TJ Reid says it would be selfish for him to walk away from hurling.
The Kilkenny and Ballyhale legend is 35 now, with his own business and a young family. But he says he receives nothing but support from his wife Niamh, after the birth of their first child Harper Mary back in November, as he continues to play on at the highest level.
Ballyhale Shamrocks’ recent All-Ireland win was an opportunity to walk off into the sunset with a remarkable 13th All-Ireland title - seven county and six club.
Read next: Hurling Club Team of the Year announced as Ballyhale Shamrocks scoop eight awards
The other side of the story is that after landing a Leinster title, an All Star and also being nominated for the Hurler of the Year award in 2022, Reid remains at the top of his game.
He had no thoughts of quitting after the All-Ireland final win over Dunloy back in January, following a semi-final triumph over reigning champions, Ballygunner, which he labeled “the best win of my career.”
“If my attitude was like that I would have went 10 years ago, after winning my first one (All-Ireland),” he said.
“As a sports player, it’s all about the next one.
“Look, I’ve achieved unbelievable stuff with the club and county but your mindset can’t be selfish that way.
“Yes I’m married. I’ve a new born baby. I’m very happy. Life is good. I’m going into my job smiling every day so there is no reason to decide enough is enough.
“In my life at the moment, I can control the controllables, which is great. And the business is flying.
“If it was struggling, yes, of course it would be very stressful. But I’m hurling well and I still believe in myself.
“As a player, you have to be honest with yourself. You have to say, “Look, I can’t perform anymore.”
Lionel Messi staring at the World Cup a few months back at 35 is further proof that players can go on well into their 30s if they’re doing the right things.
Reid - the owner of TJ Reid Health and Fitness - certainly seems to be benefiting from his background in strength and conditioning and his choice of career.
“If you leave a number (age) define your career, even life in general, you’re playing on a losing battlefield straight away,” he continues.
“Obviously monitoring your load is a day to day thing now.
“Sports science is evolving. It is allowing other people to perform to their maximum and get a couple of years out of them.
“Now we have GPS trackers so every training session, every match, is volumed.
“Before, or 10 years ago, every one trained the same way. Now it’s more individualised.
“If you’ve hit your load on a Wednesday, the strength and conditioning coaches can give you a day to deload.
“Every training session now is monitored to your GPS, to your recovery, to your wellbeing as well, which is great. On the field, it’s the same.
“If you hit your numbers in a training session, the guys will have a chat and ask “how are you feeling?”
“They’ll be thinking about injury prevention as well. It’s their job to keep lads on the field. Not be the hard man and flog lads because that’s no good for the manager.”
Reid has just completed a block of strength and conditioning work and physio as he bids to overcome some niggly injuries he carried through the club campaign.
Next-up is field work again.
“Derek (Lyng - Kilkenny manager) has been great,” he says.
“I had a newborn baby and had a week or two there as well to spend time with the family, which is very respectful. I’m back in the gym doing four or five sessions a week.
“I thought hurling was commitment. By God, having a new born baby is full commitment.
“I’m gone three evenings a week training so Niamh has done a wonderful job.
“You asked the question about stepping away. I don’t know. Maybe some wives and girlfriends put pressure on the husband on being away two or three nights a week.
“Niamh never mentioned anything about that to me. So that’s a massive support from her because it is tough.”
It helps that post pandemic, business is good again in his gym.
“It has come back stronger than ever,” says Reid. “It took time. Because at the start, when things reopened, people were sceptical of the virus.
“The fear around it. So it did take a couple of weeks and months. Now, people’s attitudes towards it are after changing.
“Before you used to hear every Tom, Dick and Harry talking about Covid. Now you go into a coffee shop and everyone is talking - everyone is chatting like normal.
“Covid is all about your immune system, your wellness, your exercise, how Vitamin D was going to help strengthen your immune system and make it less likely to pick up any virus, whether flu virus or Covid.
“Most people over lockdown, because they had nothing else to do, picked up walking or cycling.
“Even looking at 'Operation Transformation' on RTE, they were a massive success.
“You could see all the people out walking and exercising. So the last months have been very positive.
“Hospitality is up. People are back treating themselves. Because we’ve seen anxiety and depression rise over the last two years so that’s great – exercise is great for anxiety and depression.
“People are more conscious and are trying to live a healthier life.
“Like anything, you have to have a good practice, a good product as well. We’re fortunate that my health and fitness club is a five star facility.
“It’s only a matter of opening the doors and people came back in. It’s our job to service our members the best way we can.”
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