7 ms·

Things I Learned from Doing Triathlon in My 70s (2023)

101 points by wslh 2y ago

wslh 2y ago
Good article because it is "clicheless".
- j0hnyl 2y ago
  I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but it's quite literally a list of cliches.
  - wslh 2y ago
    No, it wasn't sarcastic at all. First, this article is written by a 71-year-old man who is actively competing in Ironman triathlons. That makes a significant difference compared to an article where someone merely discusses the topic in general terms. This man has actually done it, not just once, but many times. The author also acknowledges the realities of aging: "Age is just a number? You’re only as old as you feel? Acknowledging reality is crucial." And did I mention that he's doing Ironmans at 71? Additionally, there are more stuff, like "Rest days are non-negotiable." Many amateur and even professional athletes often overlook the importance of rest. You frequently see people training nonstop, not realizing how critical rest is to their overall performance.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
belZaah 2y ago
The man gets it. It’s a mental effort as much as it is a physical one. There’s a reason the longer the ultra, the faster women are compared to men. Having just done a 70.3 yesterday I can confirm the journey part, too. It’s a whole lot like life. Sometimes you go downwind really fast and sometimes it gets really tough. Sometimes there’s a stranger telling you the exact thing you need to keep going. And the hard bits always come to an end. All of my races have had some of these and I’ve always recovered. And if not, there’s the finish line and the knowledge I did not give up.
- matwood 2y ago
  > It’s a mental effort as much as it is a physical one. Like a lot in life to be honest. When I lived in CO I did a lot of hiking at the higher altitudes there. I almost always hiked alone and could have easily turned around when my breath got short, but I didn't. It was strictly mental exercise. Similar to when I power lifted for years. Obviously there's a physical part, but when the numbers got big for me, it became just as much mental. Now I've been doing BJJ for a number of years. There is so much mental effort expended to not panic or give up simply because you're uncomfortable (different from being put in an actual finishing move). As I started with, the exercise of accepting discomfort, staying calm, and moving forward is skill that resonates all through life.
- IncreasePosts 2y ago
  Why would women be better at mental effort than men? Maybe their biology and biomechanics are just better for the ultra long distance stuff.
  - robotresearcher 2y ago
    Parent didn't say women were better at mental effort. They said it's as much mental as physical effort. Men's physical strength advantage decreases in significance as the distances increase.
    - IncreasePosts 2y ago
      They said "There’s a reason the longer the ultra, the faster women are compared to men", immediately after saying it is as much mental as physical effort. It's pretty clear from observing almost every sport, including running distances shorter than 50 miles, that men dominate women physically. If men and women are similar at mental effort, and men are better physically at performing, then why would women start to take over on long distances but not shorter distances? So, either women are better at mental effort than men, or something about biology lets women perform better than men at the ultra long distance stuff but not the shorter stuff. I say it is just biology. If OP thought it had no relation to mental effort skills difference between men and women, then why even bring it up?
jmull 2y ago
I kind of roll my eyes at these kinds of self-helpy cliche lists. But this one's pretty decent, probably because it's actually real. > consigning yourself to the binary greatly limits what you can achieve This is the good one here, IMO. I see people helplessly stuck in binary thinking all the time. Now, breaking things down to a binary is a good technique for analysis. It's just that you can't stop there. You always need to be thinking "why not both?", "or neither?", "or some other thing?", "or some of one and at little of the other?", "is there a binary that more neatly slices the problem?"
- fuzzfactor 2y ago
  Well when training, whether doing something like sit-ups or laps on a track, remember that the first lap is number zero . . . Most effective in the gym when counting reps for someone else, always start with a big loud "Zero", then continue counting from there. If they can keep a straight face :) It shows dedication ;)
coldcode 2y ago
I started working out at 66 this year for the first time since I stopped playing basketball 30 years ago. Even after 6 months I see a difference (I was never overweight 6'5" at 212 but now 10 pounds less). But because I had no experience with weight training or even cardio for so long, there is no way to expect I can do triathlons all of a sudden. I can tell who in the gym has been training most of their life and I have no expectations to suddenly look like Dwayne Johnson (he's 6'4"). I wish I had started and continued training at some level 30 years ago (or earlier) instead of waiting until now. I can only exhort people to not wait until they are old, and things start falling apart to start. The author doesn't mention his experience before he turned 70, I think that would have been interesting.
