know exactly what this phrase means)))

I was a dead closet:

[Puckstopper]

Struggling with the same thing lately.   I've had repeated MCL strains/pain for the last year or so in both knees and  now a meniscus I tore in early 2019 is acting up again.   Unfortunately I don't have much encouragement to offer, as I'm pretty annoyed with all of it at the moment.  The fact that I've got nearly new gear gathering dust instead of being used makes it even more irritating.  In the grand scheme of things I know I'm pretty lucky health-wise, but at this point my goal of playing for another 15-20 years (into my 60's) is looking very questionable.

 

[bunnyman666]

15 minutes ago, Puckstopper said:

Struggling with the same thing lately.   I've had repeated MCL strains/pain for the last year or so in both knees and  now a meniscus I tore in early 2019 is acting up again.   Unfortunately I don't have much encouragement to offer, as I'm pretty annoyed with all of it at the moment.  The fact that I've got nearly new gear gathering dust instead of being used makes it even more irritating.  In the grand scheme of things I know I'm pretty lucky health-wise, but at this point my goal of playing for another 15-20 years (into my 60's) is looking very questionable.

 

I get it. 
 
It’s not the joints that are killing me, it’s my innards! 

[Wonder35]

There is no doubt that I was out of hockey in 2004.  We moved across Canada in 2006 as a major component in our retirement plans (Southern Ontario to Kelowna, BC).  My gear remained in our son's basement back east, my decision due to osteoarthritis plus the need for a new L hip replacement.

Within 6 weeks of our arrival I heard of a 55+ hockey team in need of a spare goaltender. Two boxes, containing my Vaughns, Grafs, Harrison and assorted pieces arrived via Canada Post within 10 days.

A combination of a hot dry climate (removed some of the arthritic pain), no longer a shift worker and a wonderful bunch of hockey players (good and not so good skill levels) welcomed this kid to their team.  Thus ends my story and the reasons why this 1949er is still playing 70-80 games per year (COVID-19 restrictions exempt).

Granted, I was no longer playing in a competitive division, although tournaments allow us to still get that fever back. But 3 mornings a week from early September to late April we get to strap on the gear and have a blast. I can no longer compete at my 40 year old level and have become comfortable with that.

 

 

I think that this post is probably the 139th time I have bored y'all with my still in the game story.  I'll now give you a heads-up that there will most likely be a 140th version, old guy memory.

Edited July 15, 2021 by Wonder35

[Chenner29]

Not in the demographic specified, but here is my take on the subject:

What's crazy to me is how many people substitute their ice times for dedicated work in the gym.  "Hockey is my workout" etc.

Talk to any physical therapist or sports injury doc and they will tell you we play one of the most physically demanding positions in sport.

Couple that with advancing age, the fact that our bodies don't recover and repair as well as they did in our late teens and early twenties (on top of whatever injuries/bumps/bruises you've accrued and ignored along the way) and you have a recipe for disaster...unless you are taking proper safeguards and actively working on your mobility and strength.

I dedicated last year to get stronger and in better shape to set myself up as I progress in age, and I think I have achieved that.  My thinking was I'd rather start at 36 than not at all, and if I postponed my plan it would be that much harder after 37, 38, 39, or even 40.

I dropped 20 lbs, skated 3x/week with some high level guys and got to pick their brains.  If a guy looking to get to the next competitive level is spending at minimum 2 hours a day between ice and gym, IMO us normal beer leaguers can invest 15-30 mins a day to work on basic things to stay healthy.

Adjusting your diet requires less time investment but is probably the most difficult because for many, it's a lifestyle change - but it can have tremendous, cascading effects on your overall health with the overall goal of lowering body fat % and increasing muscle composition.  There's tons of resources on this online so I'll leave this to experts, but counting calories really does work.  You can lose weight on a diet of nothing but fast food if you are diligent in understanding your daily caloric requirements.

For the physical stuff, it is important to distinguish between flexibility and mobility. Maria Mountain and tons of other strength coaches will probably explain it better than I do, but in essence, flexibility is your ability to stretch to a certain point.  Mobility is the ability to do so with control and power.  Obviously we want mobility for our position and there are purposeful, specific exercises to achieve that. 

To get there, I recently started doing some things within the discipline of Functional Range Conditioning (link to the principles behind it here), with particular focus on my gummed up hips, and have been able to progress from a Giguere-width butterfly (with the knee pads exposed to the shot!) to consistently and easily getting the tops of my pads to touch - this has taken me about 8 weeks of time working on specific exercises for 15 mins at least every other day (recommended is twice a day).  I've also noticed a little bit more pop loading off an edge when my legs are in various extended positions.

tldr; if you want to be an athlete but aren't training like one, you're gonna have a bad time

[Wonder35]

Good points Chenner. I used to use hockey to stay in reasonable shape. But now it takes a maintenance of a specific weight range, daily yoga, lots of biking and aquafit classes for me to be able to play hockey.  Without these stretching and breathing exercises it wouldn't happen.  

I sought the assistance of a Physiotherapist, Registered Massage Therapist and Yoga Instructor who each put together a program which suited my body's potential and physical requirements.

Folks, I realize that in many cases I am preaching to the choir as some of you discovered these fitness specialists way before me.

[bunnyman666]

33 minutes ago, Wonder35 said:

Good points Chenner. I used to use hockey to stay in reasonable shape. But now it takes a maintenance of a specific weight range, daily yoga, lots of biking and aquafit classes for me to be able to play hockey.  Without these stretching and breathing exercises it wouldn't happen.  

