Every year (for the past 10 years), I keep trying to shed those winter pounds not only to support PRs/PBs but to be more competitive. That weight swing for me is usually going from 215 down to 190 by mid summer (and this is getting harder for me to accomplish every year as I get older). For me racing is that winning ticket to keep some sort of fitness regimin and incentive to lose weight. Now if I could just maintain it.
Every year, I keep debating on whether to register for races as an age grouper (my norm) or as a clydesdale (my physical norm).
Personally, I think the age brackets are more competitive, but I always find some clydesdales finishing in the top 10%.
Example: a sprint race with 450 participants, I may finish in the top 50 overall, be 8 out of 30 in my age group, and usually see 3 or 4 clydesdales in the top 50. Slice it however you like, I usually feel better about finishing in the top 50, would love to place in the top 3 in my age group, and think it wouldn’t be as difficult to place in the top 3 of the clydesdale division. With folks like me who have the ability to pick a category (age or weight), what is the true comparison in competing here? 1 or 2 of the clydesdales could be in my same age bracket or some of the age groupers are really clydesdales; what is their true category placement? (by choice I guess)
Anyway, since I use to be a wrestler where competition brackets are by weight, having this classification works out well and invites all types and sizes to the sport. It seems fair (until you try to enter an open tournament at the age of 35 and get your but whooped by a college wrestler…that was painful). I find it very interesting in our multisport, that weight is a huge factor and product companies focus a lot on reducing the weight of their products (besides aerodynamics). We seem to give it some value to allow folks like myself who have this challenge (and Koodos to all who are becoming healthier usuing this sport as a venue to fitness), but are we promoting the right messages / behaviors? Look at schools today; pretty soon my kids will be graduating from every grade level (going overboard in the reward category).
So, what do others think about this topic:
from how you decide to register,
from how we classify (or categorize) our selves in the sport of triathlons and where do we drawl the line,
how do you look at the results (overall placement, age placement, or for those that are big, clydesdale/athena placement)
I am thinking that there is to much thinking going on here, I think. I train to train and a race is a byproduct every now and then to throw more money away. Age groups are great there is nothing wrong with placing in a AG then setting your mind on something bigger. Same goes with clydes. If your a fast clyde go AG then win that then go elite.
“That weight swing for me is usually going from 215 down to 190 by mid summer (and this is getting harder for me to accomplish every year as I get older).”
Hey, great post! If 190 is your natural, god-given weight boundary, then by all means Clydesdale is probably the way to go (if it is >180 or something). If at 190 you are pudgy and at 215 you are a bear preparing for hibernation, then by all means race AG at a healthy BMI.
Or, as it is most succinctly put on Slowtwitch, if you are fat, HTFU. Clydesdale should have the motto I use for internet dating: “No fatties”
At 24, well 25 by AG, and 205 out of season (say 199 in season) I just race AG
Last year I raced Clyde in a sprint, was the 4th clyde in, would have been 2nd AG.
As you age up, the AG tends to get faster (from what Ive seen at least)…
I teter on the border of the 200lb limit- which from every race I’ve entered, is the clydesdale cutoff.
At 6-5, I feel like its a totally healthy weight. I dont swing much between in season/ out of season weights, so I figure somewhere around 200 is where I should be.
I dont have a “small” body type, and I have a pretty big frame- that being said- I will probably race AG until I seriously get into the clyde range.
I’m not fast, I’m not too slow either… I have no chance of competing in big races, but in a local sprint, I would think I can crack top 5 in AG or clydes (hell, ive raced where I would ahve won clydes if I signed up for it)
to answer your questions, after a long winded response
I go AG because usually I’m borderline- the more serious the race, the lower my weight will be, the more likely if I raced Clydesdale, and got weighed in, I would be forced to go AG anyways. Given the choice, I would probably look at previous results, place myself where I anticipate my finish, and since I’m greedy- I would go for whatever had the least places in front of me- and race that category.
I dont think weight should play a huge roll… You can have winners that are upwards of 200lbs in ironman events, and then theres guys killin it at international distance at 140…
My sister was terribly dissapointed at the Timberman this summer. She performed well above her expectations, and placed somehwere like 10th AG, but would have won athena… Unsure of where she would weigh in at the time of the race, she went AG instead- so that stinks.
Overall- and Gender is what really matters. You can be top 10, and 4th in your AG and leave with nothing, but thats how it works. It may not be the best or nicest way to do it- but at least theres some consistencies between races- and if you think about it, generally speaking- within the same AG, you have people at roughly the same stages in life. They’ve had the same time to think about triathlon- the same time to train- you’re more likely to be in the same stage of a relationship, or a family with the people in your AG, and you’ll likely have narrowed down your training routine to something you know works… Age is a hugely important factor- if not even for fitness- but for general sport awareness. Its not my fault that I weigh 200 and other guys weigh 160. some of us are meant to win, some of us are meant to enjoy the sport and chug along.
