Things are falling apart...
Triathlon at Retirement
by Unknown
3M ago
I have been fortunate. For over 5 years, I have had no significant illness or injury forcing me off training. But since about August this year, I have had a string of setbacks. First a wonky knee, then Covid, then a broken bone in my foot, then a cold and now my only road bike broke. It can be mended; it is just another obstacle. Like the foot, it can be run on cautiously, the cold and Covid are gone, I am fine. Until now, I have seen a steady progression of my performance, despite getting older. But I have regressed quite a bit. Last year, I steadily ran below a 9-minute mile, the question ..read more
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Triathlon is expensive
Triathlon at Retirement
by Unknown
4M ago
It really is. Essentials are a racing bike and all the additions like helmet and bike shoes which will be 2000 dollars to stratospheric. Then we have regular access to a pool, basically a gym membership and on top of that several pairs of high-quality running shoes, tri suits, swim goggles etc.  Entry fees to races vary a lot but a regular minor race is often 100 to 200 dollars. Ironman races can be everything from 400 dollars (and that "cheap" is unusual) to about 1000 dollars depending on location and time of registration.  Now you need to get to the race, if it's local and you ca ..read more
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"You might never run again"
Triathlon at Retirement
by Unknown
5M ago
That is what the podiatrist told me when he saw the recent X-ray of my left foot. It has a small chip broken off the fourth metatarsal bone.  It happened on the Kerrville triathlon September 25; I felt a sharp pain already on the swim. Maybe I hurt myself warming up, maybe someone stepped on my foot. I have had a previous injury at the same place, something called Morton's neuroma, so I thought it was the same thing. I have actually had pain right there on and off for about two years. "Forget Morton's," said the Dr., "this is a broken bone." In hindsight, I wonder if I have had a crack fo ..read more
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Cheating
Triathlon at Retirement
by Unknown
5M ago
In a previous post, I touched upon doping and performance enhancing drugs. Recently, I have seen some blatant cheating on important races. I am talking about people cutting run and bike courses short, getting pushed up hills, drafting on non-draft races and receiving outside support. There is probably more, this is what I personally have observed. Why do people want to cheat? Some of them are accomplished athletes. For most age group athletes, there is no monetary award or even fame. If I ask a person on the street who is world champion in mens 50-54 draft legal sprint 2023, I guarantee that ..read more
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Starting up after covid ...
Triathlon at Retirement
by Unknown
6M ago
I live in Kerrville, a small town in the Texas hill country. Every year, there is a triathlon competition here and I have been signed up for a long time. With recent illness from covid, it was a difficult decision if I should go through with it or not. The race was quarter distance, that is 1100 yards open water swim, 29 miles bike ride and 6.4 miles run, a significant challenge even for a healthy 65-year-old. Would it be too much for me so soon after covid, and would it be damaging for my recovery in the long run?  I had been covid negative for 2 weeks and I started light training. I had ..read more
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Doping!
Triathlon at Retirement
by Unknown
7M ago
It is called performance enhancing drugs. Sounds better than doping. Sadly, at least I feel sad about it, I have come to understand that even amateur racers use performance enhancing drugs. I am starting to realize it is not uncommon even at intermediate performance levels. Many, maybe most, don't see anything wrong with it.  And there is a grey zone, I don't think anyone would object to over-the-counter vitamins for example. Or a cup of coffee, which boasts aerobic performance. Asthma sufferers are prescribed inhalers which can be crucial to their breathing and participation in sports ..read more
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Being positive is great.
Triathlon at Retirement
by Unknown
7M ago
But not if it's about Covid.  A few days after flying back to Texas, I got a "cold" that got very nasty and of course it was covid. For a few days, I was very sick. Extremely tired, I slept most of the time for two days, headache, body ache, sore throat and a thick cough.  This is my first real illness in the 5 1/2 half years since I started training seriously for triathlon. I have also been almost injury free this time, I have not had to decline a single race that I have signed up for, and I have completed all my races in style! It had to end.  I also have a knee injury, I firs ..read more
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Triathlon World Championships Mixed Sprint Relay Hamburg July 16 2023
Triathlon at Retirement
by Unknown
8M ago
Mixed sprint relay is a competition form I really enjoy. There are two men and two women on every team. All team members do a super sprint triathlon each; 300m swim, T1, 5km bike ride, T2 and finish with 1.5 km run. First relay leg is always done by a male, leg 2 a female, leg 3 a male and a female finish. Start is communal, so first to finish line by 4th team member win. Age groups are done at 10-year intervals, so I compete with my team in the 60–69-year age group.  It is short, it is speedy, positions change all the time, it is exciting. This was my fourth relay competition and every t ..read more
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Vansbro Challenge Triathlon – Sweden
Triathlon at Retirement
by Unknown
9M ago
 The last few days, I have migrated over to Sweden again. The travel was difficult, I got caught up in the recent flight cancellation chaos, caused by bad weather in New York area, air traffic control shortage and I don’t know what. I got stuck in Houston for over 24 hours and stood in a line trying to get new flights for over 4.5 hours. This was at night. Overall, the travel was not good for my fitness level. Eventually I did reach Sweden, bone tired of course. On the positive side, I did not get sick. I tried to catch up on training right away, but sensibly. I do not want to get sick or ..read more
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The healing power of exercise!
Triathlon at Retirement
by Unknown
10M ago
Photo by Med Gadon In my last post, I was acutely suffering from an injury, probably a pinched nerve. I am relieved to report, I am doing so much better! My first action was to go swimming in cold water, and I right away felt so much better. After resting a few days, I thought I would try a bike ride with my friends. I told them I might not be able to follow them, I was tired and in pain before we even started. After half an hour I felt good, yes, a little pain, but not anything that would hold me back. The more we biked, the better I felt, and I pushed hard at the end. It is ama ..read more
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