Fantastic! I'm 54 and started doing sprint triathlons 2 years ago. I'm still learning and getting better. My goal is a 70.3...God willing. Dan's information about the heart was incredible....thank you!
I have been doing Triathlon for 10 years now and decided to do an Ironman for the first time to celebrate being 70. Jus done Ironman Copenhagen, awesome experience. My advice for as you get older is more S&C and regular Yoga.
Superb video. I was 70 in May this year. I did my first triathlon at the age of 64. In order to celebrate 😮my 70th year I set myself a target of doing my first 70.3 when I am 70.3 years on in September. So I foolishly entered challenge Almere in September. At the same time convincing my youngest son to complete it with me. As part of our trading plan we did the short distance at challenge Salou, where I can 1st in my age group, basically the only one daft enough over 65 doing it. Completing Salou with my son gave me an enormous sense of pride, it was his first triathlon at the age of 39. Trading continues for us both with two more sprint triathlons, I did one today as well 😂😂. I can fully recommend keeping active and competitive into your 70’s . I hope to keep doing it in my 80’s 🤞🤞🤞🤞 Keep up the great work guys, more videos and advice for us “senior’s “ 🏊🚴🏃♂️
i got back in shape at age 50 in late '09/early '10 after two decades of not taking my fitness seriously enough, seasons of fitness and seasons of no fitness, nobody's fault but mine. And never a triathlete but a lifelong cyclist, I am thankful, not boastful, to be fit at age 63 and it is sobering to see every day lots of heavy people of various ages, even young adults shopping for groceries in those ride-on electric-powered shopping carts. And it seems either 'extreme' is the option, either be someone who pursues fitness through diet and athletics or be someone who hauls around extra pounds that literally weigh you down and drag you down. And I completely agree that as we get older, we do get slower and need more time to recover, yet I think we can learn to enjoy our healthy state more as it is not a given. Same with food and beverages, I eat less but enjoy it more and that applies to all food and beverages. Like the other day at a convenience store, I was buying a Snickers and the cashier said she enjoys those, too. And i said I sort of grew up on them because i rode my bike all the time. And she replied that it didn't look like I eat too many of them these days. She was making an observation and I liked it, tho' I took it as a compliment. 😀
Though I don’t see myself that way, I qualify as an older athlete. At 52 years of age and in my 27th year of “triathloning”, in addition to the physical benefits, it’s the psychological benefits of training and racing that keep me coming back. The community and sense of purpose offered by our sport are the main draws for me now.
As a "veteran" athlete I found this video to be very interesting, especially that you brought in a variety of perspectives, including both practical and professional. I hope you consider continuing to develop this topic and would recommend covering nutrition, and maintaining and/or building muscle in a healthy manner as a person ages.
I always look to Sister Madonna Buder, when I need a bit of inspiration. She is still competing in her 90s. She started running in her 50s and shortly after started to train triathlon. She finished an Ironman at the age of 82. It is no wonder she is called the iron nun.
I started doing triathlons 5 years ago and love it. Since then I've done at least 4 triathlons each year, countless 10 Km, half marathons and so on. I'm now 50 and this year I finished third on the XTerra short distance on my group. High intensity sessions are key to keep your speed. I love running very fast, so training on the track and doing intervals is not problem for me 😄. This year I've already done three triathlons: one gravel Olympic distance, XTerra short distance, and one Sprint road triathlon with a friend. And I will run at least three more later in summer: Sgrail 100, one Olympic distance and another one that I still have to decide. This year I also did my first Marathon which was a blast, I loved it. I do a general medical check each year, plus effort test (electro cardio + eco-cardio) to make sure that my heart is fine and that I can keep pushing hard.
I did my first triathlon at 44 and 9 years later I’m still going and doing Kona this year (legacy athlete) sure I’m not as fast as when I started but I still have the same feeling when I cross the finish line. What I learned is if I can do it anyone can. Don’t let age stop you.
@@gtn I think is going well. I just did Hawaii 80.3 as practice and I am glad I did that. I got a taste of the heat and humidity. I’ll keep watching your videos while I’m on my bike trainer. Keep them coming.
Two months ago, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (a nasty disease in which immune system suddenly attacks the brain's nerves). I was ordered by doctors to stop training, racing, avoid sunshine, and just stay home. I was devastated as you might imagine to give away the passion of my life. I also had to stop watching your GTN videos as I get easily emotional when wathcing you guys.. Yesterday, I got the good news that what I have is not MS, it was just seafood poisoning that made all this mess. I was given the greenlight to train and race again. Today 7am I was the fist on the track doing an easy 3k run 6m/k pace🏃♂️ and it was the most joyful run of my life. Got back home and the first thing I did was rurning on GTN channel and watching back to back videos to catch up what I missed😂. LOVE YOU GTN GUYS (AND LADY😊)
I am gratified to learn that I am a triathlete even though I have never entered a tri event.😊 Getting basically nothing at school, I came to sports as a middle-aged person enthused about cycling and over the years (I am now 67) I have added running and occasional swimming, and more recently strength training and yoga. I think there are huge benefits available to older participants health-wise but doing these things is really fun!
Great video today, VERY relevant! 66 years old here. Been doing endurance since my twenties, started triathlon in 1996. I’m still hard at it, healthy, happy, and prepping for Ironman Chattanooga 144.6 this September. I monitor BP, O2 sat, HR, and blood sugar daily. Training is with an HRM by zones. Loads of good advice today, but the biggest takeaway for me is the session with the doc. Very important that your doctor knows what you’re into and understands why. Thanks again for a great presentation, we oldsters appreciate it!
