we got together with high school friends this past weekend. we found out that one guy was training for marathons, one was training for triathlons, me - i cycle and run....

so i was asked: what is it with people about to hit 40 or beyond trying to compete in these events?

are we running/cycling from something?

or are we running/cycling to something?

Yes!

Well, I can only speak for myself but I spent my 20s mostly lazy and partying. Looking back I wished I had trained more. I'm in better shape now than ever before, so better late than never.

I would suppose we're racing to grasp what's left of youth. And there's no reason we can't be riding at 80+.

i am doing triathalon training also. for me i'm mostly doing it because i enjoy the activities themselves. and they make me feel better, plus what else am i gonna do? watch TV. i will probably enter some compititions, but more for the social aspect and to see what its like than the compitition. it just seems fun to me.
maybe we just get smarted as we get older?

I think that like mentioned, in your 20's it's all about the Party. In your 30's many of us begin our family and that consumes our time. In the 40's we look at our lives and begin to focus on being healthy again.

I'm now 34, and as much as I love cycling, I don't ride nearly often enough. Work and Family (especially my wonderful 3 year old son) are priorities. Cycling gets pushed to the back burner. I do know however, that this next year is "MY" year to get back into shape. I want to compete in some adventure races next spring and some of the long distance mtn bike races becoming popular.

L8R

If you get skinny enough your wiener starts looking bigger.

I think I just have a short attention span. Being in motion keeps me entertained.

Every man has to die , I think as you get nearer that day we are trying to delay the inevertable & improve our quality of life that we have left ???

Trying to deny that old(er) age is creeping up. Trying to stay young.

People do things because they get something out of it.
I'm not cycling to/from anything, I'm cycling because I'm getting something (many things actually) from it.

I was running, racing bicyles and cars from 1970 (at age15) to1985 just because I was spastic and had an over abundance of energy and wanted to go as fast as whatever mode of transportation I selected would go; not running to or from something, just had the need to go fast and be on the edge. Now that I do not race anymore (more due to time and money restraints), I no longer run due to my knees cause problems occasionally, don't race cars anymore because it's way to expensive, but still cycle about 400-450 miles a month for fitness and health not because I running from or to something. However (assuming I'm still physically able) when I retire I plan to ride a bike across America then I may be running to something then-to another town, then another and another etc.

Can't deny the older age creeping up syndrome, but I can try do deny myself from becoming ill and enable my heart to remain strong for as long as God is willing. I also believe that the body is something God gave us to take care of the best we can, so that is what I am trying to do.