How would you rate your personal health & fitness level?

[floridatennisdude]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Don't forget the running, both long distance and short sprint/recoveries, which take up maybe over an hour and a half 3 times a week.
The actual hitting time is short compared to all the work done away from the court, track, stadium, venue.

NCAA rules limit 20 hours a week for everything

[LeeD]

A little over 3 hours a day, 6 days a week, for total practice time. I"m sure they can fudge in the running and sprints, or at least some.
Maybe that's why international players who don't go to US colleges seem to make it in the pros much more often than US college graduates.
I doubt they actually practice much more than 4 hours a day, as the body needs time to recover sometime. Talking 6 days a week schedules.

[tennisenthusiast]

No. My fitness is not definitely where I want it to be.

I am hating myself for ending up in this situation where I am dealing with musculoskeletal
and repetitive strain injuries.

Factors affecting:

1. uncertainity involved in diagnosing musculoskeletal problems.
2. insurance costs for dealing with musculoskeletal problems.
3. slow recovery from musculoskeletal problems (draining away my motivation and confidence)
4. Last but not least time. Time it takes to keep up with recovery activities and other
home exercises besides daily chores.

[LeeD]

Welcome to the club.
Add bad aging to the equation, lack of local courts, and too many distractions leading me away from tennis thru the years.

[goober]

Originally Posted by floridatennisdude

For a junior playing 14s, 4 hour sessions should be the norm. For college players, if they go all out for 2 hours...that's a heckuva load.

They might train that hard in the off season, but I doubt they are on the courts longer than 15 hours in a week and another 5 hrs on weights and conditioning.

Who is thread directed at? College and elite level junior players? I would say that 99% posting on this forum are neither. We are talking about adult club players who don't have intense practice sessions.

Yes I agree that 4 hours of intense practice was a lot. I never claimed I was doing that. Did I say I was engaging in intense practices? LeeD is his usual self goes off on some tangent and threw that in there on his own, I simply said I have played 4 hours of singles in a day and I never said I did it regularly.

Anybody who plays tournaments will often have to play 4 hours in a day because you have to often play 2 matches in day. It is common and not that big of deal if you are in decent shape. Geez all this talk about Nadal only practicing 2 hours and D1 players only practicing 2 hours and some rec player claims to play 4 hours of singles in one day throws your panties into a bunch.

[LeeD]

So basically, you're saying your post about your 4 hours is worthless, and contributes nothing to this thread because it's not applicable.
We were talking practice, not standing around, breathing on the courts while eating donuts and cupcakes.

[FastFreddy]

Originally Posted by LeeD

1983 was my last year, I qualified for the Sat. Oakland SuperCross, and in my first race, crashed at the 3rd turn, knocking me out of any chance to go further or go into Sunday.
1978, while still playing Open level tennis, bought my bud's '77 YZ 125.
1979, bought DuaneJoice's YZ-250. He was top 5 ExpertPro in District 36, NorCal.
'79, bought new KX-125 air cooler.
'80, bought new KX-125 air cooler.
'80, bought used '79 Husky 390.
'80, bought new KX-250 air cooler.
'80 traded Husky for early model YZ-490.
'81 bought new KX-420.
'82, bought new RM-125 water cooler.
'82, bought used RM-250 air cooler.
'83, bought new RM-250 watercooler. Quit riding summer of '83, after greenstick ulnar (left forearm) in a CMC Expert 250 race at LakeMadera.
I was never a runner. I jumped long jump for junior high, then played basketball and football 3 years thru high school.....and entered 9 roadraces thru AFM, winning 3rd place overall in 1966's 250 Production class with a year old YDS-3C with DunlopTriangulars, cut baffle, richer jetting, no air box, cut slide, thinner head gasket, trimmed pistons, Thruxton handlebars, and raised footpegs. I crashed in 4 of the races, my history thoughout everything I've ever done.

Very cool bikes u had!! I also rode my friends 1982 kx 125 but my 83 125 yz was a better bike. All my bikes I bought used from dads who bought their son a bike with too much power. So all my used bikes I bought were almost new. Never got to ride any bikes from the 70's were they good to ride compared to the 80's bikes? I did ride a 1980 rm 100 but that's the oldest bike I ridden.

[goober]

Originally Posted by LeeD

So basically, you're saying your post about your 4 hours is worthless, and contributes nothing to this thread because it's not applicable.
We were talking practice, not standing around, breathing on the courts while eating donuts and cupcakes.

No it is not worthless. The OP asked how would you rate your fitness level. I said I was able to play 4 hours of singles which is not trivial but a gauge of how much I was able to do and what I can do now. Playing 4 hours+ of tournament tennis is not sitting around eating cupcakes unless that is what you did in your supposed glory days.