A sport like thise- AG is probably the easiest and most general way to classify people. Nothing is going to be flawless. No way to classify perfectly- so thats how its done
on a side note- 25lbs is quite a bit of weight to gain during the off season… ever tried to stay consistent? Maybe getting down to “race weight” would be easier if you didnt have as far to go- and maybe you could even go lower- then you wouldn thave to worry bout this whole Clyde thing at all…
I’m age 63 and weigh about 175 lbs. I have a hard enough time finishing ahead of other old guys. It wouldn’t be much fun competing against most of the huge number of people in my weight division.
Your seasonal weight swing seems a bit much, but then on a % basis it’s probably close to mine too. I read people say their weight is constant year-round, but I have to wonder where they live. For us northerners, no matter how much I swear that this is the year I will maintain my summer form through the winter, it just never happens. Short days and crappy weather, not to mention kids’ school schedules, holiday travel, whatever… at best, I’ll only gain 5-10 lbs over the winter instead of 15+ in a worse year.
In my case, though, I only bump up around the clyde threshold around my peak weight, and get back under during race season. But, sometimes I can’t help but wonder if I could train a bit less and yet place better as a clyde if I hung onto a few extra pounds. As a recent 35-39 and now 40-44, the AG depth is usually pretty brutal.
In my area I find the age group to be far more competitive.
In Clydesdale I’ll usually win or place 2nd while in my age group I wouldn’t place.
And in every race I’ve done this year, all 3 40+ Clydesdales beat the first <40 Clydesdale.
Lately, since I’ve been struggling to stay over 200lbs I’ve been entering the age group (and in some races there isn’t a Clyde division) and I’ve been off and on the podium.
I think you can/should pick the one that gives you the best chance of getting a podium spot. This is more motivating and should result in better performances over time. If 1st place becomes routine, then give that spot up to someone else and enter your age group.
I register AG, because it’s usually a bigger group, and if you care, only races done AG (not clydesdale) count for USAT ranking.
The “handi-cap” effect of AG is a little more neutral than say 200+lb 20 year olds against 200+lb 60 year olds.
Just dump the results in a spreadsheet and copy/paste yourself the the other division you “qualify” for if you want “what if” scenarios.
Just for clarity: if you race in the clydesdale group, your performance is bunched with the age group results for the USAT ranking…ie. you still get a valid ranking.
Just for clarity: if you race in the clydesdale group, your performance is bunched with the age group results for the USAT ranking…ie. you still get a valid ranking.
You sure? Has it changed in the last couple of years? I’m pretty sure this used to be expressly declared in the rules, but now I find no mention of it.
I personally am against the whole clydesdale concept and anything to do with giving people free passes based on thier weight.
The ‘Clydesdale’ division seems to cater to people over 6’; I see plenty of 5’5" guys who have the same bf% or muscle mass as taller clydes and they have to race in the AG division. Additionally, why should certain people get a free pass on competition? Others have to shed 15-40 lbs in the off season to compete, its part of the training process, yet if you are a certain build you get to not only maintain your weight but race in a less competitive division. There seems to be this misconception that clydes have to work harder in this sport; everyone has to work hard.
Every year (for the past 10 years), I keep trying to shed those winter pounds not only to support PRs/PBs but to be more competitive. That weight swing for me is usually going from 215 down to 190 by mid summer (and this is getting harder for me to accomplish every year as I get older). For me racing is that winning ticket to keep some sort of fitness regimin and incentive to lose weight. Now if I could just maintain it.
Food for thought.
You do know that 25lb swings year after year are just as bad as keeping the original weight?
I agree with this, I am sorry about this, but I think the whole clydesdale this is BS. When I first started working out again getting ready for triathlons I would have been in the group, but I lost 30 lbs, and when winter rolled around did I put it all back on? No, I never hit 180 over the winter. You don’t want to go through the hassle of losing 30 lbs in the spring? Here’s a plan, don’t eat as much! You don’t need to drink a 6 pack of Sam Adams every week, or eat a large pizza.
Its a total bullshit devision, you have a guy who is 5’7" who weighs 230 pounds and is a tub of goo, and then you have a dude who is 6’5" and jacked as shit saying he belongs in the heavy group, total loop hole.
If you’re going to have a group for people who weight a certain amount, why don’t you have a group for people over 6 feet tall, and then under 5 feet tall? How about a group who doesn’t shave there legs?
It only makes sense to have age group, and then elite, anything else is stupid and pointless. And in most of the races I do, it doesn’t even make sense to sign up for elite till 30 cause 0-29 and the elite wave goes off first so you’re not getting an advantage.
Sorry for the longer post, but this is just one of those things that erks me.
Tell me about the Sam Adams and pizza…I need to drink at least a twelver and eat a few large pepperoni’s to maintain my “tub of goo.” ;).
I’ve raced clydes a lot and have won all but one race in that division…pretty weak, even by my low standards. I’m going to start racing my age group (35-39) now so I can get my ass handed to me on a regular basis. I thiink it’s more fun to challenge myself then win.
HAHAHAHA, well there are times I do wish i didn’t care as much and just relive all my college nights were I would have at least a 12 pack and a pack of Camel filters, and couldn’t go to bed till I got my major taco bell fix. Weird what a couple of years will do to ya!