Just out of interest, what's your max hr? I'm 56 with a max hr of 182bpm so I use that to determine my zones. I am interested to know if that is consistent for you, especially with the 60yr old VO2 cliff edge decline in less active people.
@@danielb1279 Depends on what my training focus. When I’m in sprint mode, I use the average of my max HR from my last three 5K’s. That’s usually around 184. This year for Ironman training I’ve adjusted it down to 164 (220-age+10). Rationale for that is to keep Z2 pace down a bit for the long stuff. I feel like I get more bang for my buck by not emptying the tank weekly. That’s 66 years me using rationale I would have scoffed at 30 years ago.
Great video Mark and Team...I was just saying to my daughter the other day that I wished you had more content for us aging triathletes. Personally, I started training when my wife was diagnosed with cancer so as a late bloomer who spent most of his life smoking and drinking it was an absolute game changer to start training for my first 70.3. Now, at 52 I love the training more than ever and although I'm a bit of a training loner I love the triathlon community and how supportive it is. So....perhaps more videos on how we can actually train, how many times, what sessions, how hard we should push ourselves etc. Keep up the great work!!!
Very, very good video. I'm 74 and have always been active in sports but never too "seriously", competing only very occasionally. I have other interests and responsibilities :) Two things:: 1. Personally, I rely more on how I feel doing longer distances or swimming intervals in workouts and on what my times are, as an objective/non-personal measure. 2. Accepting the fact that I'm aging, that my VO2 max has been decreasing, less flexibility, strength, I don't give up on the attitude of being competitive, but try to integrate it into a process of trying to accept that I'm in the last lap or two of my life. Bravo to all my colleagues, who carry on exercising, with whatever limitations they have beside simple, natural aging. Courage and patience :) ps. it's very ok not to be 25 anymore, and a-g-e is not a four letter word.
I noticed that age means less performance, but overall better fitness, as many years of training tend to condition the body in a cumulative way. Moreover experience has a boost with age.
Thanks for this video. Exactly what I needed to hear. I’m approaching 50 and come from a running background. Post-Pandemic - my fitness has really suffered and I’ve been struggling to get back to fitness…despite consistent training.
As someone who is just starting to be active as she is approaching 40, I so appreciate this video. Nice to hear from a variety of folks who are doing it AND a health expert. Sort of affirms all that I'm doing. Thank you for the inspiration!
Love this focus on us oldersters and what an inspiring group of folks you have for the video! I'm 55 and relatively new to Triathlon (6 years) but still getting faster year on year so it really is never too late to start! Oh, and I highly recommend the book 'Fast after 50' by Joe Friel for any aging athletes out there.
Thanks for this GTN. Rebooted my fitness regime last year, lost 20kg and started running, then decided to take on my first sprint tri on July 9th and in my 60th year. Your network has been incredibly informative and helped me to regain the strength and resilience to plan for future events and distances!
GTN, Well done for catering this time around for the HUGE part of the community who is US, the more mature athletes. I have just finished a 450mile run through England and Wales at the age of 58 and have been inspired to hear of, and meet some of this years LEJOG and JOGLE athletes who are ALL over 55 years old. Every single human being is different when it comes to physical and mental capacity, and while "general" rules of thumb are nice to have, unlimited potential is a real thing. I can still swim a sub 55min Ironman swim and are currently planning to run 1400 miles through NZ later this year. So yes, get out there and get inspiring people.
Such a great video and the heart specialist segment was excellent. It's something I'm constantly aware of and kudos to GTN for giving this some airtime. It also highlights some of the great people in our sport. A pleasure to meet them all
I am 58 next month and for me there is no doubt that the requirement for prolonged recovery is the biggest training parameter that needs to be addressed when getting older. I can do one, maybe two high intensity runs a week if I am lucky but still manage about 60 K a week as long as the majority of the volume is zone 2 training. Also, if I want to do any particularly long runs like e.g. half marathon distance that will usually be at the cost of any high intensity training that week. I love my running so I am very careful not to overdo anything and end up with an injury and to be honest the pace isn't quite as important anymore as long as I can continue to put in the same volume and enjoy the exercise.
I’m 61, I’ve been running since primary school and have taken part in sports continuously since, athletics, rugby, and now triathlon. I have in the last six months increased muscle mass by 10lbs. I feel stronger now than at any time in my life. I will never reach my running PBs of when I was in my 20s, but over the last eight years, I have set many “Strava” PB's and aim to set many more. I am coached and have Training Peak sessions seven days a week. I eat healthy, I sleep and recover well. I believe that age does not matter. Yes, we all feel young in our heads, but also we can still be young in our bodies, our “fitness” age is a lot younger than our actual age.
Awesome video, thank you! I am a 56yr old cyclist and my wife sent me to a cardiologist because she was worried about the intensity of some of the workouts in my exercise plan. The first question from the consultant was "what's your ftp?" and his advice was exactly the same as your experts on this video. Train like a 21 yr old, but give more time to recovery and train smarter. Great video, worth a channel on its own!
Great video thanks 👍 Did my first triathlon at 35! 10x 70.3 in between. 5 years later doing my first full Ironman in July 🤩 Such an amazing sport! Big GTN fan from Switzerland 🇨🇭 Alison
I really enjoyed this one. I’m 45 in July and I’ve entered my first local Tri sprint, it’s been a rollercoaster in training for this as I’ve found work, family and training balance quite tricky. Sea swimming going well, bike ok very tricky course so I’m planning to be cautious, running going great, well great until Saturdays local parkrun where I pulled my calf a reminder I’m not 20 anymore. This message has now finally hit home and I will approach my fitness in different approach, fun and not to go too mad! 😅
The days it was good to be young, now at 55 I've slowed so much and all the time I say I've had enough but I get grumpy and find that I still want to get out and do something and I'm happy again. Great video
Fantastic and most important and interesting video in a long long time! (going to be 50 this November, just did an Olympic Tri in 2:55) - keep on the good work on GTN!