Actually your post is worthless because you contributed nothing to the ORIGINAL question. Instead you go off on your usual tangent about high level players and sprinkled in with how you somehow were associated with them. Why don't go on about how YOUR current fitness level is going and answer the original question?

[FastFreddy]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Maybe I"m of weak mind, but by the time I turned 35, I didn't mind being out of shape at all, as long as I could still do the things I wanted to do. I think I ballooned to 150 lbs., from age 33 around 132 lbs. That's a spare tire around the middle for us guys. Maybe guys would kick sand in my face then, but I matured enough to just let it go, and get them back LATER...
Being a surfer, going out at least 5 days a week, I was at the beach LOTS.

Ballooned to 150? how tall r u 5'6?

[LeeD]

I"m 5'11", now a portly 150lbs., at age 63.
I was competitive in all 3 engine sizes because I was lightweight (for 125's). For 500's, it didn't matter, body weight. For 250's, since there's lots of bar banging and leaning on, heavier than me was better.
I used to crack up watching the 80 pros graduate to 125's, when they were still 5' tall. Of course, 80Pro becomes 125 ExpertPro, so they only rode faster. Watched TysonVoland turn faster lap times at Marysville's sand track faster than OpenExpert. Some farm kids can really ride, until that big crash just before he signed the factory Kawasaki contract.

[FastFreddy]

Originally Posted by LeeD

I"m 5'11", now a portly 150lbs., at age 63.
I was competitive in all 3 engine sizes because I was lightweight (for 125's). For 500's, it didn't matter, body weight. For 250's, since there's lots of bar banging and leaning on, heavier than me was better.
I used to crack up watching the 80 pros graduate to 125's, when they were still 5' tall. Of course, 80Pro becomes 125 ExpertPro, so they only rode faster. Watched TysonVoland turn faster lap times at Marysville's sand track faster than OpenExpert. Some farm kids can really ride, until that big crash just before he signed the factory Kawasaki contract.

5'11 150 is not heavy, I was 5'11 185 riding my 500 honda. I was only 5'11 138 riding my 125 and 158 riding my 250. Now Iam 5'11 198-209 no longer riding dirt bikes. Never rode an 80 in my life my first bike was a 125. I don't see how a tall kid could jump on those little bikes.

[LeeD]

I guess you get used to what you ride.
Tallest rider I ever saw win 80 Expert was that Suzuki rider who does jump tricks, now autocross racing. X games multi winner. He was my height and riding and winning in 80's.
JeffWard was about 4'8" when he got his Kawasaki factory sponsorship. The seat height on his 125 must have been 39". He used a milkcrate for starts, and had Dad pushstart the bike for him.
RickyCarmicheal, no matter what Suzuik/Kawasaki said, was no taller than 5'6".
Tallent trumps whatever god gave us.

[0d1n]

Originally Posted by goober

Who is thread directed at? College and elite level junior players? I would say that 99% posting on this forum are neither. We are talking about adult club players who don't have intense practice sessions.

Yes I agree that 4 hours of intense practice was a lot. I never claimed I was doing that. Did I say I was engaging in intense practices? LeeD is his usual self goes off on some tangent and threw that in there on his own, I simply said I have played 4 hours of singles in a day and I never said I did it regularly.

Anybody who plays tournaments will often have to play 4 hours in a day because you have to often play 2 matches in day. It is common and not that big of deal if you are in decent shape. Geez all this talk about Nadal only practicing 2 hours and D1 players only practicing 2 hours and some rec player claims to play 4 hours of singles in one day throws your panties into a bunch.

Yes...it is common (actually required) around here to play 2 matches a day for tournaments. The draws are usually 32 (sometimes...rarely...48 with favorites moving into the second round directly...sometimes 64).
Tournaments start on Fridays...and end on Sundays. When draws are 64 or bigger they usually start on Thursdays and/or finish on Mondays.
Anyway...common thing is a 32 draw starting Friday...no bye for anybody.
Friday you play one match, Saturday 2 matches, and Sunday (the finalists) get to play another 2.
So you have to win 5 matches in 3 days to win the whole thing. That's how pretty much every tournament around here goes.

Originally Posted by goober

No it is not worthless. The OP asked how would you rate your fitness level. I said I was able to play 4 hours of singles which is not trivial but a gauge of how much I was able to do and what I can do now. Playing 4 hours+ of tournament tennis is not sitting around eating cupcakes unless that is what you did in your supposed glory days.

Actually your post is worthless because you contributed nothing to the ORIGINAL question. Instead you go off on your usual tangent about high level players and sprinkled in with how you somehow were associated with them. Why don't go on about how YOUR current fitness level is going and answer the original question?

