I feel your pain. I'm not sure where to start.
I was a pretty good baseball player, but not good enough to get serious looks right out of high school (I grew three inches and filled out between graduation and age 21). I almost walked on at Auburn and got a couple pro call backs between 21 and 23, but nothing materialized (active duty Navy). I was good enough that I could pick up with any hardball team I wanted, no matter what town I was stationed in. The better teams were packed with guys that had minor league or college experience, but never quite made the bigs.
When I reached my mid 30s I started noticing the injury/heal rate characteristics that you describe. My wife kept trying to tell me to tone it down, but I couldn't. I tried, I wanted to, but I just couldn't. I played shortstop so when a worm burner went screaming up the middle just out of reach I instinctively dove for it. When I was younger I could do this all day, but at 35 it had consequences; typically in a joint somewhere. I wanted to relax, but I just couldn't. I then played class A softball for a few years, but actually found the game to be fucking boring. I thought that the games would be similar enough to satisfy me, but no. I got busted playing hardball at 40 because I aggravated an old knee injury. This resulted in an ultimatum from my wife. She was the smart one.
I gave it up. I cried/she cried with me. It hurt, to an extent it still does. My mind thinks I can still play at a certain level, reality is different. I love baseball. I watch more games now than I did while I was playing (this is false to an extent. Baseball is great to listen to on the radio in order to be simultaneously productive at something else).
Now for replacement therapy...
I was competitive, but more with myself than with the opposing team. If I can equate your experience climbing and my playing baseball it would be this. I replaced this with learning how to play guitar. Two years ago I was challenged to then play bass, so I did. My personal competitiveness against a standard applied. It didn't replace baseball, but it did satisfy that aspect. My wife and I are seriously contemplating taking dance lessons. The guitar replaced the fierce personal competitiveness part, perhaps dancing will serve to replace the physical part.
My former neighbor in Atlanta had to give up professional water skiing because of age/injury. He then became a competition event coordinator and at times a judge. He found a way to stay close to the sport even though he couldn't compete. He still loves to water ski, just at a more relaxed level.
My buddy was able to relax and enjoy his sport at a lower level. I couldn't and had to find another outlet. I know my reply is long. I hope there's something in here you can use.
I was a pretty good baseball player, but not good enough to get serious looks right out of high school (I grew three inches and filled out between graduation and age 21). I almost walked on at Auburn and got a couple pro call backs between 21 and 23, but nothing materialized (active duty Navy). I was good enough that I could pick up with any hardball team I wanted, no matter what town I was stationed in. The better teams were packed with guys that had minor league or college experience, but never quite made the bigs.
When I reached my mid 30s I started noticing the injury/heal rate characteristics that you describe. My wife kept trying to tell me to tone it down, but I couldn't. I tried, I wanted to, but I just couldn't. I played shortstop so when a worm burner went screaming up the middle just out of reach I instinctively dove for it. When I was younger I could do this all day, but at 35 it had consequences; typically in a joint somewhere. I wanted to relax, but I just couldn't. I then played class A softball for a few years, but actually found the game to be fucking boring. I thought that the games would be similar enough to satisfy me, but no. I got busted playing hardball at 40 because I aggravated an old knee injury. This resulted in an ultimatum from my wife. She was the smart one.
I gave it up. I cried/she cried with me. It hurt, to an extent it still does. My mind thinks I can still play at a certain level, reality is different. I love baseball. I watch more games now than I did while I was playing (this is false to an extent. Baseball is great to listen to on the radio in order to be simultaneously productive at something else).
Now for replacement therapy...
I was competitive, but more with myself than with the opposing team. If I can equate your experience climbing and my playing baseball it would be this. I replaced this with learning how to play guitar. Two years ago I was challenged to then play bass, so I did. My personal competitiveness against a standard applied. It didn't replace baseball, but it did satisfy that aspect. My wife and I are seriously contemplating taking dance lessons. The guitar replaced the fierce personal competitiveness part, perhaps dancing will serve to replace the physical part.
My former neighbor in Atlanta had to give up professional water skiing because of age/injury. He then became a competition event coordinator and at times a judge. He found a way to stay close to the sport even though he couldn't compete. He still loves to water ski, just at a more relaxed level.
My buddy was able to relax and enjoy his sport at a lower level. I couldn't and had to find another outlet. I know my reply is long. I hope there's something in here you can use.