Great video on a great topic! Very close to home for me, as a 53-year-old (who just PR'd in a half marathon a couple weeks ago!). This year I've made a very concerted effort to focus on S&C, 3+ days a week, and I think it's been paying off.
Great vid - cheers. 52yo running and looking to do my first olympic tri by the end of the year. In this for life. Great encouragement to be found in this vid.
I was super active as a kid, all the way through High school, performing very competitively. I went to state for track every year and always podiumed. But, fell off the fitness wagon after high school, doing almost nothing for years, and gained about 50lbs. I’ll be 40 this year and am super encouraged by this video. I’ve been getting back into fitness and tri’s have been a blast. Am I going to win IM Kona? No… but, it’s cool seeing my kids (11,8, and 2) want to join in and tag along on training sessions. I look forward to the day of being healthy again, and being that grandpa that is still out running the youngsters, haha
Awesome video that hit the bull's eye for me. I'm 45 and I started triathlon only last year coming from a swimming background, and I've been an addict since then 😊. Thanks for the guidance GTN👍
A really valuable and inspiring video, thanks. At 61 and very new to Triathlon (but have been running + hiking since I was a kid) there is lots of scope for me to improve and set new PBs both in terms of time and distances completed. Perhaps that is one important point - try new sports/activities or approaches to the same sport - that means you still have some potential to grow and develop; and with no worries about comparing to a younger self and the inevitable disappointment of seeing performance drop-off.
I took part in the Slateman in Llanberis last week, at 53 my 2nd triathlon. Had a great time. The overall winner of the standard distance was by coincidence the winner of the 50+ age group. Proves that age is not necessarily a restriction, and also gives me a goal to aim for.😮 Would like to see additional focus on age grade athletes 😊
This is my 35th year, 200 races and aged 64. I am still going. Since 1967, I have only missed 2009 and 2019 doing competitive sport. Whether rugby league, basketball, running, triathlon, surfing - it doesn’t matter. As they say, move it all lose it. I still don’t know why I do them. I guess it’s just me. My advice: keep the ego in check, sneak up on your body’s fitness, have a break of 4-6 weeks after the season. This allows the mind and body to recharge. And what’s the benefit? I still do not take any pills or potions. Enjoy the training with an easy heart. Take a rest when you need to. Core and strength is the wonder drug. Smile.
I am 68 years old and I know what you mean! Recovery and injury is becoming a challenge 🫤I have no confidence in swimming in open water. Covid and two surgeries took away some part of my endurance that had been built up! I was to do a run walk of 90kms from 2000 mtrs to 3500 mtrs, just did not take off 😢
Awesome content guys. Something I’ve been thinking about for a while. I monitor my HR to check for any anomalies. I’m 56 now and my resting HR and max HR still seem in good shape for my age, but I have noticed recovery does take a lot longer after an intense session. Sometime 2 days for my resting HR to drop to my normal. Coming to terms with the aging process is hard!
Great video, very informative. As for me, my first triathlon was at 55. Love the sport, love the training, love the people. My only regret is that I didn't discover triathlon earlier. My advice is to have an annual physical to make sure everything is woking the way it should and listen to your body. It will tell you if you are doing too much or if you can handle more.
Great discussion. I'm 48 and just peaked at 197 in a 5k a ran on Saturday. I never thought to be worried. I push hard. I trust the measurement because I use a chest strap monitor.
As someone brand new to triathlon, only 6 months in training, just completed my first, at the age of 54 and whilst suffering a chronic illness, this has been a great video, thanks for all the advice 👍🏻👍🏻
Great episode! I started doing triathlon at 57 for many reasons both physical and mental. I pushed myself too much and had some setbacks but hopefully I’m on the right track now. I had many of the same questions that you asked. I’m wearing a heart monitor currently. What I have not been able to find is a training plan tailored to my age. I’ve thought about a coach but can’t afford it at this time and I’m uncomfortable trying to tailor the plan myself.
I'm 59 and just starting out in Triathalon. I'm adopting the zone 1 and 2 training method for running (and cycling to some extent). As long as you get out regularly and keep in z1 and z2 most of the time you will improve. I'm not bothering about winning anything at this stage. For me its just about getting out there and completing a few events. Booked myself in for a suoer-sprint tri next month then a sprint distance a few weeks later. All I want to do is gain experience and complete the races.
I always wondered why many feel the need for a coach. Then I saw that it’s hard to be an adult onset runner because you don’t know how to train. Then it made sense, they don’t have the years of being coached in high school and college like I had, to know what I’m doing.
Thank you for such an informative and inspirational video. It is deeply appreciated. I am an 82 year young masters swimmer that is considering entering the world of triathlons. Your participans have opened my eyes to many wonderful considerations. I only wish that we could be neighbors.
Awesome to hear that, thank you. You could definitely do a triathlon, maybe start with swim and run or swim and bike and see where you go from there! We would love to hear if you do start your triathlon journey so let us know! 🙌
As a competition swimmer who is now 35 years old, I've noticed that when compared to my early twenties, it is like the cardiovascular engine used to redline at 9000 rpm like a honda vtec. Whereas now it peaks at 8250 rpm or something. But then I also started going to the gym in oktober and swam a pb on 50m fly earlier this year, so I guess there is still plenty room for improvement 🤷
I share your pain. My shoulders are the oldest part of my body. Doesn't mean we can't enjoy the videos though. We can do what we can do and enjoy the training and advice thankfully.!
