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Triathletes, 40-Somethings, Going for Youth

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  • TracyWoodTracyWood

    Loved the term- Mamils-" middle aged men in lycra

  • Beth_SBeth_S
    Fess up. Who's actually spending $22k or more /year on triathlete stuff?
  • jburbattjburbatt
    Seriously! I saw that and was like, huh? That and the chick'd comment...though I probably wouldn't enjoy it so much if there weren't so many of these guys out there...
  • Chris GChris G
    The key is to never ever under any circumstances add up how much you spend on hobbies. That said I am no where near 22k a year on tri stuff, lifetime, sure. I never understand the whole "chicked" thing. There are some very fast women out there and they beat me all the time. Chrissie beat me by 45 minutes once. Good for them. The guys i hear talking about that are usually slower than dog water on the 4th of July.
  • Beth_SBeth_S

    I had an expensive year last year (new bike, new powermeter, Ironman registration, many trips to Wisconsin) and didn't spend nearly that much.

    I love adding everything up. Triathlon has its own budget line.

    I'm not forty yet, but I'm definitely not trying to be twenty. I'm here to be an awesome thirty-two year-old.

    Review = This article is stupid and bitter.

  • Dave TalloDave Tallo
    Posted By Chris G on 25 Oct 2010 07:17 AM

    . I never understand the whole "chicked" thing. There are some very fast women out there and they beat me all the time. Chrissie beat me by 45 minutes once.



    If CW beat me by 2 hours, I'd still call that a Very Good Day. 

  • KitbooKitboo
    Posted By Chris G on 25 Oct 2010 07:17 AM 

    The guys i hear talking about that are usually slower than dog water on the 4th of July.

    So true. I've had some Battle Royales with those doodes at IMWI riding EN style on the hills...and especially at 'cross races. I'm just trying to not have the Cat 3 girls kick my ass too much; and the doodes are ON FIRE when a ponytail passes them. What is up with that?! 

  • Spokane_AlSpokane_Al
    As a 60 year old guy, I was a bit troubled by the conclusion of the author was that the overarching reason we are doing this is to recapture or hold on to our youth. I know that this is not the reason I do it. I train and compete because I cannot imagine going through a sedentary life, and moving, sweating and enduring are what makes me feel alive.

    I enjoy the sport, the competition, the people and especially the training.

    I am not looking wistfully in my rear view mirror at lost youth - I am looking forward with excitement and enthusiasm.

    I hope I never loose the primal urge to rock.
  • O2BFastO2BFast
    Good article, but I wonder about the $22k/yr expense. I did lots of traveling this year, to France for IM, and don't think I spent near that amount.
  • Bill McKinneyBill McKinney
    It's as if the author went looking for the biggest jerk they could find to interview. Only a Wall Street Guy (or former...like Gordo) spends that kind of dough on triathlon. Think about it...10K for a bike, 800 for a wetsuit, 500 for running shoes, 3-5K to enter travel to and race an IM far from your home...I guess if you spent $500/month on a coach you could do it. As for the "chicked" comment, I once beat all the women in a local sprint, and I counted it a huge accomplishment. And like Dave said...most of the pro men call it a VERY good day if they beat Chrissie Wellington, never mind the rest of the mortals.
  • Matt SamojedenMatt Samojeden
    Posted By Al Olsen on 25 Oct 2010 07:14 PM

    As a 60 year old guy, I was a bit troubled by the conclusion of the author was that the overarching reason we are doing this is to recapture or hold on to our youth. I know that this is not the reason I do it. I train and compete because I cannot imagine going through a sedentary life, and moving, sweating and enduring are what makes me feel alive.



    I enjoy the sport, the competition, the people and especially the training.



    I am not looking wistfully in my rear view mirror at lost youth - I am looking forward with excitement and enthusiasm.



    I hope I never loose the primal urge to rock.

    AL - I so totally agree, as another Mature Athlete at 54 – “I hope I never lose the primal urge to rock.”

    Rock on!!!!

    I was lucky enough to talk with Lew Hollander who opened the 80+ year old age group this year at Kona- what an inspiration – WE are still boys!, we have many years of racing in front of us!!





     

  • John StarkJohn Stark

    The $22k was a quote from the K-Swiss dude.  Wonder if Bryan Ogle (ENer working for K-Swiss) has some data he would like to share?  



  • Beth_SBeth_S

    I acutally looked at my spreadsheet. The yearly tri budget is currently at $5k, including gym membership, two east coast trips for Timberman/IMLP spectating, registration fees for everything I want to do, spectating trip to Wisconsin, including bikini,  tri toys, new helmet and other replacement gear, etc. and a very healthy budget line to improve swimming.  If I add in a road bike, I'm at $7500. 

    If I stayed at super-nice hotels/renting entire houses/had a family, I'm guessing I could easily at another $5k.  That's $12.5k

    If started buying race wheels, a Joule, and a sizeable wardrobe of cute outfits and winter cycling gear, I'm guessing I could drop another $4k.  That's $16.5k

    And a camp or trip. ToC or the like? 3k. We're up to $19.5k.

    And then let's say I decided to take up 'cross and/or mountain biking. That definitely gets me to $22k.

     

  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    I agree with the bitter post. I think a more accurate representation would be that the 40-year olds just signing on are trying to capture the last twenty years they missed due to work, etc.

    I am definitely annoyed by the notion that we need to spend tons of money to participate in our sport.
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    I am definitely not in it for the youth. I am a lifelong competitive athlete and race simply because that's what I do for fun. What other reason do you need to race? However, this one paragraph hit the nail on the head on why I switched from running to tri's in 2006: "Some of the growth in the sport comes from aging long-distance runners, who switched over because of injuries, according to Dr. Michael J. Neely, the medical director at New York Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy, based in Manhattan. The shock on joints associated with running gets worse with age."

    As to finances. I agree that the average is probably skewed upwards the same way that Bridal Magazines skew the supposed average cost of a wedding up to make you think you are being cheap. However, "to fess up", I've probably spent near that amount in the past 2 years (counting trips as well as stuff). image I'm lucky that I can, and I'm having a blast so no apologies there.
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