Participation in athletics is like a drug. It is a ‘good feeling’ but an addiction none the less. I get a little preachy with athletes when I remind them that they must plan for a life after they ‘retire’ from athletics… be it at 22 or 40.
Part of retiring successfully is having options. Some of those options can be best addressed by asking questions like:
1) What will I do to earn a living after my athletic life is over?
2) Will I need to lose weight for health or cosmetic reasons?
3) What will I do to fill me time without the hours of training?
As a recently officially ‘retired’ former Southern California Trojan All-American Athlete, my daughter Karen has blogged on this topic extensively… with some great advice:
Out with the Old and In with the NEW Karen!
Excelling in Athletics and Academics
Why there is life after being an athlete!
Jenny Craig and me!
New Year’s Resolutions
Getting Started
As for Karen. she — as we say — ‘has gone where no Karen has gone before’. I can’t remember when Karen was this light… maybe 8th grade? She still has some distance before she gets to her ‘goal’ weight… but with ‘Jenny Craig’ helping… no one will recognize her when she helps out at the track meets. She’s gettin’ thin.
Congratulations, Karen…. and Kristie Alley.
Roger Freberg