As a 51 year old I don’t really think of myself as a older athlete. We have several athletes in our Tri club well into their 70s who are still going strong.
i just start being active at age 35 (pick up running 2019, cycling 2021, trail run/ultra 2022, duathlon 2023) while i felt fitter now (39yo) than even my teen days, too bad i made the life change kinda late. never get to know what my full potential could be with a younger body 😔 though i dont have regret, as im happy where im at now. as for PB, i PB everything haha coz my younger self sucks 😅
Very good video. I started triathlon at 45 and now I’m 52 and recovering from long Covid. Everything is a struggle as I get out of breath and heavily fatigued so easily, but I yearn to be able to train properly again. I actually wonder if I’ll ever be able to return to a good level of fitness again.
Keep at it! Having suffered Covid myself, it took me months to recover. Research will hopefully help get you and millions with long Covid get well again someday, so keep doing what you're doing. At 64, continued loss in all areas of my life reminds me to keep a positive attitude and do what I can do. Best of luck, and don't give up!
@@chuckmccracken4136 many thanks for those kind words. I got Covid in March 2022 and I’m still dealing with the issues over a year later. Hopefully it will resolve so I can return to some level of meaningful training. Best wishes.
Here's a question, how does an impact an older athlete who didn't get into this kind of sports until his late 20s? I never did sports in high school or college.
Do women improve at endurance swimming, specifically, as they age? I thought it had to do w body fat percentage and women being good at endurance. I am a 35 yo female triathlete/swimmer , hoping for a future in sport :D
This is the first generation of mass levels of "old athletes". So it's interesting to watch the performances of some. I set a lifetime best in a 40k bike segment at 71. And that was before Covid. 🤣
and I forgot to add to my recent comment that losing flexibility and strength with age can be minimized in swimming by improving, through practice and intention, your technique.
It is difficult though at some smaller events in the middle distance i can barely make the cutoffs and am usually one of the last finishers AS a 58 year old woman. For olympic distance i am still easily in the middle of the Pack. I wish the events would recognize that older athletes need a bit longer to finish.
being a slightly overweight 63 yr old who enjoys a pint or two ( or four) who swims like a brick, rides a plain road bike I have really enjoyed taking part in tri's pushing yourself outside your comfort zone is I would say about 80% of the enjoyment , but the rather childish fun of beating a 30yr something on a high end areo bike is the other 20% !
Great to hear how much you enjoy triathlon 🙌 sounds like your smashing it and proving that it's not about the bike but the engine pushing it! It's always great to push yourself out of your comfort zone, how long have you been taking part in triathlon? 🤔
Hi there, S&C stands for Strength and Conditioning. You find out more about it here as well as a great example of a session for you to try, let us know how it goes 👉 th-cam.com/video/xexkMKxn2SA/w-d-xo.html
Yeah well average age at IM worlds sais probably more on the money Peoplehave or can bring to the table, where does a 20 year old student get the money from to complete?
Can't help you with that, but it doesn't mean that whatever old bike, tennis shoes, and swimming suit you happen to have aren't good enough to train with. As a retired guy, I can't afford all of the trappings or fees myself, but it doesn't mean I can't train and dream. Just do what you can do man and enjoy the journey. Hopefully, you will one day be able to afford to compete. Who knows, if you get good enough, perhaps you can get some sponsors!
I noticed the same at the recent European Championship in Madrid, age groups 16-19 and 20-25 were very sparsely represented whereas 40-44, 45-49, etc had much bigger fields. To your point the younger generation can't afford the travel, accommodation and race fees.
So when you are older, you recover more slowly, and you're likely to have life and family commitments, the advice from that coach is that you keep doing hard intervals and also add in 2-3 s&c sessions to your normal training. This makes no sense. I wouldn't trust that coach.
This is actually something I would agree with, having coached a lot of older athletes over the years. As Phil suggests, the build up in training should be a lot slower, and longer. Only when you’re confident and comfortable to do so, should you start added high intensity intervals in. S&C training has been proven to be hugely beneficial for older athletes. I appreciate it’s hard to fit it all in and find that balance though
Fantastic! I'm 54 and started doing sprint triathlons 2 years ago. I'm still learning and getting better. My goal is a 70.3...God willing. Dan's information about the heart was incredible....thank you!
I have been doing Triathlon for 10 years now and decided to do an Ironman for the first time to celebrate being 70. Jus done Ironman Copenhagen, awesome experience. My advice for as you get older is more S&C and regular Yoga.
Superb video. I was 70 in May this year. I did my first triathlon at the age of 64. In order to celebrate 😮my 70th year I set myself a target of doing my first 70.3 when I am 70.3 years on in September. So I foolishly entered challenge Almere in September. At the same time convincing my youngest son to complete it with me. As part of our trading plan we did the short distance at challenge Salou, where I can 1st in my age group, basically the only one daft enough over 65 doing it. Completing Salou with my son gave me an enormous sense of pride, it was his first triathlon at the age of 39.
Trading continues for us both with two more sprint triathlons, I did one today as well 😂😂.