- muststopmyths 2y ago
  In point 3, "It was never about winning", he says he might have disagreed with this statement "earlier in his racing career". I would read that as he's been actively racing for years.
- cmiller1 2y ago
  > there is no way to expect I can do triathlons all of a sudden There is no way to expect anyone to do triathlons "all of a sudden", I'm sure this guy spent several years getting up to that level. I tried to look for more info on him to see if he detailed when he started and the path he took but apparently he's a quack and I got sidetracked looking at the time he got investigated and ended up settling for $100k in a wrongful death case involving the church of Scientology, wow.
  - IncreasePosts 2y ago
    Yes, it doesn't explicitly say it in the article, but since he mentions he has run 40+ iron mans (iron men?), he has probably been doing it for at least 20-25 years. So he probably started in his 40s at least, and I'm going to guess he was fitness oriented even before that. Random 70 year olds shouldn't necessarily take his advice on how to get off the couch and complete an iron man, though most of it does seem good.
  - 2y ago
hackermailman 2y ago
There's a guy in his 50s doing ultra marathons named Kerry Ward who films some of his runs, he came in 11th during the Moab 240 miler which is 2-3 days of running https://youtube.com/@fulltiltward https://youtube.com/@fulltiltward
highfrequency 2y ago
Nice quote: > It’s more productive to ask, “How can I?” than it is to ask, “Can I?” The latter is the question that comes to mind more readily, especially when faced with a new or unique challenge…I have learned how to ask, “How can I?” From there, a path of action inevitably reveals itself. Also, last week on HN there was a post about how uniqueness bias holds us back by causing us to disregard learnings from the solution of similar problems. (While a problem may be unique to us, it is rarely unique to the world - though perhaps in a different costume.) It’s telling here that the author says he defaults to the less productive “Can I?” mindset when he sees his challenge as unique - and also that he opens the article with the realization that he is not unique.
Scubabear68 2y ago
I started training for recreational long distance running in my late 40s. This is a good list for any age. What I would add in is - find training programs and follow them. The original article obliquely references this in #1 talking about "acknowledging reality is critical". At any age, people need to learn how to work, out and how to train. Failing to do so can cause short- or -long term injury, which can really set you back. My first attempt at a marathon lead to IT Band issues and severe plantar fasciitis. My second was much smoother, and I was able to complete the marathon at better than target time without injury. The moral is - part of listening to your body is learning how to train within your age / ability band.
- phainopepla2 2y ago
  Do you recommend any specific training program?
- MontgomeryPi2 2y ago
  Older runner as well and have also had to take sporadic time off to deal with plantar fascitis, IT band, achilles, etc. Agree with listening to your body and what I'm hearing is slow down to stretch out my total running lifespan/days. I'd rather run 5K every other day on gravel/dirt paths indefinitely than risk some really long term injury running 26 miles on asphalt (seen others have to hang up their running shoes after doing the big races).
felixc 2y ago
My mom started a blog about her triathlon experiences after retirement, including being part of Team USA at world championships: https://triathlonatretirement.blogspot.com/ https://triathlonatretirement.blogspot.com/
onemoresoop 2y ago
Mid 40s here and having a hard time working out due to lack of energy/stamina. Pushing myself as much as I can but not always easy. If anyone went through this, what helped overcome it?
- hollerith 2y ago
  Does exercising too much sometimes lead to "crashes" that last for days such that it is impossible or very hard to even predict on what day the crash will end -- crashes severe enough that you cannot meet your work, social or family obligations sometimes? If so, you have a mild case of chronic-fatigue syndrome, and I can point you in the right direction.
  - onemoresoop 2y ago
    Not my case, I'm simply lacking the stamina to exercise but push myself through cardio nonetheless. Maybe I need to do a blood test or something like that. I was hoping for some leads on what could cause this.
- rendall 2y ago
  Been there. It really depends on what else is going on in your life and why you have low energy. Assuming you have the basics covered, like good sleep, good food and good water (if you don't, that's likely the problem), and your work-life balance is adequate (this is usually what knocks the rest out of whack for me), then starting super slowly and not pushing it even when you want. Perhaps set a goal that you know you can make, maybe 15 minutes a day? If you see no improvement at all then definitely mention it to your doctor. It could be vitamin deficiency. Vitamin D during low sunlight seasons really boosts my energy.

