Why Age Is NOT Just A Number! (104)

Seasoned Athlete

On today’s episode, I talk about why age is not just a number and why we should shift from this mindset.

If you've been following Season Athlete for a while, you may have noticed something about the way I talk about older athletes. Since day one, I have never said age is just a number. It's a phrase I've seen over and over again in articles about aging athletes and the phrase is ubiquitous.

Something about this concept and phrasing has always felt off to me. So today we talk about why the concept of “age is just a number” is highly flawed and all the reasons why age is in fact more than just a number.

We discuss:

- Why the mindset of “age is just a number” is flawed and dismissive.

- Age should be acknowledged and celebrated.

- The challenges and the benefits that come with age.

- Younger Athletes vs Aging Athletes.

- The American Culture surrounding aging women.

… and more!

Here are some highlights.

What You Don’t See.

“Let's start with the phrase itself “Age Is Just a Number.” It's completely dismissive. What do I mean by that? Well, imagine you see an article online about an athlete in her 60s with the headline “Age Is Just a Number.” What you usually see is, of course, an amazing and inspirational story of a person doing something that is completely unexpected of someone their age, right? And the moral of that story is hey, age is just a number, so what's stopping you? Let's dissect this for a bit. Let's talk about what you are not seeing.”

“You're not seeing this athlete's training regimen and how age is factored into it. You're not seeing the recovery routine and the extra steps and time needed to stay mobile and avoid injury. You're not necessarily seeing how these practices have changed as they got older and what adjustments they've had to make due to age. You don't have a deep understanding of their athletic and their life experience leading up to this point that helps inform their decisions in a way that can only come with age.”

Age is an asset, not a side effect.

“I like to say that age is an asset. That's actually what I've been saying since day one on my website. I believe I say age is more than just a number, it's an asset, because it shows that age is a contributor to your story, not a side effect of your story. That age is very much woven into who you are as a human and as an athlete. All those challenges and all those benefits work together to create the athlete that you are today. And it's clear that the athlete you are today is not the athlete you were when you were younger.”

Women and anti-aging in American Culture.

“I feel like in some ways this concept plays into what is at least an American cultural standard. That age is something to be denied and avoided, and of course, women in particular are constantly bombarded with these anti-aging messages. We are raised from an early age to fight aging at all costs. People who are older are generally considered less than. There are activities that are appropriate for someone of a certain age and activities that are... well, not. So when you do something that is unexpected for someone of a certain age, age is just a number is there to suggest that whatever you bring to the table has nothing to do with your age.”

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