I think I have come to the point in my athletic carrier that I’m not going to get any faster from year to year. I’m 47 and in grate shape this year for me in June, but I did the NorCal/NV time trial Championships this last weekend and I did not get under an hour! Witch kind of bummed me out but I gave it every thing I had, and it’s one fast crowd in the 45-49 masters class!!!
I live in Oregon, and the state Championships are in August so I’m hoping by then to get under an hour.
It’s just kind of strange to think that I’m at that stage in my life. So are any of you out there at the same point, and how are you handling it?
The best technique is to start from a foundation of being totally and completely pitiful. Keep plugging away slowly, never too hard. Then year to year improvments are a slam dunk.
I can smoke those 20 K time trials under an hour every time.
I am a 45 + plenty (53) and may never break an hour again, but it is sure fun to shoot for. I figure good health and luck are a given for the first 50 and after that thank God, Buddha,Allah, or whom ever you believe in that you woke up this morning and have the opportunity to worry about not breaking an hour.
I get to work in an enviroment where I have to talk to people who may not live to see next season and couldn’t ride a bike if they wanted to. I think it is important to train as hard as you can and do what you can do. I will find out next week if I can go under an hour next week. Aloha G
I’ll let you know after the next two weekends of racing at age 45…very short sprint this Saturday and San Jose International on the 26th, which will be a good test of how fast I can be at 40k. We shall see…
I’ll never be as fast as I was at 37, but then I was a pro at the top of my game. So what I do is to pick little battles with some other goal. For a long time it was to beat the fastest women pros. Right now I’d make a comfortable living as a woman, but the top girls kick my ass every time now. After my heart surgery and year and a half layoff, I got to start fresh from ground zero. I guess that was my silver lining of that whole episode. Now I just try to keep up with the other guys in the age group, and dream of the day I age up…
Sorry, I’m 49 and I’m quicker this year than the past two years. Probably because I’ve only been in this sport for 3.5 years - I still have knees that work!
I turn 45 this year, and for the first time in a long time, I am looking forward to another birthday. Yeah, out of that 40-44 age group. That is one tough bunch of people. I also have the advantage of starting my carreer very late (at the age of 41) so I am still improving every year. Once I start to decline I may feel different, but at least I don’t have to tell everyone how fast I once was compared to now.
Maybe you just had a bad day. I know that I won’t ever be at the front of the pack (unless I out live them). I started this stuff late (like 36 and going to be 49 next month), but I’m having a fantastic time. I have had some interesting breakthroughs in the last two seasons (at least for me), but I also have some really crappy races. Just when I get really discouraged, I have a great race that keeps me going. Besides, I’m so addicted to the training, I have to race once in a while to see if it is any good (both the training and racing.)
I’m only 44 at the moment so I gues Idon’t really fit in.
I’m still improving my times each year. I’ve brought my IM times from over fifteen hours to dangerously close to 13 hours flat. I’m hoping/expecting to go under 12 hours for my next attempt but won’t cry if I only break 13.
I think we slow down with age, but my fitness was so poor at the start I’ve still managed to improve even with increasing age. It sounds like your problem is that you were too good to begin with
In all fairness, I think late 40’s is when age really does become a factor that can’t be denied. I reckon I can get better for 2-3 more IM maybe then it will be a slow decline until I die.
I’m not at any point where I need to compare myself to someone else. Been there, got the t-shirt and then tossed it.
I’m 48 and I can ride with the 20-somethings on my Kestrel Talon SL. If I get dropped, so what. I go out the next time with the goal of not getting dropped.
I competed a couple months ago in a RR and dropped. So what. The road judge noticed my hands across my throat: she thanked me. Next experience? A TT. I was up against the best from B&L (My LBS). I took 2d from last in my AG. Am I worried? Heck no! I will get better. (Think wine).
Why worry about what others will think of you, especially when it’s ‘your’ heart; not theirs.
“It’s just kind of strange to think that I’m at that stage in my life. So are any of you out there at the same point, and how are you handling it?”
I think you may have answered your own question with the next line you wrote.
“Have fun out there!”
So you can’t break an hour. So what? You’re the only one who cares. The aptly named Bottomfeeder is on top of his game. He’s the only one who cares. Have fun!
Just handle it. Remember, there were days in all the past age groups that weren’t at your best. Some days are just better than others. If we were fast at 23, we just are not going to be that fast any more.
Me, I hang out with a younger crowd; they are just amazed I can do what I do.