I can fully recommend keeping active and competitive into your 70’s . I hope to keep doing it in my 80’s 🤞🤞🤞🤞
Keep up the great work guys, more videos and advice for us “senior’s “ 🏊🚴🏃♂️
I recently competed in the age group world champs in Ibiza and it was great to see fellow competitors up to the age of 84! 🙌
i got back in shape at age 50 in late '09/early '10 after two decades of not taking my fitness seriously enough, seasons of fitness and seasons of no fitness, nobody's fault but mine. And never a triathlete but a lifelong cyclist, I am thankful, not boastful, to be fit at age 63 and it is sobering to see every day lots of heavy people of various ages, even young adults shopping for groceries in those ride-on electric-powered shopping carts. And it seems either 'extreme' is the option, either be someone who pursues fitness through diet and athletics or be someone who hauls around extra pounds that literally weigh you down and drag you down. And I completely agree that as we get older, we do get slower and need more time to recover, yet I think we can learn to enjoy our healthy state more as it is not a given. Same with food and beverages, I eat less but enjoy it more and that applies to all food and beverages. Like the other day at a convenience store, I was buying a Snickers and the cashier said she enjoys those, too. And i said I sort of grew up on them because i rode my bike all the time. And she replied that it didn't look like I eat too many of them these days. She was making an observation and I liked it, tho' I took it as a compliment. 😀
Though I don’t see myself that way, I qualify as an older athlete. At 52 years of age and in my 27th year of “triathloning”, in addition to the physical benefits, it’s the psychological benefits of training and racing that keep me coming back. The community and sense of purpose offered by our sport are the main draws for me now.
Thanks GTN for such an awesome class of guests for this video. Including Mark's dad.
Thank you for making this for us aging althletes, some great information here.
As a "veteran" athlete I found this video to be very interesting, especially that you brought in a variety of perspectives, including both practical and professional. I hope you consider continuing to develop this topic and would recommend covering nutrition, and maintaining and/or building muscle in a healthy manner as a person ages.
I always look to Sister Madonna Buder, when I need a bit of inspiration. She is still competing in her 90s. She started running in her 50s and shortly after started to train triathlon. She finished an Ironman at the age of 82. It is no wonder she is called the iron nun.
Started at 58 and now 62... now I can't stop.
I started doing triathlons 5 years ago and love it. Since then I've done at least 4 triathlons each year, countless 10 Km, half marathons and so on. I'm now 50 and this year I finished third on the XTerra short distance on my group. High intensity sessions are key to keep your speed. I love running very fast, so training on the track and doing intervals is not problem for me 😄. This year I've already done three triathlons: one gravel Olympic distance, XTerra short distance, and one Sprint road triathlon with a friend. And I will run at least three more later in summer: Sgrail 100, one Olympic distance and another one that I still have to decide. This year I also did my first Marathon which was a blast, I loved it. I do a general medical check each year, plus effort test (electro cardio + eco-cardio) to make sure that my heart is fine and that I can keep pushing hard.
I did my first triathlon at 44 and 9 years later I’m still going and doing Kona this year (legacy athlete) sure I’m not as fast as when I started but I still have the same feeling when I cross the finish line. What I learned is if I can do it anyone can. Don’t let age stop you.
How amazing! How's your training going for Kona? 👀
@@gtn I think is going well. I just did Hawaii 80.3 as practice and I am glad I did that. I got a taste of the heat and humidity. I’ll keep watching your videos while I’m on my bike trainer. Keep them coming.
Your wish is our command! 🫡 Do you watch our training videos over on GCN Training? 👉 www.youtube.com/@GCNTraining
@@gtn I do, I am a GTN and GCN girl 😆
Two months ago, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (a nasty disease in which immune system suddenly attacks the brain's nerves). I was ordered by doctors to stop training, racing, avoid sunshine, and just stay home. I was devastated as you might imagine to give away the passion of my life. I also had to stop watching your GTN videos as I get easily emotional when wathcing you guys..
Yesterday, I got the good news that what I have is not MS, it was just seafood poisoning that made all this mess. I was given the greenlight to train and race again. Today 7am I was the fist on the track doing an easy 3k run 6m/k pace🏃♂️ and it was the most joyful run of my life. Got back home and the first thing I did was rurning on GTN channel and watching back to back videos to catch up what I missed😂.
LOVE YOU GTN GUYS (AND LADY😊)
Glad to hear your good news! Keep at it!
I am gratified to learn that I am a triathlete even though I have never entered a tri event.😊 Getting basically nothing at school, I came to sports as a middle-aged person enthused about cycling and over the years (I am now 67) I have added running and occasional swimming, and more recently strength training and yoga. I think there are huge benefits available to older participants health-wise but doing these things is really fun!
Great video today, VERY relevant! 66 years old here. Been doing endurance since my twenties, started triathlon in 1996. I’m still hard at it, healthy, happy, and prepping for Ironman Chattanooga 144.6 this September. I monitor BP, O2 sat, HR, and blood sugar daily. Training is with an HRM by zones.
Loads of good advice today, but the biggest takeaway for me is the session with the doc. Very important that your doctor knows what you’re into and understands why.
Thanks again for a great presentation, we oldsters appreciate it!
Just out of interest, what's your max hr? I'm 56 with a max hr of 182bpm so I use that to determine my zones. I am interested to know if that is consistent for you, especially with the 60yr old VO2 cliff edge decline in less active people.
@@danielb1279 Depends on what my training focus. When I’m in sprint mode, I use the average of my max HR from my last three 5K’s. That’s usually around 184. This year for Ironman training I’ve adjusted it down to 164 (220-age+10). Rationale for that is to keep Z2 pace down a bit for the long stuff. I feel like I get more bang for my buck by not emptying the tank weekly. That’s 66 years me using rationale I would have scoffed at 30 years ago.
Great video Mark and Team...I was just saying to my daughter the other day that I wished you had more content for us aging triathletes. Personally, I started training when my wife was diagnosed with cancer so as a late bloomer who spent most of his life smoking and drinking it was an absolute game changer to start training for my first 70.3. Now, at 52 I love the training more than ever and although I'm a bit of a training loner I love the triathlon community and how supportive it is. So....perhaps more videos on how we can actually train, how many times, what sessions, how hard we should push ourselves etc. Keep up the great work!!!
