Breaking the 40.0 Vdot Barrier
Pretty strong 5k led to breaking the Vdot 40 barrier by running it in 24:05. I'm taking this moment to celebrate. 
That's it. Oh, and adding that to my age and it equals 101. Cool! I'm in OS week 8 and tested on the 5K today. I'm swapping the bike and run test as my bike is in the shop.
Even at 61 (that's 62 in USAT years) I believe I can run and bike faster - swimming, not so much. Anyone else believe they can get faster after 60?
0
Comments
I did my first IM @ age 51. Nearly 20 IMs later, I had my IM PR @ age 60, 7 months. PR'd both the bike and run splits that day. Also had a 40K bike split PR last yr @ 63. Both on flat course, but, hey, the distances were real. Now I plan to start a graceful decline. Swimming was the sport of my youth, so my times have been increasing for the past 7+ years.
I started tris about 6 years ago, and long course 5 years ago.
There is a 70.3 that I do every year and my times have improve each year for the past 4 years (fingers crossed for Feb 17).
Obviously that will stop some time — but I still feel I have more improvement in me.
IM Australia will be my first IM finish so I expect to improve over what ever time I do with more experience helping my execution.
Looking forward to see if i maintain from now (47) to 60. About same vdot now for 30 years.
Thoughts ... big rise in number of and access to triathlons coicident with rise of the internet late 90s, early 00s; Some of us were wrapped up more in career and family, once that tails off, time and interest can turn to other things.
There is an "athletic age": once you start a new sport with intense focus and training, you should expect a 5-10 year learning curve as your body and mind adapt to its requirements.
Paul, I'm sure I've seen your name in race results since I moved back to the Tampa area in 2005. I'll be 51 late this year, so one AG below you. Things have definitely been a struggle for me since I got in my mid to late 40's. Some of it is weight, but I'm working on that now. I probably should be about 170, but I'm 180-182. Today is the first day I saw 177 after my bike and run. I lose 4-5 lbs every workout in fluids. I trained for CDA 2012 and stayed at 175 the whole time. The only thing that seems to be quicker since my late 40's is the swim. Bike and run have fallen off. I live in Bradenton but I'm in Tampa everyday. I'm sure we can do some rides this summer at Flatwoods or the Suncoast trail if you want?
I live on the Northwest side of Tampa which makes it very difficult to get to Flatwoods. I have never even biked there. I do the Suncoast a lot but once I start my IM training, my standard long ride is from my house to the top of the Suncoast and back ... 115 miles. I am probably the poster child for what not to do in the EN program, but if you want to suffer through one of those you can reach me at trihuffs@tampabay.rr.com.