Training & Nutrition - How fast does age slow you?

I was in the Danville, KY mini triathlon yesterday, and was very disappointed in my performance. This was the fourth year for me in this particular event. Last year, I did the 15 mile bike race in 51 minutes over slightly hilly terrain. This year, I clocked it in 54 minutes with the same bike, , and placed 41st out of 68 entries. I've heard your physical performance slows 2% with each passing year once you get over 40 years old. But this was more than 2% decline for me. Over the past year, I have lost 20 pounds and bike around 50 miles a week. Last year, I was doing about 20 miles per week (if that). This increased training sure didn't pay off! I am 64 years old. Old age is catching up to me, I suspect. In yesterday's race, I won the "Over 60" competition category, which is great. Only problem is, I was the only one in the race over 60. If I had dropped dead at the starting line, I still would have won my category! Despite declining performances, I am going to continue entering this event. Just seeing all the exotic tri bikes in the starting lineup was very interesting. I couldn't believe how high tech they are getting. These new tri bikes, some of which cost $3-4,000, made my 1985 Ross look like a Model T! I went to the tri with three younger guys, who are entered in the November 9 Panama City, FL full triathlon (112 miles bike, 2.5 mile swim, full 26 mile running marathon. The Danville tri was just a mini warm-up for them (15 miles bike, 5k run, 300 yard swim in a pool). But believe it or not, after they finished yesterday's event, they took their bikes on a century in the pouring rain! It was all I could do to drag myself into my car and drive home. Youth will be served!

Congrats on being there and doing it!!

The answer to your problem:


made my 1985 Ross look like a Model T!

Blame it on the bike!!!

Hey trmcgeehan!

Your only as old as you feel, so the saying goes, heck you still surpassed a lot of people.

Just to enter tri-athilones makes you a superior person in the fitness league than most.

I can think of a great many, that would and could not lift their leg high enough to even mount a bike and a lot of these are 20 years younger, the thougth of entering such an event would probably cause a heart attack :D

So congrat`s on your event success, just forget about silly statistics, get in their and participate.

Regards

Congrats on your performance, even if you did slow down a bit...you were there!

Could have been the day, we all have bad days. More riding doesn't necessarily equate to being better trained, so this years 50 miles a week vs. last years 20 miles per week isn't a good measure either.

2 % percent per year decrease after 40, I don't know, I'm sure it varies from person to person and most definetly would have to be a curve with the steepest section being farthest from 40.

I get flogged regularly by a couple guys 10 and 13 years my senior and I am over 40. You were the only one over 60, and you beat 40 percent of the younger participants, so are you complaining or bragging? :thumbup:

First of all, you beat 27 racers - all of whom are younger than you. Moreover, you did this on an older bike!!

The simple fact is that @ your age, you just can't compete head to head with the kids anymore. However, that shouldn't stop you from trying! :)

Congratulations on finishing ahead of the other 40%. :beer:


Originally posted by trmcgeehan
I am 64 years old. Old age is catching up to me, I suspect.
You're better than me. I'm 57 and don't run or swim. :eek:

sounds like a good performance to me ! & dont change the bike!

Good on yer :D

Yes, age does slow us down.

But, you are still more physically fit than 97% of EVERYONE out there, including the younger folks and the older folks (including me at 63yo). I wouldn't dream of entering a triathlon.

Hey, keep it up.

Bicycling Magazine had an article on aging and cycling performance awhile back (in the last year). You might want to scare up a copy. I started riding reasonably seriously (strong recreational rider) when I was in my late 30s. I am not 52. I have not noticed any major decline in performance (but it is hard to tell). My level of conditioning varies year to year depending on circumstances.

The decline you mentioned is for people who do not work out. I understand that the decline is much, much slower for people who work out routinely.

The Bicycle Magazine article said that people start getting noticeable but not large declines in the mid to late 50s. So your decline could well be age based. Eventually, one's balance goes and that ends the cycling and I think that occurs in the 80s or 90s.