Very, very good video. I'm 74 and have always been active in sports but never too "seriously", competing only very occasionally. I have other interests and responsibilities :) Two things:: 1. Personally, I rely more on how I feel doing longer distances or swimming intervals in workouts and on what my times are, as an objective/non-personal measure. 2. Accepting the fact that I'm aging, that my VO2 max has been decreasing, less flexibility, strength, I don't give up on the attitude of being competitive, but try to integrate it into a process of trying to accept that I'm in the last lap or two of my life. Bravo to all my colleagues, who carry on exercising, with whatever limitations they have beside simple, natural aging. Courage and patience :) ps. it's very ok not to be 25 anymore, and a-g-e is not a four letter word.
I noticed that age means less performance, but overall better fitness, as many years of training tend to condition the body in a cumulative way. Moreover experience has a boost with age.
Indeed - but you do get wiser 🙂
Thanks for this video. Exactly what I needed to hear. I’m approaching 50 and come from a running background. Post-Pandemic - my fitness has really suffered and I’ve been struggling to get back to fitness…despite consistent training.
As someone who is just starting to be active as she is approaching 40, I so appreciate this video. Nice to hear from a variety of folks who are doing it AND a health expert. Sort of affirms all that I'm doing. Thank you for the inspiration!
Love this focus on us oldersters and what an inspiring group of folks you have for the video! I'm 55 and relatively new to Triathlon (6 years) but still getting faster year on year so it really is never too late to start!
Oh, and I highly recommend the book 'Fast after 50' by Joe Friel for any aging athletes out there.
Thanks for this GTN. Rebooted my fitness regime last year, lost 20kg and started running, then decided to take on my first sprint tri on July 9th and in my 60th year. Your network has been incredibly informative and helped me to regain the strength and resilience to plan for future events and distances!
So great to hear that we've helped you get back into fitness! What's your next event? 👀
@@gtn Can you recommend an Olympic tri event for me to train towards next year?!
Great video. Thanks Mark and GTN!
GTN, Well done for catering this time around for the HUGE part of the community who is US, the more mature athletes. I have just finished a 450mile run through England and Wales at the age of 58 and have been inspired to hear of, and meet some of this years LEJOG and JOGLE athletes who are ALL over 55 years old. Every single human being is different when it comes to physical and mental capacity, and while "general" rules of thumb are nice to have, unlimited potential is a real thing. I can still swim a sub 55min Ironman swim and are currently planning to run 1400 miles through NZ later this year. So yes, get out there and get inspiring people.
Brilliant video. First triathlon aged 50, still training 5 years later and just joined a club
Would be great to see more videos for senior triathletes
Such a great video and the heart specialist segment was excellent. It's something I'm constantly aware of and kudos to GTN for giving this some airtime.
It also highlights some of the great people in our sport. A pleasure to meet them all
I am 58 next month and for me there is no doubt that the requirement for prolonged recovery is the biggest training parameter that needs to be addressed when getting older. I can do one, maybe two high intensity runs a week if I am lucky but still manage about 60 K a week as long as the majority of the volume is zone 2 training. Also, if I want to do any particularly long runs like e.g. half marathon distance that will usually be at the cost of any high intensity training that week. I love my running so I am very careful not to overdo anything and end up with an injury and to be honest the pace isn't quite as important anymore as long as I can continue to put in the same volume and enjoy the exercise.
I’m 61, I’ve been running since primary school and have taken part in sports continuously since, athletics, rugby, and now triathlon. I have in the last six months increased muscle mass by 10lbs. I feel stronger now than at any time in my life. I will never reach my running PBs of when I was in my 20s, but over the last eight years, I have set many “Strava” PB's and aim to set many more. I am coached and have Training Peak sessions seven days a week. I eat healthy, I sleep and recover well. I believe that age does not matter. Yes, we all feel young in our heads, but also we can still be young in our bodies, our “fitness” age is a lot younger than our actual age.
Awesome video, thank you! I am a 56yr old cyclist and my wife sent me to a cardiologist because she was worried about the intensity of some of the workouts in my exercise plan. The first question from the consultant was "what's your ftp?" and his advice was exactly the same as your experts on this video. Train like a 21 yr old, but give more time to recovery and train smarter. Great video, worth a channel on its own!
Great video thanks 👍
Did my first triathlon at 35!
10x 70.3 in between.
5 years later doing my first full Ironman in July 🤩
Such an amazing sport!
Big GTN fan from Switzerland 🇨🇭 Alison
I really enjoyed this one. I’m 45 in July and I’ve entered my first local Tri sprint, it’s been a rollercoaster in training for this as I’ve found work, family and training balance quite tricky. Sea swimming going well, bike ok very tricky course so I’m planning to be cautious, running going great, well great until Saturdays local parkrun where I pulled my calf a reminder I’m not 20 anymore. This message has now finally hit home and I will approach my fitness in different approach, fun and not to go too mad! 😅
The days it was good to be young, now at 55 I've slowed so much and all the time I say I've had enough but I get grumpy and find that I still want to get out and do something and I'm happy again.
Great video
Fantastic and most important and interesting video in a long long time! (going to be 50 this November, just did an Olympic Tri in 2:55) - keep on the good work on GTN!
Great video on a great topic! Very close to home for me, as a 53-year-old (who just PR'd in a half marathon a couple weeks ago!). This year I've made a very concerted effort to focus on S&C, 3+ days a week, and I think it's been paying off.
Great vid - cheers. 52yo running and looking to do my first olympic tri by the end of the year. In this for life. Great encouragement to be found in this vid.
