What is it about being middle-aged and doing triathlons? In every event I have done recently, triathlons, century rides, open-water swims, multisport races, the largest age group has been M40-49.
you answered you’re own question in your post heading: “midlife crisis and triathlon.” hahhahahaha
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And to think its going to happen to you, too. Hee Hee Hee Haw Haw Haw!
I always thought it was the 35-39 AG I race in.
One thing I did notice today at a duathlon was that the 40-49 AG bike rack had some serious bling. Nice Look 495, QR Lucero and many Cervelo P3C. I was envious on the Look.
S
I have read somewhere that it’s not the man’s age that causes the MLF, it’s the age of his wife (nearing or at infertility). Apparently men who marry much younger women don’t go through this.
Apparently the man subconsciously recognizes his spouse’s ability to produce offspring is attenuating so he has a desire to get himself in shape to court a new partner.
My theory is that its primarily a financial thing where once people get to their 30’s they’ve acquired the resources to support doing triathlons. Secondly, people at this point in their life become more structured and are able to put time into training rather than primarily dating and parties.
- Time (kids older or gone)
- Money for travel and serious bling.
- Looking for a last good physical challenge before retiring to the golf course.
- 50+ age group helped pioneer the sport.
I think Last Tri in 83 covered it. We are far enough along in our careers and family life that doing this stuff is possible without disrupting everything, and the physical pieces, while gradually dismantling themselves, are still there to be used on a running trail or bike and not retired permanently to exclusively surfing ST (and talking about how studly we were) nor the golf course…
By the way, the bike rack with the most bling in Kona is not the pro rack…it is M40-44!!!
In 2007 at Eagleman, the race director announced that both the mens and womens 40-44 age groups were the largest of the day.
In 2006 at the age of 39 before turning 40 I did my first Half Ironman at Eagleman. I wanted a really big challenge to prove to myself I wasn’t getting old.
Now at 41 (USAT age 42), I am enjoying the sport even more.
I think it’s actually the age cohort not the age group.
In masters swimming the 25 - 29, 30 - 35, and 35 - 39 don’t seem to be backfilling the age groups as the folks who are now 40 - 50 age up.
It seems like it is the same way in tri, except for women where women in their late 20s and early 30s seem to be flocking to the sport.
at a small, you could almost call it “neighborhood”, sprint last year…i’d guess at around $40K hanging off the rack i was on.
- Time (kids older or gone)
- Money for travel and serious bling.
- Looking for a last good physical challenge before retiring to the golf course.
- 50+ age group helped pioneer the sport.
#1 nails it for me.
Wasn’t till my youngest turned 10 (and I hit 40+) that I felt interested in indulging in myself so much.
Amen to that (the kids getting older). After spending tons of time wiping bottoms, reading picture books, and taking out the diaper genie (gross!), I was ready to get my life (and fitness) back once my kids turned 6 and 8. They both go on the bus to school all day (hallelujah), can get a snack for themselves, and are happy, for the most part, playing outside. It won’t be long before we’re all training together, and I don’t want to be left behind some teenager.
…and the other issue is that the 40 - 44 AG is more competitive then ever. At last years ITU World Champs in Hamburg i finished 29th in the 40 - 44 ag, but my time would have placed me 17th in the 35-39 ag and 26th in the 30-34 ag with both ag having similar sizes!!!
Now that i have four children under age 11 i was hoping the standard was going to go down rather than up!
there is also a macro population effect–the baby boom…much larger numbers of these folks around so you are seeing this bulge in triathlons as well…also, a little bit of the ethos of the BB generation–very me centric and tri is a very me sport…I’m 50 by the way and right in the middle of it.
The other thing is triathlon (and other more “unusual” sports) have really taken off in the last 10 years and its natural that the people who have the time and the money are sucked in…
I think its a structure thing like already stated. When I was in my 20’s, working out wasn’t as much a priority. I stayed in pretty decent shape just because my metabolism was higher and I felt better. As I got older, I have found that I need to work out in order not to feel like a total sloth.
I plan my workouts by the day or week and the structure is there. Racing makes me more structured as I plan tapering, speed workouts, specific workouts for individual races.
What do you want to spend your money and time on? In my 20’s, it was getting hammered and getting laid. 30’s it was about getting car, clothes, house job etc. Now that I’ve got all that, what is left for fullfillment? I want to compete and get the excitement through racing. Some guys hit the golf course and spend their money and time there. I’ve got a friend who spends his money and time on baseball, going to all the different parks etc.
Everyone has a hobby. For me, my thrill now is racing. I used to get a buzz from partying, chicks, and in my 30’s acquiring power and things. Now I get my high from racing.
There seems to be an element of surprise in your observation, as if this is not what you expected. I’d be curious to know your age.
Anyway, as mid life crises go, its a lot cheaper than cheating with the dental hygienist and rarely leads to divorce.
And dont worry, you’ll be middle aged one day as well 
Don’t worry, I am well enscounced in the 40-49 age group and started doing tri’s at 42 as part of my on-going mid-life crisis. I was sort of hoping that the competition would start to ease off as I got older, but its getting worse. My plan is to keep on going as long as I can, a sort of last man standing ploy. If I am still going at 70 I stand a chance of getting a prize, but even there they are putting in some respectable times.
I, too, am holding out hope that I’ll clean up in the 70-74 age group. The good thing about starting late is that your legs don’t have as much accumulated mileage as everyone else who is faster than you (they trained harder and longer).
Remind yourself that they should wear out faster than you will, even if you don’t podium until you are an octogenarian! Yea…First of one, but still in front of all your wheelchair-limited contemporaries!