Stretch Armstrong No More
May 27, 2010 at 7:51 am | Posted in Fashion, Fitness and Beauty | 3 CommentsTags: athletic, college, fitness, flexibility, gymnastics, high school, sports, strength, working out
When I was young, I was very athletic. I played soccer, softball, danced, swam. I was good at any sport I tried. In fifth grade, I was awarded the Presidential Physical Fitness Award – I was the only girl that got this award that year, which tested speed, agility, strength, and flexibility against a national standard. In 4th grade, I had a good friend who took gymnastics. During recess, she would teach me new moves. I could do hand stands, cartwheels, round-offs, splits. I was pretty good for not having any training. She tried to teach me how to do a front handspring, and what we ended up with was a hybrid of a handspring and a flip. It kind of became my signature move. It looked pretty cool, especially when I got the landing perfectly (it was easy to over shoot it, and sometimes, under shoot it). I used this special trick in our 6th grade talent show, and probably pulled it out a few more times over the years.
But as I got older, I became less and less flexible. I didn’t keep up with sports in high school. I had better things to do – at least more interesting things to do – at the time. I didn’t totally give up on fitness. In college, I took several gym courses and even taught one. I worked at a gym near my hometown and went there regularly for a number of years. I really loved to take classes and lift weights.
When I was away in college, I worked at a nearby elementary school in their after school program. Somehow, I got myself looped into doing my special trick in a gymnastics routine for their talent show. Mind you – I am about 20 or 21 years old at this point. I started doing this thing when I was like 9. When I found that I could still do it, I was in shock. But it took a lot more nerve to do it. I was so much more afraid than I was when I was young. When does that fear develop? So strange.
So yes, I could still do this move, even with the fear. But what it did to my body was just insane. I literally could not move for days. My back, my spine was just killing me. I felt like an actual old person. I don’t think that if I kept up with any of my sports activities, it would have made a difference. I think (gulp) I’m just too old for this kind of behavior.
I will always remember my athletic triumphs. How I beat all the boys in the rope climbing competition in 4th grade, my amazing high pop catch in a split in 5th grade which landed me a much coveted spot on the in field. But I have to understand that my body isn’t what it used to be. I’m not a kid anymore! Sigh.
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Pushing Thirtyy 
LOL!! I have NEVER seen this move!!!! Now look how has to find out something 8yrs later!
I’m the same way. I played every sport in elementary school, then every sport in highschool (including cheerleading!!?) I even coached cheerleading. I could do splits and had stamina like a crazy person. College is when i started going to the gym and joined karate again.
I can’t do splits anymore…and I also tire easily. BUT one thing I couldn’t do when i was younger, that I can do now, is run.
When we were young the only thing we had on our hands, was time. We had school sure, but it was 6 hours, and the rest of the days were ours! No bills, no boyfriend/girlfriend to worry about, no social engagements, no running a household. We had all this energy to get out, so doing flips, splits and karate kicks was the only way to get it out!
I bet if all we had to do was devote 6 hours a day to naps, coloring, ABC’s and mulitiplication and didn’t have to pay a bill anymore and people fed us and bought us things….we would TOTALLY be able to do a split or flips at 27 without ending up in the ER 🙂
Comment by dezolutions2010— May 27, 2010 #
I think some biology experts maybe disagree! We may not be taking Boniva yet but we are totally on our way.
Comment by danablair— May 27, 2010 #
i wish I could still run like i did in HS who know maybe I can.
Comment by Matt— May 27, 2010 #