How old were you when you decided to train to be a triathlete? (Page 5)

I was 41 and had lost 30 pounds and decided that a tri sounded like a good goal

. Standing in my wave sorta freakin out on my first tri, I looked around and was standing next to a lady whose leg marker said 74. She was talking to her friend and said that she was going to do this triathlon next year because then she would be doing tris for 25 years. Apparently she started when she was 50.

We are never too old.

35

I went from couch to marathon from Jun-Oct '02; a painful experience lasting 4:30.  Then did nothing for 3.5 years.  In March of 2006, I signed up for a Sprint and bought a road bike.  I did a sprint that year and completed a much more enjoyable marathon (4:00).  I turned 36 in 2006.  In 2007 I did my 1st Oly and HIM.  This year another HIM and a couple of Olys.  Now, I'm just about in the best shape of my life at 38 years of age and plan to finish the NYC marathon this fall under 3:30.

I too wish I had started at an earlier age...

Completing a triathlon was my New Years resolution when I was 30 (this year). 

Turned 31 on Jan. 26th. 

I've completed 2 sprints and lost 17 pounds. 

I was 16 when I decided way back in the 80s that someday I was going to do a triathlon.  That was back in the Dave Scott/Scott Tinley/Mark Allen days.  I ran track and was an avid cyclist, but had one major problem...I couldn't swim.

Finally took a swim class in COLLEGE and started training for a triathlon, but then came engagement, marriage and 3 kids. 

I was a couch potato until 38, when I started getting out with the running group, ran my 1st marathon at 39, and FINALLY my 1st tri at 40.  Only took 20+ years to get my butt in gear... 

Awesome.  This thread is so inspiring... good luck to all racing soon, but especially to your on your First Ironman event...may you have both patience and speed on your big day!

Cheers, -Sunny 

I was 35. I quit smoking and needed a new hobby!

Much better choice, wish I did it sooner. I am now the role model my kids deserve!

My youngest would answer this with 5 years old!

Kim

44..  A coworker asked me to do a triathlon in August 2006 and the race was in September. I have always been active but had never run more than 2 miles and knew swimming 750m would terrify me and put my life in danger! I told her no! She asked me to do the Danskin June of 2007. I felt like I could do that.  I got in the pool and swam 25m and wanted to cry. I ran and walked a mile and got mad.  I rode my bike, a friend built a 54cm frame 1995 Cannondale with various components. I could ride maybe 15 miles at 10 mph. I followed  the couch to sprint plan on BT as well as I could. I finshed the Danskin 2007 and was hooked. I've done 6 sprints so far this season and plan to complete 10. I'll finish the season with an Olympic in October.  I can swim 3000m in ow, can bike 40m at 19 mph and ran 8 miles the other day. I was 6th in my AG yesterday and 86 out of 437 overall......I love triathlon. My son (17) has done one and we'll do another together in a couple of weeks.  It has changed our relationship (his mom is cool) and has really changed my life and how I feel about myself.  Thanks Emily (my coworker) and thanks BT.

  54    I thought I was going to be the oldest - But Dan gets that one. 

 This is my third season and I'm still loving it.   I've finished several sprints, two Olys and just did my first 1/2 IM a couple of weeks ago.  IMFL in November.    Like others have said I hope to be doing it for many years.  I was part of a team a few weeks ago and our bicyclist was 80!   So you young whippersnappers have a long time to enjoy this thing.  Lucky birds!

running has been and continues to be my challenge.  I've not done a new length race yet, where I have previously run the distance. (even the first sprint).  I keep working on it and bike speed and am making progress. 

I started seriously thinking I could do one at 43,  but it did not happen until this year at age 45!  The lag was all about the swim...

26 once after I quit my 2 packs a day cigarette habit....(no joke).

41. I wrecked my knees in a motorcycle accident when I was 21 and thought I would never run again. Tri training has motivated me to try running again and this year I did two runs, two olympic tris a sprint and 2 open water swims. It feels good to get back in shape again.

43, like some others I had dropped a bunch of weight and needed a goal for the training. Once I tried it, I was hooked.

Welcome to the family