Am I fooling myself?

 I think I may have over-done the stair stepper - oh my aching knees. I'm giving them a bit of a break with just a minimal workout on it for a few days then slowly build back up. I did go on a nice hike on Sunday. I wore my good knee brace and didn't have any pain. The trail wasn't challenging, a few steps and minor ups and downs but was mostly flat. I do live in Central Texas after all so it is challenging to find hilly hiking locations without driving a few hours (or days). 

I get discouraged when I get pain like this. It is a reminder that I'm not as young as I usually feel. Why do joints and muscles just start to ache without any injury? I'm just not ready to hurt just because my body is aging and wearing out. I am really hopeful though that I can get it back into shape and strengthen the joints and muscles that aren't wanting to cooperate right now. I just have to remember to keep it all slow and steady. I've plenty of time to get into shape. I just hope I'm not fooling myself thinking I can do this. 

In the EBC Facebook group I follow I see people posting that are in their 50's and are talking like they are so old. They have an attitude of can I do this at this age - or I can't believe I did this at my age. I'm just like FFS I wish I felt as amazing as I did in my 50's. I honestly felt like I was in my prime then and felt better than I ever had. I honestly still have to remind myself that at 64 people see me as old. I guess I am, but I certainly don't think of myself as old. On most days I don't feel it. Am I fooling myself? 

EBC- 130 kms round trip -  80 miles trekked over eleven days,  hiking from 9000 ft elevation to over 18,000 ft. 

Temperatures below freezing, inside and out. 

I'll be 67 years and 10 months if I do this when I have it planned. 

Am I fooling myself?

Oh I hope not.