I'll play!
Background: 56 YO male. 13 years in triathlon, lifelong athlete. 137 tris to date. 34 long course with 12 IMs. In 2013, I raced 11 times. Won my AG 7 times and finished 2nd twice. Top 3 OA on the bike 4 times. Qualified for 3rd Kona at IMLT. (Full disclosure: I did it via the XC route.
My "secrets":
1. The first law of triathlon: "The Conservation of Motivation". This is my prime objective. If I don't feel like doing a workout or I just want to do junk miles that day then that's what I do. If I feel like hammering it because I feel good, then I do that. If I'm entered in a race and life throws me a curve ball I skip it. If I decide to do a race the night before because I wanna race someone, I'll do it even though I did a hard brick that day....
In the long run, and at my age that's where we are at, it's about making sure that you don't burn out and that you really enjoy training and racing. I don't do as many intervals as I should but I really look forward to training and racing....and I don't seem to really get injured really badly any more...
2. The first law of life: "Maximize Happiness". Triathlon is just a part of life. If it creates negative energy (with a spouse for instance, or because you feel you're denying yourself of something that makes you happy) then you need to change something. Guys who have relationship problems with the love of their life because they need to train are violating this law.
3. Do the best you can given theses laws and your limitations and then give yourself a break with the results. If you do your best, you have achieved excellence.
4. Embrace competition and the competitors. I love to race. I know I wouldn't train as much as I do if I didn't like to go fast. When I'm in a race, it's all out for me...I want to go as fast as I can and crush my competitors. However, before and after I help them in any way I can and enjoy my time with them. Without competitors there is no competition. Triathlon should be a social activity where you connect with fellow souls.
5. My body is a furnace, not a temple. I like red wine, IPAs, chocolate and french fries. If I have some fat on me and I'm slower sobeit. It's worth the trade off...especially in light of points one and two above!
6. I like to ride my bike more than swim or run so I do more of that. I do way more bike than what a good coach would say is right. I'm ok with that. Posting the fastest OA bike split out of 300 folks never gets old...even if I'm slower at the finish line.
7. I like to do other things with my fitness. I've done RAAM. I'm now getting ready to climb in Argentina. Triathlon is my true love but I do enjoy my other flings!
8. I decided 15 years ago to make less money so I could have more free time to do this endurance stuff. I recognize that I'm lucky that I can make that choice, but it's a choice that lots of folks in my situation don't make. As a result, I can follow my first two laws and still train long enough and hard enough to do pretty good at this stuff...one of the best decisions I ever made!
Randy Christofferson(http://www.rcmioga.blogspot.com
Insert Doubt. Erase Hope. Crush Dreams.
Background: 56 YO male. 13 years in triathlon, lifelong athlete. 137 tris to date. 34 long course with 12 IMs. In 2013, I raced 11 times. Won my AG 7 times and finished 2nd twice. Top 3 OA on the bike 4 times. Qualified for 3rd Kona at IMLT. (Full disclosure: I did it via the XC route.
My "secrets":
1. The first law of triathlon: "The Conservation of Motivation". This is my prime objective. If I don't feel like doing a workout or I just want to do junk miles that day then that's what I do. If I feel like hammering it because I feel good, then I do that. If I'm entered in a race and life throws me a curve ball I skip it. If I decide to do a race the night before because I wanna race someone, I'll do it even though I did a hard brick that day....
In the long run, and at my age that's where we are at, it's about making sure that you don't burn out and that you really enjoy training and racing. I don't do as many intervals as I should but I really look forward to training and racing....and I don't seem to really get injured really badly any more...
2. The first law of life: "Maximize Happiness". Triathlon is just a part of life. If it creates negative energy (with a spouse for instance, or because you feel you're denying yourself of something that makes you happy) then you need to change something. Guys who have relationship problems with the love of their life because they need to train are violating this law.
3. Do the best you can given theses laws and your limitations and then give yourself a break with the results. If you do your best, you have achieved excellence.
4. Embrace competition and the competitors. I love to race. I know I wouldn't train as much as I do if I didn't like to go fast. When I'm in a race, it's all out for me...I want to go as fast as I can and crush my competitors. However, before and after I help them in any way I can and enjoy my time with them. Without competitors there is no competition. Triathlon should be a social activity where you connect with fellow souls.
5. My body is a furnace, not a temple. I like red wine, IPAs, chocolate and french fries. If I have some fat on me and I'm slower sobeit. It's worth the trade off...especially in light of points one and two above!
6. I like to ride my bike more than swim or run so I do more of that. I do way more bike than what a good coach would say is right. I'm ok with that. Posting the fastest OA bike split out of 300 folks never gets old...even if I'm slower at the finish line.
7. I like to do other things with my fitness. I've done RAAM. I'm now getting ready to climb in Argentina. Triathlon is my true love but I do enjoy my other flings!
8. I decided 15 years ago to make less money so I could have more free time to do this endurance stuff. I recognize that I'm lucky that I can make that choice, but it's a choice that lots of folks in my situation don't make. As a result, I can follow my first two laws and still train long enough and hard enough to do pretty good at this stuff...one of the best decisions I ever made!
Randy Christofferson(http://www.rcmioga.blogspot.com
Insert Doubt. Erase Hope. Crush Dreams.