Yo TR,
First of all congrats on the TRI. I agree with several points made earlier. Keep your original bike, keep up the good work, and we all have off days. I have a 25 mile loop I do on the weekends and some days I feel great, other days not so much. Goes back to high school. I can remember running track and my best friend and I were pretty even. But occasionally, I would smoke him, or he would smoke me. We chalked it up to bad days.

Ahhh, Lake Cumberland. I've spent many a day boating, skiing, camping on that lake. Connelly Bottom was my dock of choice but sometimes I would go out of Lee's Ford. I've jumped off 76 falls more times than I can count. It's probably illegal now.

Take care,

First, congratulations on your performance!

Second, I suppose it depends on what starting point you reference. My doctor woke me up when I turned 50. Since then I've lost 60 pounds, increased muscle mass and can ride farther and more diffucult rides each week that passes.

Maybe it would be easier if I were younger than 51, but right now, I am getting stronger and better every day. And, loving every minute.

This book addresses that very subject:

Cycling Past 50 (Ageless Athlete Series) by Joe Friel (Paperback - May 1998)

While I take an academic interest in this, at 61 it is of little practical concern to me. The only data point that makes any difference to me now is when my performance reaches zero, which I figure will be mere seconds after I have died. :o

In fact, having started cycling again only a year and a half ago in North Holland, and moving to the mountains of France in a couple of months, I dare not think about this very much lest I get depressed.

Instead, le Mont Ventoux and Alpe d'Huez are my new goals in life. I'll let you know in a year how I have fared.

Cheers...Gary

not fast enough. i've got a 50+ y.o. in our bike group that still dusts everyone

Originally posted by gmason
Instead, le Mont Ventoux and Alpe d'Huez are my new goals in life. I'll let you know in a year how I have fared.

Alas, we should all be so unfortunate. ;)

Originally posted by trmcgeehan
I was in the Danville, KY mini triathlon yesterday, and was very disappointed in my performance. This was the fourth year for me in this particular event. Last year, I did the 15 mile bike race in 51 minutes over slightly hilly terrain. This year, I clocked it in 54 minutes with the same bike, , and placed 41st out of 68 entries. I've heard your physical performance slows 2% with each passing year once you get over 40 years old. But this was more than 2% decline for me. Over the past year, I have lost 20 pounds and bike around 50 miles a week. Last year, I was doing about 20 miles per week (if that). This increased training sure didn't pay off! I am 64 years old. Old age is catching up to me, I suspect. In yesterday's race, I won the "Over 60" competition category, which is great. Only problem is, I was the only one in the race over 60. If I had dropped dead at the starting line, I still would have won my category! Despite declining performances, I am going to continue entering this event. Just seeing all the exotic tri bikes in the starting lineup was very interesting. I couldn't believe how high tech they are getting. These new tri bikes, some of which cost $3-4,000, made my 1985 Ross look like a Model T! I went to the tri with three younger guys, who are entered in the November 9 Panama City, FL full triathlon (112 miles bike, 2.5 mile swim, full 26 mile running marathon. The Danville tri was just a mini warm-up for them (15 miles bike, 5k run, 300 yard swim in a pool). But believe it or not, after they finished yesterday's event, they took their bikes on a century in the pouring rain! It was all I could do to drag myself into my car and drive home. Youth will be served!

You're my roll model. :D Keep it up :) I am 53 and gaining on you, and in pretty good shape. I've been thinking about trying a mini triathlon. The only area I'd have a problem with is swiming... My muscle mass in my upper body isn't designed for swim strokes. I'd have to make some changes.

I raced and ran a fair amount when I was in my 20's & 30's... I thought nothing of running 3-8miles, riding 40-50 miles then going out and partying all night, only to get up the next morning, hit the gym, then train for playing tournament 2man sand VB for 4-5hrs, and then go out for a nice long ride afterwards...

Everyday, I keep saying nothings changed...The little engine that could :confused: NOTTTTTTT :eeks ...These days, I'll play 18 holes early, then go to the gym and aftewards, do 18-25miles in the hills, BPM 155-165ave. I am down for the count.

My wife knows :( not to plan anything for me. The next day, I am still wacked a bit. BUT, what a way to go!