I was super active as a kid, all the way through High school, performing very competitively. I went to state for track every year and always podiumed. But, fell off the fitness wagon after high school, doing almost nothing for years, and gained about 50lbs. I’ll be 40 this year and am super encouraged by this video.
I’ve been getting back into fitness and tri’s have been a blast. Am I going to win IM Kona? No… but, it’s cool seeing my kids (11,8, and 2) want to join in and tag along on training sessions. I look forward to the day of being healthy again, and being that grandpa that is still out running the youngsters, haha
That's really great to hear! What an inspiration you must be to your grandkids! ❤️
Awesome video that hit the bull's eye for me. I'm 45 and I started triathlon only last year coming from a swimming background, and I've been an addict since then 😊. Thanks for the guidance GTN👍
Very useful content….recently work retired but no intention of retiring from triathlon….more time to train 🎉
Perfect! Me too!
Nothing like retirement to give us time to get healthy!!!
What a great high quality video, very relevant for many athletes I know. Can see the effort that went into this
A really valuable and inspiring video, thanks.
At 61 and very new to Triathlon (but have been running + hiking since I was a kid) there is lots of scope for me to improve and set new PBs both in terms of time and distances completed.
Perhaps that is one important point - try new sports/activities or approaches to the same sport - that means you still have some potential to grow and develop; and with no worries about comparing to a younger self and the inevitable disappointment of seeing performance drop-off.
I took part in the Slateman in Llanberis last week, at 53 my 2nd triathlon. Had a great time.
The overall winner of the standard distance was by coincidence the winner of the 50+ age group. Proves that age is not necessarily a restriction, and also gives me a goal to aim for.😮
Would like to see additional focus on age grade athletes 😊
Cardiologist was very insightful
Thanks for saying the 49 and 50 year olds weren't that old :)
This is my 35th year, 200 races and aged 64. I am still going. Since 1967, I have only missed 2009 and 2019 doing competitive sport. Whether rugby league, basketball, running, triathlon, surfing - it doesn’t matter. As they say, move it all lose it. I still don’t know why I do them. I guess it’s just me. My advice: keep the ego in check, sneak up on your body’s fitness, have a break of 4-6 weeks after the season. This allows the mind and body to recharge. And what’s the benefit? I still do not take any pills or potions. Enjoy the training with an easy heart. Take a rest when you need to. Core and strength is the wonder drug. Smile.
I am 68 years old and I know what you mean! Recovery and injury is becoming a challenge 🫤I have no confidence in swimming in open water.
Covid and two surgeries took away some part of my endurance that had been built up!
I was to do a run walk of 90kms from 2000 mtrs to 3500 mtrs, just did not take off 😢
Awesome content guys. Something I’ve been thinking about for a while. I monitor my HR to check for any anomalies. I’m 56 now and my resting HR and max HR still seem in good shape for my age, but I have noticed recovery does take a lot longer after an intense session. Sometime 2 days for my resting HR to drop to my normal. Coming to terms with the aging process is hard!
LOVED THIS EPISODE!! Thank you GTN!
Thank!
Great video, very informative. As for me, my first triathlon was at 55. Love the sport, love the training, love the people. My only regret is that I didn't discover triathlon earlier. My advice is to have an annual physical to make sure everything is woking the way it should and listen to your body. It will tell you if you are doing too much or if you can handle more.
Thanks for your advice! 🙌
This was such an awesome video, really enjoyed watching it
Great discussion. I'm 48 and just peaked at 197 in a 5k a ran on Saturday. I never thought to be worried. I push hard. I trust the measurement because I use a chest strap monitor.
As someone brand new to triathlon, only 6 months in training, just completed my first, at the age of 54 and whilst suffering a chronic illness, this has been a great video, thanks for all the advice 👍🏻👍🏻
Amazing! Congratulations on your first triathlon! 🎉 Where was it? 👀
It was at Dorney Rowing Lake, we are lucky enough to live five minutes away …. My son bought my entry as my Christmas gift 😂
looks like a really lovely place for a first tri! What a thoughtful gift! 💝
Great report and interview ✊ highly informative thanks!
Great episode! Thank you!
Great episode! I started doing triathlon at 57 for many reasons both physical and mental. I pushed myself too much and had some setbacks but hopefully I’m on the right track now. I had many of the same questions that you asked. I’m wearing a heart monitor currently. What I have not been able to find is a training plan tailored to my age. I’ve thought about a coach but can’t afford it at this time and I’m uncomfortable trying to tailor the plan myself.
I'm 59 and just starting out in Triathalon. I'm adopting the zone 1 and 2 training method for running (and cycling to some extent). As long as you get out regularly and keep in z1 and z2 most of the time you will improve. I'm not bothering about winning anything at this stage. For me its just about getting out there and completing a few events. Booked myself in for a suoer-sprint tri next month then a sprint distance a few weeks later. All I want to do is gain experience and complete the races.
I always wondered why many feel the need for a coach. Then I saw that it’s hard to be an adult onset runner because you don’t know how to train. Then it made sense, they don’t have the years of being coached in high school and college like I had, to know what I’m doing.
Thank you for such an informative and inspirational video. It is deeply appreciated. I am an 82 year young masters swimmer that is considering entering the world of triathlons. Your participans have opened my eyes to many wonderful considerations. I only wish that we could be neighbors.
Awesome to hear that, thank you. You could definitely do a triathlon, maybe start with swim and run or swim and bike and see where you go from there! We would love to hear if you do start your triathlon journey so let us know! 🙌
@@gtn Thank you for your kind advice. It is encouraging.
As a competition swimmer who is now 35 years old, I've noticed that when compared to my early twenties, it is like the cardiovascular engine used to redline at 9000 rpm like a honda vtec. Whereas now it peaks at 8250 rpm or something.