101 points by wslh 2y ago

wslh 2y ago

Good article because it is "clicheless".

j0hnyl 2y ago
I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but it's quite literally a list of cliches.
- wslh 2y ago
  No, it wasn't sarcastic at all. First, this article is written by a 71-year-old man who is actively competing in Ironman triathlons. That makes a significant difference compared to an article where someone merely discusses the topic in general terms. This man has actually done it, not just once, but many times. The author also acknowledges the realities of aging: "Age is just a number? You’re only as old as you feel? Acknowledging reality is crucial." And did I mention that he's doing Ironmans at 71? Additionally, there are more stuff, like "Rest days are non-negotiable." Many amateur and even professional athletes often overlook the importance of rest. You frequently see people training nonstop, not realizing how critical rest is to their overall performance.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

belZaah 2y ago

The man gets it. It’s a mental effort as much as it is a physical one. There’s a reason the longer the ultra, the faster women are compared to men. Having just done a 70.3 yesterday I can confirm the journey part, too. It’s a whole lot like life. Sometimes you go downwind really fast and sometimes it gets really tough. Sometimes there’s a stranger telling you the exact thing you need to keep going. And the hard bits always come to an end. All of my races have had some of these and I’ve always recovered. And if not, there’s the finish line and the knowledge I did not give up.

matwood 2y ago
> It’s a mental effort as much as it is a physical one. Like a lot in life to be honest. When I lived in CO I did a lot of hiking at the higher altitudes there. I almost always hiked alone and could have easily turned around when my breath got short, but I didn't. It was strictly mental exercise. Similar to when I power lifted for years. Obviously there's a physical part, but when the numbers got big for me, it became just as much mental. Now I've been doing BJJ for a number of years. There is so much mental effort expended to not panic or give up simply because you're uncomfortable (different from being put in an actual finishing move). As I started with, the exercise of accepting discomfort, staying calm, and moving forward is skill that resonates all through life.
IncreasePosts 2y ago
Why would women be better at mental effort than men? Maybe their biology and biomechanics are just better for the ultra long distance stuff.
- robotresearcher 2y ago
  Parent didn't say women were better at mental effort. They said it's as much mental as physical effort. Men's physical strength advantage decreases in significance as the distances increase.
  - IncreasePosts 2y ago
    They said "There’s a reason the longer the ultra, the faster women are compared to men", immediately after saying it is as much mental as physical effort. It's pretty clear from observing almost every sport, including running distances shorter than 50 miles, that men dominate women physically. If men and women are similar at mental effort, and men are better physically at performing, then why would women start to take over on long distances but not shorter distances? So, either women are better at mental effort than men, or something about biology lets women perform better than men at the ultra long distance stuff but not the shorter stuff. I say it is just biology. If OP thought it had no relation to mental effort skills difference between men and women, then why even bring it up?

jmull 2y ago

I kind of roll my eyes at these kinds of self-helpy cliche lists. But this one's pretty decent, probably because it's actually real. > consigning yourself to the binary greatly limits what you can achieve This is the good one here, IMO. I see people helplessly stuck in binary thinking all the time. Now, breaking things down to a binary is a good technique for analysis. It's just that you can't stop there. You always need to be thinking "why not both?", "or neither?", "or some other thing?", "or some of one and at little of the other?", "is there a binary that more neatly slices the problem?"

fuzzfactor 2y ago
Well when training, whether doing something like sit-ups or laps on a track, remember that the first lap is number zero . . . Most effective in the gym when counting reps for someone else, always start with a big loud "Zero", then continue counting from there. If they can keep a straight face :) It shows dedication ;)

coldcode 2y ago

I started working out at 66 this year for the first time since I stopped playing basketball 30 years ago. Even after 6 months I see a difference (I was never overweight 6'5" at 212 but now 10 pounds less). But because I had no experience with weight training or even cardio for so long, there is no way to expect I can do triathlons all of a sudden. I can tell who in the gym has been training most of their life and I have no expectations to suddenly look like Dwayne Johnson (he's 6'4"). I wish I had started and continued training at some level 30 years ago (or earlier) instead of waiting until now. I can only exhort people to not wait until they are old, and things start falling apart to start. The author doesn't mention his experience before he turned 70, I think that would have been interesting.

