This Is 50
Taking Up a New Sport in Your 50s
ENTERING YOUR sixth decade doesn’t mean you’re too old to find a new sport. While that annual tackle football game in the park may no longer seem like such a good idea, there are dozens of relatively safe activities, such as golf, cycling, yoga and swimming.
When I hit my 50s, I got more serious about golf. Some may think golf is not a workout, but if you walk the course with a pushcart, it absolutely is. Golf also provides an opportunity to socialize and engage in some healthy competition.
Then a minor injury helped me discover another new sport in my 50s. I had a case of golfer’s elbow that kept me from the links, so I tried a spin class. I fell hard for it. When one of my instructors came up with a bum knee, I volunteered to ride the bike in front of the class as she continued to lead it. That inspired me to become an instructor too.
Not everyone needs to go to such lengths. One piece of advice is to go slowly to work your way into your new sport.
Dr. Robert Klapper, an orthopedic surgeon and host of ESPN’s Weekend Warrior radio show and podcast, says that “exercise comes in two flavors—nurturing and abusive.” Unfortunately, a lot of the sports that people love—such as pickleball, tennis and basketball—qualify as “abusive” because of the wear to the body. In that case, you should complement the sport with gentle strengthening practices such as pool exercises, riding a stationary bike, yoga, Pilates or tai chi. Klapper, 68, gets up twice a week before sunrise to surf.
And not all “abusive” exercise is the same. Some athletes find moving to a less demanding sport the way to go in their 50s. Former tennis pro Karin Ptaszek-Kochis, 54, has transitioned to pickleball, which allows her to fulfill her competitive spirit and stay active. “Once we hit 50, stuff happens,” she says. “Mobility isn’t quite the same.” —Craig Rosen
“As I’ve gotten older, my life has only become richer and more interesting. I feel an overwhelming degree of compassion and empathy coming out of me. I appreciate being able to support young people. I appreciate being able to make young women feel good about themselves.”
—Kate Winslet, who recently turned 50 Go to aarp.org/quickquestions for her full interview.
MY FIRST TIME ...
MOTHER’S DAY WITHOUT MY OLDEST CHILD
I’VE SAVED every Mother’s Day gift my kids have ever given me. Every macaroni-framed picture, handprint heart and “I love you, Mom” tile has a special place in our house. Early on, the holiday meant morning cuddles and burned toast in bed. Later, it evolved into grocery store flowers and sentimental Hallmark cards. Both my kids had always been home on Mother’s Day, despite school events, college and internships.
Then came the first Mother’s Day without my eldest. My son was moving into his first apartment and had work meetings on Monday, so he couldn’t make the two-hour trek home. His sister and my husband lavished me with attention, gifting me jewelry and taking me to brunch.
Still, my son’s absence hit me harder than I'd expected. It saddened me that I wasn’t with the person who first made me a mom. The shape of my Mother’s Day had changed, and I wasn’t ready.
That night, with my son on FaceTime, our family slipped easily into inside jokes, summer plans and updates on our new black Labrador retriever puppy. It wasn’t the same as past celebrations, but, with the help of technology, it turned out OK.
After a little sniffling, I’ve learned the holiday can’t be defined by Hallmark. I know there’ll be many Mother’s Days when my kids aren’t physically with me. But the love between us bridges any distance—and we can celebrate that any day of the year. —Amy Barnes
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