Triathlon - Am I too heavy to get into this?

I am a 35 year old, 6'5 245 lbs. male who wants to start training for triathlons. I am primarily thinking about the sprint distance. I used to run and swim a lot, but now my main cardio has been cycling. I am an avid weight lifter and plan on cutting back to two full-body weight room days a week in addition to my tri training. I actually shed body fat easily, and plan on getting down to the 225 range. I have told some people this and they have said that even at 225 I am far too heavy for this sport.

I am a 35 year old, 6'5 245 lbs. male who wants to start training for triathlons. I am primarily thinking about the sprint distance. I used to run and swim a lot, but now my main cardio has been cycling. I am an avid weight lifter and plan on cutting back to two full-body weight room days a week in addition to my tri training. I actually shed body fat easily, and plan on getting down to the 225 range. I have told some people this and they have said that even at 225 I am far too heavy for this sport.

Nowadays they have the Clydsdale class. I know two really good triathletes in the area who are about your size, and both do quite well. One sure kicked my butt in the sprint the other day! I, BTW, am 5' 11", 152. I can at least out climb him! :D

I have told some people this and they have said that even at 225 I am far too heavy for this sport.

those people don't know what they're talking about. You can certainly participate in triathlons at any weight; however, you may not win your age group.

As skydive69 said you qualify for the Clydesdale division so when you enter see if the triathlon has that class and if so enter that one.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

even at 225 I am far too heavy for this sport.

Bull!

I just did a sprint tri today and had a great time. I'm 6' and 200lbs and 54 years old. Upper 15% finisher in my age bracket and only two women my age beat me! I work full time with a full community activity agenda. Train as consistently as job, family, church and other activities allow.

I'm doing an Olympic tri later this summer and a half IM in the fall.

Tyson

You are DEFINITELY NOT too heavy. How do I know? I am 5'8" and somewhere between 225 & 235 (haven't been on the scale for several weeks but I feel like I'm shedding sone lbs.

Today I did my first Olympic length (1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run) in 18 years (I'm 37 now). You have 6" on me so my guess is you are in pretty good shape although you may be a bit bulky. It won't matter. Get out and tri!!! Keep us poseted on your progress.

you're not in it for medals nor do you want to win olympic gold, right?!
you're in it for fun and the exercise. so as everyone else has said: there's is absolutely no reason for you not to do tris because of your build!

i volunteered at an IM race last year and there were a bunch of people who seemed to have your build who were as fit as guys half their size.

Thank you all. I appreciate your support. I am a little bulky, but have been told I am very light on my feet for my weight. Like some have already said, I may not win but, for me, I enjoy the lifestyle that training provides more than the actual competition itself. The goal is the toil, so to speak.

I will keep you posted and will be asking plenty of questions. I have trained others in strength training for years, but this is another realm for me. I am excited!

I am a 35 year old, 6'5 245 lbs. male who wants to start training for triathlons. I am primarily thinking about the sprint distance. I used to run and swim a lot, but now my main cardio has been cycling. I am an avid weight lifter and plan on cutting back to two full-body weight room days a week in addition to my tri training. I actually shed body fat easily, and plan on getting down to the 225 range. I have told some people this and they have said that even at 225 I am far too heavy for this sport.

If you lurk at www.beginnertriathlete.com for a while you find there are people there training for tris that are much heavier than you are, 300+ lbs.. your weight is really not much out of proportion to your height...I was 220 at 6'2" just 3 months ago, now I am about 195, easily blow through a sprint distance.... Just do it ;-)

Thanks, I will check that out. If you do not mind, would you say that most of your weight loss has been fat tissue? I am trying not to loose too much muscle.

I have told some people this and they have said that even at 225 I am far too heavy for this sport.

To back up what a lot of other people said. Do whatever you want to do. Most 'people' don't know crap. And most people aren't 6'5''. I did my first tri's last year at 6'2'' and 200lbs, sprint, olympic and half IM & Beat a lot of people a lot more 'in tri shape' looking than me. But also, had a lot of fun.

A sprint distance? you will have absolutely no problem.

Thanks man. I am excited.

Eigh...do what you feel. Screw em...who cares how "bulky" you are. Frankly 6'5 240 sounds pretty damn sexy to me!!

Hello Eman:
No you are not to heavy for this, but I hope that you are not planning on holding onto all of your muscle if this is going to be a long term interest, as you will lose some muscle. I am a former fitness model, natural bodybuilder, and former division 1 linebacker.
I was 225 lbs this time last year when I started training for my first tri a sprint at 35 years old. I finished in the upper 25% of the overall men, the top 3rd in the clydesdale class, and I had the 3rd fastest overal 5k run. This year the gym has all but become a distant memory during the tri season(1x per week instead 2x per day 5 days per week), and I have lost 15lbs. Last week I won the clydesdale class in a sprint tri, and will now just compete in my age group with the "little guys"! I will be doing 2 olympic distants races this year, and I plan on being pretty competitive.
So I say go get em!

Thanks. I plan on going down to 220-225, no lower really. Keep in mind that is stretched over a 6'5 frame. I still go to the gym, but do a full body workout twice a week. Not sure if I will ever be above the sprint distance, but you never know!

I really admire several folks I know who have run a marathon. Their achivement is remarkable to me. I don't know anyone who has ever won one. If you do triathalons, I think you are a heck of an athlete.

I am 6'2" 260 and will be doing my 4th sprint tri next weekend (I raced at 245-250 lbs most of the time last year). The weight will most likely keep you from being blazingly fast- I'm pretty slow- but just competing and finishing is a blast. I plan on dropping down to as close to 200 as I can get, but it takes time and I headed the wrong way over the holidays.