Honestly, I feel infinitely better now than I did then. Strength really was the missing thing for me.
Yeah, I ran a half-marathon 3 times, did a solo century on a fixed gear bicycle over rolling terrain, a randonneur’s “Populaire” of 75 miles in hilly country—racing double chainring—and swam a mile or more 2-3 days a week.
One of the things that got me started strength training was my wife telling me that, while I might be “in great shape” (obviously, aerobically speaking), I was too skinny, and I was starting to get a belly. I guess I was becoming a typical “skinny-fat” in my 40’s.
But it’s been almost 28 years since I was 40, and I really do find the rate of perceived exertion of life so much lower now that I’m stronger. I think that may be the best way of explaining the benefits of strength training—everything else in your life will feel relatively easier.
