The other day, I ran into an old friend. As we walked along, he asked how I was feeling. 

“Great,” I responded.  

I explained I was biking, running and now even swimming in Lake Coeur d’Alene to prepare for Ironman 70.3 in June. Plus, I work out a lot in my garage, where I have set up my own mini gym with weights, trampoline, pull bar, stationary bike and punching bag.

“I feel really good,” I said. “Fantastic, really.” 

Rather than be glad for me, this seemed to annoy my old friend, who was limping. 

“You’re no spring chicken. You need to be careful or you’re going to hurt yourself,” he said. 

A funny response, I thought. A warning about working out so you feel good.

But then I remembered having a similar encounter not long ago when I was running on the North Idaho Centennial Trail.  

Another old friend, on a bike, slowed as he passed me going in the opposite direction, then turned around. 

“You’re not smiling. You don’t look like you’re having any fun,” he said. 

He went on to tell me I shouldn’t be running too much as I was getting older and in fact, another guy our age, a good athlete, had knee surgery and can’t run anymore because he overdid things. 

“You don’t want to wind up like him,” he said. "You shouldn't be running so much."

My friend, once a fine runner, no longer could and instead took up cycling. He looked to have put on quite a few pounds. 

Agitated, I responded to the effect that as we age, a lot of our physical abilities have to do with mindset. If you convince yourself you must take it easy, that you might be hurt if you push yourself, well, you’ll soon find the couch is your best friend and voila, you’ve added 20 pounds. 

But if you stay out there, your body will be stronger and your mind will be sharper. 

“You’ve got to keep moving,” I said. 

My friend, clearly irritated with my speech, rode away. 

It is ironic that many my age find it annoying that I’m still running. They seem to think this is foolish and I should know better.

“You’re still running?” 

When I mentioned to an acquaintance I was registered for Ironman 70.3 so I could race with my youngster daughter and oldest son, he had one question: 

“How old are you?” 

Funny. I get that question more and more these days. 

When a friend learned I was still working at The Press and had two part-time jobs, he acted like this was insanity, and also had one question:

“How old are you?” 

I find it odd that people are so interested in my age. Not sure why that matters but when you get old, it’s a green light for people to inquire about how old you are. 

Not that I mind. 

I feel blessed to be healthy, to wake up and be anxious to get out the door.

People don’t really want to hear it. I get the impression they would rather I act my age.

Perhaps they are right and perhaps some day I will.

But not today. I'm not old enough just yet.

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Bill Buley is assistant managing editor of The Press. He can be reached at [email protected].