But then I also started going to the gym in oktober and swam a pb on 50m fly earlier this year, so I guess there is still plenty room for improvement 🤷
Age doesn't hold me back. Being unable to swim does 🤣🤣
I share your pain. My shoulders are the oldest part of my body. Doesn't mean we can't enjoy the videos though. We can do what we can do and enjoy the training and advice thankfully.!
As a 51 year old I don’t really think of myself as a older athlete. We have several athletes in our Tri club well into their 70s who are still going strong.
Haha, I’m looking out the window trying to see what truck is beeping, and it was in the park with you😂.
i just start being active at age 35 (pick up running 2019, cycling 2021, trail run/ultra 2022, duathlon 2023)
while i felt fitter now (39yo) than even my teen days, too bad i made the life change kinda late.
never get to know what my full potential could be with a younger body 😔
though i dont have regret, as im happy where im at now.
as for PB, i PB everything haha coz my younger self sucks 😅
Very good video. I started triathlon at 45 and now I’m 52 and recovering from long Covid. Everything is a struggle as I get out of breath and heavily fatigued so easily, but I yearn to be able to train properly again. I actually wonder if I’ll ever be able to return to a good level of fitness again.
Keep at it! Having suffered Covid myself, it took me months to recover. Research will hopefully help get you and millions with long Covid get well again someday, so keep doing what you're doing. At 64, continued loss in all areas of my life reminds me to keep a positive attitude and do what I can do. Best of luck, and don't give up!
@@chuckmccracken4136 many thanks for those kind words. I got Covid in March 2022 and I’m still dealing with the issues over a year later. Hopefully it will resolve so I can return to some level of meaningful training. Best wishes.
Thanks for this
Awesome video
Triathlon is a lifestyle and way of choosing to live as well as a sport
Is it just me or when the cardiologist is talking a truck beep sounds like a hospital heart monitor (17:02 and 18:00) 😅
Here's a question, how does an impact an older athlete who didn't get into this kind of sports until his late 20s? I never did sports in high school or college.
Hey, how come you're letting young'uns of 50 talk about being older racers?
Damn kids, get off my lawn.
Thanks....
Do women improve at endurance swimming, specifically, as they age? I thought it had to do w body fat percentage and women being good at endurance. I am a 35 yo female triathlete/swimmer , hoping for a future in sport :D
This is the first generation of mass levels of "old athletes".
So it's interesting to watch the performances of some.
I set a lifetime best in a 40k bike segment at 71.
And that was before Covid.
🤣
and I forgot to add to my recent comment that losing flexibility and strength with age can be minimized in swimming by improving, through practice and intention, your technique.
It is difficult though at some smaller events in the middle distance i can barely make the cutoffs and am usually one of the last finishers AS a 58 year old woman. For olympic distance i am still easily in the middle of the Pack. I wish the events would recognize that older athletes need a bit longer to finish.
11:55 I'm glad to say I have never done anything stupid in training*.
*just kidding 🙂.
being a slightly overweight 63 yr old who enjoys a pint or two ( or four) who swims like a brick, rides a plain road bike I have really enjoyed taking part in tri's pushing yourself outside your comfort zone is I would say about 80% of the enjoyment , but the rather childish fun of beating a 30yr something on a high end areo bike is the other 20% !
Great to hear how much you enjoy triathlon 🙌 sounds like your smashing it and proving that it's not about the bike but the engine pushing it! It's always great to push yourself out of your comfort zone, how long have you been taking part in triathlon? 🤔
Great video, thank you! 🏳️⚧️🇨🇦
What is a S&C session?
Hi there, S&C stands for Strength and Conditioning. You find out more about it here as well as a great example of a session for you to try, let us know how it goes 👉 th-cam.com/video/xexkMKxn2SA/w-d-xo.html
A bit like an S&M session but less focus on the whips and bondage aspects 😅
Yeah well average age at IM worlds sais probably more on the money Peoplehave or can bring to the table, where does a 20 year old student get the money from to complete?
Can't help you with that, but it doesn't mean that whatever old bike, tennis shoes, and swimming suit you happen to have aren't good enough to train with. As a retired guy, I can't afford all of the trappings or fees myself, but it doesn't mean I can't train and dream. Just do what you can do man and enjoy the journey. Hopefully, you will one day be able to afford to compete. Who knows, if you get good enough, perhaps you can get some sponsors!
I noticed the same at the recent European Championship in Madrid, age groups 16-19 and 20-25 were very sparsely represented whereas 40-44, 45-49, etc had much bigger fields. To your point the younger generation can't afford the travel, accommodation and race fees.
Two days off from new videos, I noticed 😂.
They just did a 177 mile bike ride so probably recovering and hopefully making a video on it!
am also asked to come to your country and play in a triathlon competition. Please if anyone can help me 🙄🙄🙄
So when you are older, you recover more slowly, and you're likely to have life and family commitments, the advice from that coach is that you keep doing hard intervals and also add in 2-3 s&c sessions to your normal training. This makes no sense. I wouldn't trust that coach.
He must have been talking to us older folks who are retired and have the time to train and recover properly. 😉
This is actually something I would agree with, having coached a lot of older athletes over the years. As Phil suggests, the build up in training should be a lot slower, and longer. Only when you’re confident and comfortable to do so, should you start added high intensity intervals in. S&C training has been proven to be hugely beneficial for older athletes. I appreciate it’s hard to fit it all in and find that balance though
I must be having the midlife crisis Mark referred to....
Haha sorry, bad choice of words. I know it’s not really. It’s far from a crisis. It’s a fantastic thing to take up as you get older