Last week, on December 11th, I turned 40-44 years old.
Okay, really, I turned 39 years old, but in terms of my age group for the 2013 triathlon season, I’ll be racing in the 40-44 year old division. That’s because USA Triathlon calculates your age group based on your age by December 31st of the racing year. By December 31, 2013, I’ll be 40.
Thanks to USAT, I can cue the confetti and streamers now to mark my evolution into a new decade.
Some (who shall remain nameless to protect them from having birthday cake thrown at them) have implied that perhaps it is time to move on from triathlon and running now that I am approaching such an advanced age. These implications have come in varying forms, such as:
“Isn’t that bad for your joints?”
“You know all that running will give you a heart attack.”
“It’s not like you can be competitive as you get older.”
*Snort*
To all of this not-so-gentle prodding that my age somehow disqualifies me from athletic activity, I respond with a smile, “Well, the Ironman World Championship course record was set by a 39-year-old.”
I also like to share the extraordinary accomplishments of Lew Hollander and Sister Madonna Buder.
On October 13, 2012, 82-year-old Lew Hollander became the oldest person to finish an Ironman triathlon, when he crossed the finish line of the Ironman World Championships in 16 hours, 45 minutes and 52 seconds. John and I, along with our friends Patti, Danny and Vince, were there to see it happen.
What’s more, this was his 23rd time.
At the age of 81 years-young, Sister Madonna Buder became the oldest female to finish an Ironman triathlon, with a time of 16 hours and 32 minutes (IM Canada, 2012). She held the record for oldest person until Hollander finished the Ironman World Championship a few months later.
Hollander and Buder are but the icons for generations of 60-, 70- and 80-somethings who are staying active and defying the expectations for what we can accomplish as we age.
Simply put: I don’t believe that expectations about age-related limits should guide our determination about whether we can achieve a goal. When we rely on age as a way to say what is or is not possible, it becomes an excuse that is used to disguise our fears.
Despite all of the hand-wringing that typically comes with becoming a year older, my age doesn’t bother me. I’ve resisted the talk that says we can’t do this, or we shouldn’t try that at such-and-such an age. I know that I can (and do) compete and beat 20-somethings. I know that I have been beat by 50+ somethings.
Yes, growing older brings with it certain physiological and psychological changes. No, those changes are not an excuse to give up our dreams and goals.
Is age a limiter? Sure. Is it “the” limiter? Absolutely not.
I’ve listened to some in my age cohort lament the onset of the 40s as if this is the decade when we can no longer hope for anything better. We must simply endure the remainder of our day as we approach our dotage. As we settle into the routines of middle age, it can be tempting to give in to this outlook.
But, you know what?
I call bull$h1t on that perspective.
Upon first glance, 40 seems to lack the youthful and vibrant luster of the 30s. But, from a triathlete’s perspective, nothing could be further from the truth. You’d think that I would be happy to “age up”, to be the young ‘un in the age group. Surely, I have an advantage as the 39-year-old spring chicken racing among the “old” ladies.
If only that were true, I could stop beating my brains out in training every day.
The 40-44 year old women are every bit of the athletic beasts that the 35-39 year old women are. In fact, the 40-44 year old women are sometimes faster than their younger counterparts. They are so fast that if I hope to qualify for Kona at IMLP, I’m looking at a 10:30-10:45 finishing time in order to nab my slot.
Now, how’s that for old?
