Anyone realize their best years are behind them? (Page 4)

For some reason the old song pops into my head:

"I ain't as good as I once was

But I'm as good once as I ever was"

-Toby Keith


Mark

18 years old.  First tri when i was 17.  

I'm always tempted to tell myself "I wish I started earlier"... but then I realize I'll be saying the same thing 10, 20, 30 years from now should I choose to quit and start triathlons again in the future.  I might as well cherish my years and body now.  The best part is getting on the podium when the other kids in my ag started many years before me.  That's probably not the most healthy way to motivate myself, but it works.

Getting older sucks....but it beats the alternative.

At 42, I think I'm close to being in the best shape of my life right now and as I build my training toward IMWI it's only going to get better.  Along the way, one of my goals is to beat my running PRs, some of which were set as long as 10 years ago.

So no, I refuse to believe my best years are behind me!

Depends on what you mean by "best". Am I going to be able to get back to my fastest running paces of 5:10 miles? 16 minute 1500's? Probably not. But, I'm also not competing against those people any more.

I enjoy every year, I may be a bit slower but man I'm having fun!

John

Geeze, this thread is like Lazarus and just won't die. 

It is interesting that some people responded with a sort of indignation that I was suggesting some fitness heresey.  I was simply stating the obvious that at some point in one's life, we stop making performance gains and start slowing down.  For some that time may come in their 20 but for many it their 30s.  And for those who got a later start, in thier 40s or 50s. 

If you are 50-something and are still making perfomance gains, that is awesome!  But I doubt you started in your 20s and have been getting faster for 30 years.  It probably means you started triathloning later in life.  Most athletes peak out in their 30s.  I think I peaked about 45 because I got a late start (about 35 yo).  Am I goig to lay down and die now?  No!  But neither and I going to whistle thru the graveyard and tell myself by best performance is still in front of me somewhere.

~Mike

I'm 49 and am just about as fast as I was 15-20 years ago.  This is mostly because I am smarter and more serious about training, diet, sleep, etc. ... and I also was never particularly fast to begin with.

I ignore everyone in races except other guys in my age group.  I'm not 25 or 30 anymore, and that's just reality.  I'm trying to do the best I can at my age and keep doing this as long as possible.  There are people 10-20 years older than I am that can still crush me - that's part of what motivates me.

This is my 4th  year, and I am 48.  I am focusing on bike racing this year, and my FTP is already ahead of past years.  I do have 2 olys and HIM on my schedule, so I do need to get back in the pool but no, I am not at my best yet.  I think it will take me all this year to begin to develop as a cyclist and it will be another 5 years before I peak, at least, and since the woman (a cat 1 rider) who wins everything in central park (and some other places) is  56 or 58 - and she started ?15? years ago I know it is not just me....

I got many more injuries as a youngster than I do now

Last September on a lark and completely out of shape, at 63 yrs old, 6' 245lb. I did a supersprint. My only goals were to finish and not come in last. When I crossed the finish line I was downright euphoric. Never at my age did I think I would ever again get such a thrill from participating in a sporting event. I think this is a terrific sport for folks my age who can manage to stay disease and injury free. I have no goals but to do my best. So far I've lost 15 lbs. Did another sprint this May and I'm scheduled for 3 others. Vermont Sun Sprint  Salisbury Vt. 6/26, Black Fly Sprint Tri, Waterville Valley NH, 7/10, Timberman Sprint Gilford NH 8/20. In September I'll go back to the one I started with in Seaside Heights NJ. I love the cross training,  I incoporporate strength/mobility training, running, biking, swimming, kayaking and hiking in the NH White Mtns. I get complete rest one day a week and I haven't felt this good in years. Would like to lose about another 20 lbs and who knows I might even break10/min. miles running again. Cheers to all you old timers out there. I'd love to hear from you, especially old timer/Clydesdale/Athenas.

I'm 49 now. When I was 19 I could do a 10k in 32 minutes. Then as I got older and a bit slower I started doing marathons. I did a bunch of marathons and finally qualified for Boston. A couple years ago some of my running buddies talked me into buying a road bike. Found I really enjoyed that and started biking farther and a bit faster. A couple of my training friends also do triathlons and finally this year I gave it a shot. Started swimming 5 weeks ago and already did my first sprint. It was a complete rush and I loved it. Doing another one on the 25th. 

Goals change. I will never run 5:08 miles again. But I will swim faster and bike faster. And once I do that, maybe try a HIM. Or an ultra. Gotta keep the buzz going