Well as of today I can no longer race m35-39, unfortunately all the faster guys in this area are m40-44. I guess I will slide a little bit from mop towards bop. Or I could train harder. I figure if I finish the bike and Tom D is just starting his second loop on the run I’ve had a good race. Happy birthday to me.
Jim,
At any tri I’ve ever done the 35-39 and 40-44 AG’s tend to be very competitive but after that the numbers seem to start to go down. Stick with it and by the time you’re 80 you’ll win your AG just by attrition since you’ll be the only one left in it. 
I age up like you to the 40-44 group come April and while they’re a fast munch the bottom dose start to drop out very fast. Now waiting to win a race till your 80? I’m shooting for 50.
Seeya out there…
Sorry to be so whiny, it’s been a rotten day.
Don’t feel too bad, I know it’s hard to find the positives for turning 40 but your still in the game! Triathlon is a privilege and your better for it, fact is most guys our age can’t get off the couch and couldn’t possibly comprehend what we do for fun! You’re ahead for the curve because you choose it! Job well done in my book.
Oh yeah happy freaken birthday!!..
Lets all do 40 100’s at the pool has a main set next swim to celebrate! (Did this on Wensday, my swimming partner turned 47 ouch!)
Hey Jim,
Everyday that you can wake up is a blessing so no frowns. My big bro is 45, consistenly out hustles/out runs people half his age and is showing no signs of slowing down. 40 is nothing. Nowwww, 50 on the other hand 
Happy B-Day. Get out and do something!!!
Happy Birthday Jim.
I will be aging up this year myself to 30-34. I am not looking forward to that. If I am this uptight about turning 30 I am sure to be a basket case when 40 comes around.
“40-44 AG’s tend to be very competitive but after that the numbers seem to start to go down.”
Oh really? Last year the winner of the 50-54 AG at Santa Cruz Sentinel Oly was Dean Harper. He was eighth overall. The #2 guy was 31st overall.
When I was 48, I looked at the thin groups above me. At that year’s Sentinel, there were seven 50-54 guys, and three 55-59. I figured I’d start kicking butt in two to seven. Last year there were 24 in 55-59, which is where I’ll be this year, and the fastest was 2:21. I may finally be competetive, if I can just cut some time off my run!