That's it - I'm done.
Don't worry, I'm not quitting as a Guide (although that might disappoint some people!). But I have had enough of table tennis as I know it, and it's time to do things differently.
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
I came back to table tennis in 2003 after a break of a few years, and ever since then I've had the same basic problem crop up - when I play table tennis my whole lower body aches. I've played when heavily overweight and when pretty fit, I've played long range defense, up to the table combi-play, and two wing looping, and none of it seems to make much of a difference.It's now off-season over in my local area, and I started to contemplate my training for next year. Thinking about all the on table training I need to improve my game, I came to one inescapable conclusion:
I can't do it.
I don't mind the off table training - I can handle that. I can use my exercise bike, walking aerobics, and swimming to get plenty of aerobic fitness without hurting my lower body. But I just can't face the amount of on table training I need to do to get better for next year.
My compression leggings help to an extent, but even when using them I still hurt too much. I've had it up to here with walking around like an old man after a training session or tournament.
I enjoy table tennis, and I'm not going to stop playing. But it's clear that playing using conventional stroke techniques puts my lower body through the wringer. Wide stances, bent knees, and my own heavy footed movement make up a recipe for painful legs. And after 7 years, I'm finally ready to do something about it.
And Now For Something Completely Different
I'm temporarily giving up on using the usual techniques that I've spent years practicing - all of which seem designed to leave me in pain. I'm going to spend a few months experimenting with some alternatives that I've been contemplating for a while. I've already started out trying a few things on my robot at home, and I'm currently hopeful that I might be able to come up with something that's more practical for my body.I'm sure that not every change will be a success, and I'll probably go backwards for a while, but if I can find a way to be able to play table tennis successfully without having my legs hurt all the time, I'll be well satisfied. If I find anything that works reasonably well, I'll report back.
And if I can't find a solution? Then I'm going to have to limit my table time even more than I did this year. Which would be a shame, because in the end I just want to be able to do what other people can do - play table tennis all day long, get a good night's sleep and wake up ready to do it again!
Edit - now that I've gotten this off my chest, I realize that this article may be the equivalent of a 3am drunken phone call to your ex-girlfriend - something you cringe about when you are sober the next morning. But I'm truly fed up with being in pain after playing for an hour or so, and I've got to do something. Anyway, I spend a fair while writing it, and you might get a wry laugh out of reading it, so what the heck. And there might be a few other older players who know exactly how I feel and have a suggestion or two on how they cope with getting old but playing hard!
