Sport to take up at 50.

[Eleven]

I am looking for a sport to take up at the age of 50 (I am not there yet) that will require me to train hard physically. I am quite strong and fit and train regularly now but with no purpose outside of health.

When I was younger if I had any talent it related to explosive power - I could sprint fairly well into my 20s.

The purpose of this is in part to keep myself motivated to train but also for the hell of it. I quite fancy taking up a new sport and becoming good at it when many people are sitting at home growing nose hair and haemorrhoids.

Any suggestions?

[Eleven]

Midlands.

[Eleven]

Kinkell said:

Motorsport
Mental alertness
Lose 10 kilo gain a sec
Adrenalin high every race
Confidence boost every finish

I like this idea,

Are there age classes?

[Eleven]

tertius said:

Nobby Diesel said:

Rowing.
End.

This. Or cycling. Something you sit down at anyway.

Rowing has a very well developed and active Masters competition structure, grouped by (average) age of crew.

One of the blokes at our gym is a serious rower, he's about 60 and competes nationally I believe, he has quite a hunched appearance which I presume is rowing related. Not a good look.

[Eleven]

tertius said:

bladerrw said:

Eleven said:

tertius said:

Nobby Diesel said:

Rowing.
End.

This. Or cycling. Something you sit down at anyway.

Rowing has a very well developed and active Masters competition structure, grouped by (average) age of crew.

One of the blokes at our gym is a serious rower, he's about 60 and competes nationally I believe, he has quite a hunched appearance which I presume is rowing related. Not a good look.

I'm 48 and an active rower (since school) but I think it's not a good sport to take up at 50. It's why I recommended kayaking. With rowing you are going to find it difficult to get to a competitive level quickly, it's uncomfortable learning, expensive and you need a really organised club close to you.

With kayaking on the other hand, you can be training and exploring the waterways within a couple of sessions and racing after a couple of months. You can soon go out by yourself. K1 kayaks cost £300-£2000. Rowing single scull3 cost £2500 - £10,000+.

I stepped into a K2 for the first time in September and by March was ready to race the premier kayaking marathon competition (arguably in the world? Devizes to London 200km race. Progression like that just isn't possible in rowing.

Against this - adult beginners at my rowing club seem to love it and become completely addicted.

Of course you need to like swimming if you take up canoeing ...

The cost of a boat is. Bit of a red herring I think, I too have rowed since school and have. Ever owned my own boat - it's really not necessary unless you are absolutely dead keen on single sculling. I doubt if there is a club in the country that won't have at least a couple of club singles (as well as every other class of boat) available.

Moreover most beginners will be in much bigger boats - eights and fours - with the additional sociability that brings.

Holme Pierrepont National Water sports centre is just down the road from here. I imagine they've got a boat or two lying about.

[Eleven]

Zyp said:

Interesting thread Manks.

My daughter started rowing over a year ago and now competes around the Midlands in a quad or double - it's a great social activity as well as the health benefits.

However, I've not felt inclined to join her.
As others have said, kayaking is a good one - I competed for a few years in my mid 20's at Nottm Kayak Club until a knackered shoulder forced me to stop.(a great club too)
Since then all I've done is a bit of 5 a side football, and now coach the U7/8's and 9's at rugby.

I also need to start doing something physical again...

To that end, I'm seriously considering starting to play rugby at my local club.
I'm 45.

If you fancy coming along to the training sessions I can give you the details.... I don't think it's far from you

Thanks for the invite Zyp, however I played rugby at school and it's not my cup of tea. I've also resolved not to do again some of the more injurious things from my youth. For example martial arts. I went on a refresher a year or so ago, got hurt and was taking painkillers for a week afterwards (I also disgraced myself by hitting one of the coaches, but that's another story).

[Eleven]

aspender said:

Eleven said:

Holme Pierrepont National Water sports centre is just down the road from here. I imagine they've got a boat or two lying about.

In which case, head down there on 27th July and watch the Outlaw Triathlon (Ironman distance) and you'll see lots of people your age and beyond doing amazing things that might inspire you.

http://www.onestepbeyond.org.uk/the-outlaw-triathl...

I have watched it before. People my own age and older swimming in goose poo. I admired their courage, I didn't feel the need to emulate them.

[Eleven]

Zyp said:

Now you're just putting obstacles in the way.
I feel you're going into this in a half-hearted fashion

It's the geese that put obstacles in the way, in the shape of waterborne turds. I am similarly put off the kayaking / white-water rafting by the colour of the water and proliferation of rats.