Notice that 50 year old men are beating their 25 year old counter parts. These aging athletes have learned to move efficiently in all 5 legs of a triathlon. With respect to athletic conditioning, the swim is all about hydrodynamics and moving efficiently through the water. The bike, draft legal or not, focuses on aerodynamics. The run is all about the technique. Anyone can go for a run but if you want to go faster and farther without injury, the efficiency of proper technique plays a rather large role. The transition is all about flow. Now I’ve only been involved in triathlon since 1999, but in that time, I’ve never seen a transition area labeled “Rest Area”. The Transition is a “transition” from one leg of the race to another and when done efficiently is a thing of beauty. A flow of steps prepared and practiced for a smooth “in and out” can be accomplished in seconds.

Notice that the triathlon over-all winning times have been shrinking over the years? The genetic composition of the human species has not evolved that much in 30 years. We’re not getting in better shape; we are perfecting our technique and becoming more efficient.

My most recent race, The TBF Tri-For-Real Olympic distance triathlon in August, is such a great example of what I am talking about. I am 44 years old and I just shaved over 2 minutes off of my best time in that distance. Every year since I started racing triathlons, I’ve set a new personal best. Every Year! No, I was never a fat tub of lard, though I was 30 pounds heavier. Nor, having been tested, am I a gifted athlete. I am an average guy with a passion for fitness. More specifically, I have a passion for triathlon. I mean really, what’s not to like. Swim, Bike, Run, and the occasional resistance training for proper postural alignment, it’s like summer vacation. Triathlon is functional fitness at its finest…and its fun.

The cool thing is that I can still see ways to shave more time off of my finishing times without necessarily putting in much more training time, just by increasing my efficiency in the time that I do train. The old saying, “Work smarter, not harder” is the epitome of Triathlon. With a proper plan and proper execution, training for a triathlon doesn’t have be a 2nd job. It can be a healthy and fun way to live.

Triathlon is literally fun for the whole family. What other sports can you compete against all ages and all levels, including the professionals? Seriously, I’ve been in some triathlons competing against Chris Lieto, and Nichole Deboom. I’m not gonna say I gave them a real run for the money. I’m just exemplifying the diversity of the sport. Triathlon bridges generation gaps and unites beginners with elites. Triathlon, a multi-sport lifestyle, keeps you young and healty.

So the bottom line here is that as long as there are people out there like Sister Madonna Buder at 81 years old still competing at the Ironman distance and Charles Futrell at 90 years old competing at Olympic Distance, I know that I’m NOT getting to old for this sh!%.