I sought the assistance of a Physiotherapist, Registered Massage Therapist and Yoga Instructor who each put together a program which suited my body's potential and physical requirements.

Folks, I realize that in many cases I am preaching to the choir as some of you discovered these fitness specialists way before me.

I am inching towards this. I generally do all sorts of exercise during the year. I swim in the summer pretty regularly and bike the rest of the year. It was a HELL of a lot easier to be on a programme before I got into the mortgage business. In the end, hockey isn’t my workout by any stretch, but a targeted programme wouldn’t be a terrible thing.

[Chenner29]

42 minutes ago, Wonder35 said:

Good points Chenner. I used to use hockey to stay in reasonable shape. But now it takes a maintenance of a specific weight range, daily yoga, lots of biking and aquafit classes for me to be able to play hockey.  Without these stretching and breathing exercises it wouldn't happen.  

I sought the assistance of a Physiotherapist, Registered Massage Therapist and Yoga Instructor who each put together a program which suited my body's potential and physical requirements.

Folks, I realize that in many cases I am preaching to the choir as some of you discovered these fitness specialists way before me.

[RichMan]

Ok, who's working the front door? Didn't anyone card these kids?? @Chenner29 @ser33

I know how demanding just playing the position is, and it's even more apparent when you're playing with a bunch of benders. Seems so much easier when scrimmaging with higher levels. My trail running helps develop my cardio and legs, my bands/TRX help with the whole body maintenance. Eat a sound nutritional program adds a lot to the equation. Enough sleep, little stress (don't give a f%$k attitude, choose your battles) and a positive mental attitude - ALL of it has and continues to contribute to my keeping active, competitive and playing well on to my 60th birthday (8 years to go) at which point I will hang them up and put my focus on other passions.

Lets face it, we're like a bunch of old Chevys or Mopars that need constant maintenance to keep up with the young Subarus and Audis of the game  

[bunnyman666]

1 hour ago, RichMan said:

Ok, who's working the front door? Didn't anyone card these kids?? @Chenner29 @ser33

I know how demanding just playing the position is, and it's even more apparent when you're playing with a bunch of benders. Seems so much easier when scrimmaging with higher levels. My trail running helps develop my cardio and legs, my bands/TRX help with the whole body maintenance. Eat a sound nutritional program adds a lot to the equation. Enough sleep, little stress (don't give a f%$k attitude, choose your battles) and a positive mental attitude - ALL of it has and continues to contribute to my keeping active, competitive and playing well on to my 60th birthday (8 years to go) at which point I will hang them up and put my focus on other passions.

Lets face it, we're like a bunch of old Chevys or Mopars that need constant maintenance to keep up with the young Subarus and Audis of the game  

I feel more like an Edsel…

[ser33]

 

@ bunnyman666  I'm in the same boat with you. I also had a disgusting game tonight. after 40 m of chickpeas we changed the net and oh, miracle! I played the remaining 40 minutes without missing a single shot

[Scythe]

I went out Wednesday last week and last night to take some shots.. I suck.. a lot of it is age but a lot of it is lack of coaching.. i never had any. I can say it doesn't bother me but someplace inside it does when I miss easy shots.. ☹ 

I sometimes question why I still do it.. I guess I'm better than no goalie showing up

I know about 10 things I could do right now to be better but to be honest I'm just not that motivated anymore to do them. 

[bunnyman666]

@ser33 @Scythe Better game today.  Did some intelligent positioning and made great stops. 

[bunnyman666]

Still a dead closet.

[cuprajake]

covid stopped me playing, im 38 now, been playing since i was 10yrs old, pretty much inline my whole life. ive been 99% injury free.

when covid hit the uk in mid march 19 - hockey stopped, we returned in late aug for a couple of practices and then stopped again,

in between that however, i started to jog ( massive mistake) this lead to a sore knee and has been since, really annoyed with the whole thing, its now been months and months since i last skate, and im itching to get back at it, 

ive sold all my new gear as it was a waste, but still have my red paw cordura pads and blocker, im thinking knee brace and see how it goes!!!

[bunnyman666]

1 hour ago, cuprajake said:

covid stopped me playing, im 38 now, been playing since i was 10yrs old, pretty much inline my whole life. ive been 99% injury free.

when covid hit the uk in mid march 19 - hockey stopped, we returned in late aug for a couple of practices and then stopped again,

in between that however, i started to jog ( massive mistake) this lead to a sore knee and has been since, really annoyed with the whole thing, its now been months and months since i last skate, and im itching to get back at it, 

ive sold all my new gear as it was a waste, but still have my red paw cordura pads and blocker, im thinking knee brace and see how it goes!!!

Ouch. 
 
I was a bit younger than you when I gave up running/jogging. This covid thing has been s mind f***. This was one of the times I was NOT homesick. Family back home has had a rough time of it.

Hopefully, knee brace does the trick. Good luck.

[cuprajake]

yeah mate, its killed everything off, its junk

ps hope your doing better, ive binned most my social media too

[bunnyman666]

1 hour ago, cuprajake said:

yeah mate, its killed everything off, its junk

ps hope your doing better, ive binned most my social media too

Thank you. 

Weirdly, I can’t even get into my Instagram. I just hope it didn’t get hacked or something.