Don't worry, those among us with little gray cells that are still alive "get it". I think your posts were very much on topic and very sensible .

Originally Posted by LeeD

So basically, you're saying your post about your 4 hours is worthless, and contributes nothing to this thread because it's not applicable.
We were talking practice, not standing around, breathing on the courts while eating donuts and cupcakes.

Hmmmm, I actually think your very detailed posts about what bikes you used are the worthless...off-topic ones. Also your posts about how far you could throw a football in highschool or how you climbed walls in 1963 are the off topic ones as far as I'm concerned.
As far as I understand it...ON TOPIC is to discuss CURRENT (i.e. ...in the present day) fitness level, and whether or not we are happy with this level.

[FoldingChair]

as of right now, i'm pretty satisfied with my fitness and health levels. I'm 20, 5 feet 8 inches, weigh 141, canregularly run a 6:30 minute mile and regularly do small races 5k's and such, play tennis 3-4 days of the week, and I try to eat healthy. I could use a lot more muscle though... my arms are a bit twiggy.

[maggmaster]

I am 30, 5 ft 8 in and weigh 155. A few months ago I ran a 17:15 5K. I can lift an appreciable amount of weight. Last month I did 10,000 66lb kettlebell swings in 25 days( A personal challenge) I play tennis every day for 2-3 hours and I am beginning to be competitive with the 4.5s at my club. My goal is to win a 35 national when I turn 35 so I am happy with my fitness but I still need to improve.

[floridatennisdude]

Originally Posted by goober

Who is thread directed at? College and elite level junior players? I would say that 99% posting on this forum are neither. We are talking about adult club players who don't have intense practice sessions.

Yes I agree that 4 hours of intense practice was a lot. I never claimed I was doing that. Did I say I was engaging in intense practices? LeeD is his usual self goes off on some tangent and threw that in there on his own, I simply said I have played 4 hours of singles in a day and I never said I did it regularly.

Anybody who plays tournaments will often have to play 4 hours in a day because you have to often play 2 matches in day. It is common and not that big of deal if you are in decent shape. Geez all this talk about Nadal only practicing 2 hours and D1 players only practicing 2 hours and some rec player claims to play 4 hours of singles in one day throws your panties into a bunch.

I guess I misinterpreted. Thought you were claiming to be training 4 hours per day, like a junior or full time pro. Was going to follow up with questions about your injury history.

I see your point. I could play a couple singles matches and a doubles match in a day, if need be, as well. But that would be a lot and I'd take a couple days off after a 2-draw tournament weekend.

[LeeD]

"could play"....
OK, I"m lame, can't run one step, play tennis once in the last two weeks.
I can easily play 2 singles matches (2 out of 3 sets), and 3 doubles matches in one day. E A S Y.
I'll suck at them all, I'll need food and drink, but I can PLAY all those matches. And I might need hospitalization afterwards, but I can PLAY those matches, as can anyone.

[r2473]

Originally Posted by maggmaster

I am 30, 5 ft 8 in and weigh 155. A few months ago I ran a 17:15 5K. I can lift an appreciable amount of weight. Last month I did 10,000 66lb kettlebell swings in 25 days( A personal challenge) I play tennis every day for 2-3 hours and I am beginning to be competitive with the 4.5s at my club. My goal is to win a 35 national when I turn 35 so I am happy with my fitness but I still need to improve.

Pretty impressive Mag!!

[floridatennisdude]

Originally Posted by LeeD

"could play"....
OK, I"m lame, can't run one step, play tennis once in the last two weeks.
I can easily play 2 singles matches (2 out of 3 sets), and 3 doubles matches in one day. E A S Y.
I'll suck at them all, I'll need food and drink, but I can PLAY all those matches. And I might need hospitalization afterwards, but I can PLAY those matches, as can anyone.

True. I could run 100 miles in a day if I wanted to. Just not going to.

I'm fit enough to play tennis for 1.5 hours every day and be fine.

[LeeD]

Bad analogy there, my friend.
BTW, DeanKarnazes is one of my friends from windsurf racing. Just 10 years ago, he was number one in those century runs thru the deserts.
We cannot physically run 100 miles. I can't run 6 miles in a whole day.
But standing on the court, I can easily play 10 doubles sets, albeit at 2/3 of my speed ().
Couple years ago, I'd play maybe 7 doubles sets, 4.0 level, then drive down to the beach and windsurf for 2 hours, a full session for even the established pro level windsurfers. Figure I can skip the windsurfing, and play 4 more sets anyday.
Have you ever tried windsurfing? It's not standing around taking one step back and forth.