muststopmyths 2y ago
In point 3, "It was never about winning", he says he might have disagreed with this statement "earlier in his racing career". I would read that as he's been actively racing for years.
cmiller1 2y ago
> there is no way to expect I can do triathlons all of a sudden There is no way to expect anyone to do triathlons "all of a sudden", I'm sure this guy spent several years getting up to that level. I tried to look for more info on him to see if he detailed when he started and the path he took but apparently he's a quack and I got sidetracked looking at the time he got investigated and ended up settling for $100k in a wrongful death case involving the church of Scientology, wow.
- IncreasePosts 2y ago
  Yes, it doesn't explicitly say it in the article, but since he mentions he has run 40+ iron mans (iron men?), he has probably been doing it for at least 20-25 years. So he probably started in his 40s at least, and I'm going to guess he was fitness oriented even before that. Random 70 year olds shouldn't necessarily take his advice on how to get off the couch and complete an iron man, though most of it does seem good.
- 2y ago

hackermailman 2y ago

There's a guy in his 50s doing ultra marathons named Kerry Ward who films some of his runs, he came in 11th during the Moab 240 miler which is 2-3 days of running https://youtube.com/@fulltiltward https://youtube.com/@fulltiltward

highfrequency 2y ago

Nice quote: > It’s more productive to ask, “How can I?” than it is to ask, “Can I?” The latter is the question that comes to mind more readily, especially when faced with a new or unique challenge…I have learned how to ask, “How can I?” From there, a path of action inevitably reveals itself. Also, last week on HN there was a post about how uniqueness bias holds us back by causing us to disregard learnings from the solution of similar problems. (While a problem may be unique to us, it is rarely unique to the world - though perhaps in a different costume.) It’s telling here that the author says he defaults to the less productive “Can I?” mindset when he sees his challenge as unique - and also that he opens the article with the realization that he is not unique.

Scubabear68 2y ago

I started training for recreational long distance running in my late 40s. This is a good list for any age. What I would add in is - find training programs and follow them. The original article obliquely references this in #1 talking about "acknowledging reality is critical". At any age, people need to learn how to work, out and how to train. Failing to do so can cause short- or -long term injury, which can really set you back. My first attempt at a marathon lead to IT Band issues and severe plantar fasciitis. My second was much smoother, and I was able to complete the marathon at better than target time without injury. The moral is - part of listening to your body is learning how to train within your age / ability band.

phainopepla2 2y ago
Do you recommend any specific training program?
MontgomeryPi2 2y ago
Older runner as well and have also had to take sporadic time off to deal with plantar fascitis, IT band, achilles, etc. Agree with listening to your body and what I'm hearing is slow down to stretch out my total running lifespan/days. I'd rather run 5K every other day on gravel/dirt paths indefinitely than risk some really long term injury running 26 miles on asphalt (seen others have to hang up their running shoes after doing the big races).

felixc 2y ago

My mom started a blog about her triathlon experiences after retirement, including being part of Team USA at world championships: https://triathlonatretirement.blogspot.com/ https://triathlonatretirement.blogspot.com/

onemoresoop 2y ago

Mid 40s here and having a hard time working out due to lack of energy/stamina. Pushing myself as much as I can but not always easy. If anyone went through this, what helped overcome it?

hollerith 2y ago
Does exercising too much sometimes lead to "crashes" that last for days such that it is impossible or very hard to even predict on what day the crash will end -- crashes severe enough that you cannot meet your work, social or family obligations sometimes? If so, you have a mild case of chronic-fatigue syndrome, and I can point you in the right direction.
- onemoresoop 2y ago
  Not my case, I'm simply lacking the stamina to exercise but push myself through cardio nonetheless. Maybe I need to do a blood test or something like that. I was hoping for some leads on what could cause this.
rendall 2y ago
Been there. It really depends on what else is going on in your life and why you have low energy. Assuming you have the basics covered, like good sleep, good food and good water (if you don't, that's likely the problem), and your work-life balance is adequate (this is usually what knocks the rest out of whack for me), then starting super slowly and not pushing it even when you want. Perhaps set a goal that you know you can make, maybe 15 minutes a day? If you see no improvement at all then definitely mention it to your doctor. It could be vitamin deficiency. Vitamin D during low sunlight seasons really boosts my energy.