I have been reading some things on here a for awhile and thought I would ask the collective wisdom these questions.
UGLY: My wife often reminds me that when I get in good tri shape (at least what I consider it to be) I look like a prisoner of war. I am six foot and race weight is about 161. Probably obese for those on this site. Nevertheless, when I get that thin, my wife and mother-in-law start to complain that I look sickly and need to plump up. In the winter I get up to 175-180 and they tell me I start to look like a normal person. At the Austin Marathon last month I ran the half and my wife and I watched the marathon guys that ran under 3:00 hours come in. She said if I ever looked like those guys she would be disgusted.
Question: Are we really kidding ourselves if we think we look healthy. Do we all look like we need a pizza.
OLD: I have noticed that most triathlete guys I see in there 40’s look like they are in there 60’s. I often see worn out, weathered looking guys at races and say, “wow, that is great for the old fella”. I then see his calf and he is only 46. Does triathlon age you faster that the average joe?
I had a friend once comment that I looked like I just got released from a POW camp. He was also an endurance athlete, but I was REAL skinny back then (6’2" 155ish). Not that I’m much better now, though (+10lbs). I think my hairline is receeding too (I"m only 24!!), but I dont think it’s from tri training…
Well, no question that prolonged exposure to the sun will cause skin damage and aging. Also, all that wind burn when we train in cold weather damages the skin. Free radicals build as a result of endurance training, greatly damaging and “aging” skin, which is another reason why antioxidants are important for endurance athletes. So, I would say, yes, in a lot of cases, it makes us look other.
The flip side, we are ridiculously more healthy than our sedentary brethren (in general) and may look old, but, most of us will live a lot longer.
Read once about “Wrinkled Face Syndrome” which seems to effect runners. Probably also cyclists to a lesser degree. Not sure about swimming, but wouldn’t think so…
I was looking at photos from 2 years ago - before I started training for long-course. And I have absolutely aged a LOT in those 2 years… maybe all the sun from being a lifeguard in high school and college is catching up to me, but yeah… i look freaking old. I even stopped getting carded recently. :S
SDG - those triathlete guys that are 40 and look 60 are the ones that came to the sport after many years of smoking cigs and drinking cases of Schaffer Light.
OLD: I have noticed that most triathlete guys I see in there 40’s look like they are in there 60’s. I often see worn out, weathered looking guys at races and say, “wow, that is great for the old fella”. I then see his calf and he is only 46. Does triathlon age you faster that the average joe?
Hmm…I often think that triathletes look much younger than their actual age when compared to the general public.
As for the other thing, I’m about the same size as you. 163 in great shape, 170-175 in off season and I get similar reactions from my family when I’m very fit.
I was sitting at the DMV today and noticed a guy who I would have thought was 35 (I noticed him because of the conversation he was having with a woman). He started hitting on a woman sitting next to him. She asked him how old he was. He said 24. He was over weight and clearly led a sedentary life full of beer (he works for Budweiser as it turns out). He talked about how he really liked living by the ocean etc, but when the woman asked if he sailed, dove, surfed etc, the answer was always no. I’m guessing he likes to sit on the beach and drink beer. She also thought he was in his late 30s and when he told her his age she asked to see his ID because she thought he was lying.
So, I think getting fat and being sedentary makes you old and ugly more than being a triathlete.
I always think most triathletes look younger than their age. I’m 28 and most of the people at my pool think I am on the HS swim team.
The people who have had too much sun exposure often look old.
For the guys running sub 3hour marathons–not all women think guys that are that lean are sickly looking. I thought a lot of the men at the Olympic marathon trials looked good!
I think the massive fluctuations in weight aren’t exactly the best for you 20 lbs is a lot to add and take off twice a year. That can screw with your body quite a bit
well, getting up at 4am to swim and stuff cant be good for you can it…riding 6 or 7 hours regularly the same…running marathons…years and years of this stress must take its toll…