Rebuilding the Athlete Within: A Comeback Story for Every Age
If you’re in your 60s—or just love classic TV—you might remember The Six Million Dollar Man. Colonel Steve Austin, played by Lee Majors, was nearly destroyed in a NASA test flight crash. But thanks to futuristic bionic implants, he was rebuilt, stronger and faster than ever.
His famous line? “We can rebuild him.”
Ever feel like you need a bit of that? I sure do. Lately, it’s felt like my body crashed, and now, I’m trying to rebuild it—piece by piece.
A Look Back: When Training Felt Easy
I did my first real triathlon at 37, cruising through those early years with ease. I kept going longer, getting stronger, and soon realized—I could compete. The thrill of racing kept me motivated. Injuries? Sure, they popped up, but I bounced back.
My 40s and 50s were a dream:
✔ My fastest sprint tri at 55.
✔ Age group wins.
✔ Overall race wins.
✔ A USAT Regional Championship.
✔ Three National Championships.
✔ Top 10 finishes at ITU Worlds for Team USA.
Then, in 2021 and 2022, I did six Ironman 70.3 races, even landing on the podium three times. Age was just a number, right?
The Crash Landing: When “Age” Catches Up
Then, about 18 months ago, it happened.
Mr. Age barged in, uninvited, and made himself comfortable:
✔ Weight gain
✔ Arthritis in my shoulders and lower back
✔ Sagging skin, a tummy, and (ugh) the jiggle
✔ Balance issues
✔ Back pain that made getting up harder than ever
Suddenly, I understood those old commercials: “Help! I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!”
The Fork in the Road: Quit or Rebuild?
When this moment comes—and trust me, it will—you have two choices:
1️⃣ Give it up. Retire the racing gear. Pick up stamp collecting or golf (with a cart, of course).
2️⃣ Rebuild. Start from scratch and get stronger.
For me, the answer was clear. Time to rebuild.
The Three-Part Plan for a Comeback
1. Get a Professional Evaluation
I sought out a specialist to assess my weaknesses and imbalances. The results? Eye-opening.
Some basic movements—like one-legged drills—made me look 130 years old, not 67. I wobbled. I fell. I looked ridiculous. But that’s where rebuilding starts—seeing the problems so you can fix them.
2. Shift Focus to Strength, Mobility, and Balance
For now, swimming, biking, and running take a backseat. Instead, my plan revolves around:
✔ Strength training
✔ Mobility work
✔ Balance drills
I found a fantastic physical therapist who’s also an expert runner. She believes I can be rebuilt. (Me? Still skeptical, but her confidence helps.)
3. Make Recovery the Priority
This is the hardest part.
Like most athletes, I want to just swim, bike, and run. But to truly rebuild, I have to commit to mobility, strength, and balance first. It’s frustrating, but the alternative? Googling “How to start a coin collection.” Nope. Not for me.
Your Rebuild Starts Now
If Mr. Age has knocked on your door—or you’ve been away from the sport for a while—you have a choice. You can either let it go or start over. Neither path is wrong. But for those of us who feel born to train and race? It’s time to rebuild.
No, we don’t have bionic implants like Colonel Austin. But we do have the power to rebuild ourselves—smarter, stronger, and ready for what’s next.
