Do Tris age you?

It's the opposite for me at least physically. I feel 100 times better at 34 than I did at 24 and this lifestyle is mostly to thank. I have also lost 20 pounds and look healthier and better than ever. I'd say I look younger now than a few years ago. As far as experience, it makes me feel proud and accomplished but not "older" so to say. It's definitely changed my outlook on and approach to all aspects of my life and made me a stronger, more confident person.

Hi:

:-)  Thanks everyone for answering. Reverse tris? heh!  Suuuuree...   Wait. Are there such things? :-D

 Don't get me wrong.  This is the most physically fit I have been my entire life.  Most of you know I lost a whole mess of weight (like 190 lbs - although I put on 10 pounds recently training earlier this year.)   So this is definitely the healthiest physically I have been. 

I also do feel proud and accomplished and definitely more self confident. I believe I can do things more and am not sooo fearful.  Maybe that's why my family calls it 'maturity.'  But to be honest, I jsut feel OLD.  I have never felt my age in my life.  But after the NYC Tri, I felt and feel my age.  It is like......  my body is fit and maybe I am growing psychologically to actually fit my age?  I used to be so carefree acting.  People thought I was in my very early twenties.  Now I just feel so old and after every tri - older.

The best I can describe it is by a quote from Bilbo Baggins from LOTR:

I'm old, Gandalf. I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart. I feel, thin. Sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.

That is how I feel after every tri.

I do love them and plan to continue with the training etc. It's just weird.  So I just wondered what you all's experience was.  Hmm.

dbw27

nope tired yes, old no.

my patients tell me  look younger everytime they see me....

I definitely feel younger...but then so far I have only done a reverse tri! LOL. But just all the training in addition to my weight training, I feel wonderful physically and I even think I look younger (except my hair is still getting less gray without help). I've particularly noticed the past few weeks, as I inch closer to my second tri, how fluidly my body moves when I walk. I have no aches and pains, I'm never sore after a workout (except the normal from a good lifting session). I don't know...I rather feel like I discovered the fountain of youth! I am late 40's, not 30's, but my 20's were my child-bearing, rearing years and that's when I felt old and tired!

Kathy

Sweet Mark!

I agree I feel better at 47 than I do at 37 and probably better than I did at 27 but I can't really remember that far back.  I'm happier and healthier as well.

Feel older?  Not me.  Tri training has this middle-aged guy in the best cardiopulmonary fitness of my life.  People at work constantly telling me I look 10+ years younger. 
Everyone feels tired after a long workout or tough tri.  If you constantly feel older, you may be overtraining or sick.  If you feel more self-confidence after completing another tri maybe its maturity rearing its 'ugly head'.  Don't let self-confidence rob you of youthful enthusiasm.  You're only young once, but you can be immature forever

x2 ... very well said.

Tri's have made me feel younger, stronger and substantially more mentally sharp.  However, I do feel like I am going to die for about 10 or 20 seconds just after I cross the finish line.  Other than that, no big problems.

If you are feeling older after each one, you may want to ask your doctor to check you out.

Good luck and keep us posted.

I feel a little older.... I started tri's at 16, IM at 18, and am now 19. I have always "Felt" older than my age.

I just had to say that from your pic Kathy I would have guessed you were still in your 20's....

I'm late 30's and I also feel like I'm in the best shape I've been in since high school.  Just started running about 1.5 years ago and S/B/R training the last 3 months. I have big goals of getting in even better shape, but overall I feel great.  That's not to say that I don't move around like an old man after some of my long runs though

Maybe you mean you FEEL like an old person in this lifestyle....things like getting up super-early, going to bed early, taking naps, thinking about supplements like glucosamine (and maybe ensure).......being tired a lot, having aches & pains......instead of the care-free youth who can bar-hop all night and SLEEP IN?

People always assume that I am younger than I am.........so I think triathlon agrees with me!

Aww, thanks. You're sweet to say that...must be the lighting

Thank you everyone for responding.  MKAH, I think if I go to have my doctor check out one more thing - she may run out of things for me to check out.  Is it just me, or do triathletes live at the doctor's office?

Oldteen:  I really really really like what you said.  This actually encouraged me.  I guess maturity is rearing its ugly head.  If I come to think of it, I can still have youthful enthusiasm and be self-confident/stronger/more mature.  Don't know how that works yet..um.. but I guess I can figure it out.  But I guess there is a big difference between being young and enthusiastic and immature.  Hmm......  I just feel sooooooo old.  Maybe I am gaining maturity.  I feel stronger, more self confident, more assertive, more "I-know-what-I-want".  Like after this last tri, I finally got up the gumption to start filing all my papers to finally go back to grad school after five years of floundering around.  Do tris help you "find yourself?"  Hm..maybe they should be a mandatory part of the curriculum in college if they do!  :-D

I mean, isn't that strange. Five years of floundering around, then NYC Tri - then I feel stronger, more confident and start turning in all my paperwork to return to grad school - heck, I've even gotten two of my recs out.  Just strange is all.  I mean after tri'ing this year, it is finally settled in my heart that I really do want to settle down and have a family.  Maybe that's too much information.  Strange.

So maybe that is the old I feel.  Leaving immaturity behind?

But oh yes, it IS different waking up early/going to bed early/carefully watching nutrition/etc.  And I do feel a little old in that way.  But I do love tri'ing.

The guy who interviewed me on the radio got it right I guess, when he called it, the "Triathlon of Life."  Soap opera anyone?

(I do overtrain though - so my body is often tired.)

:-)

dbw27

Edited by dbw27 2009-08-01 8:48 PM

29 is quite the compliment!  :-)

Ya see......I feel older and tired too.  Thanks for empathizing!  :-D  Maybe it is maturing though.. hm..

dbw27

I was in a tri today with a very interesting participant.  The gentlemen was 80 years old and has competed and finished two Kona IMs.  Now I don't know when he raced but the fact that he is STILL racing is amazing.  He says that his 'run time was a bit slow- his hip is bothering him'.  I was amazed.  When times are posted I'll do a bit of google searching to find his Kona times.

This is the same gentlemen who rides his bike to the pool every morning.  So no, I don't think tris age a person.