One of the quirks of age group racing in triathlon, is how the sport’s ruling bodies determine your age.  For triathlon races, your age when racing, is the age you will be on December 31st of the year you race in.  This means, that although I will be 59 years old for all my races next year, I will actually race in the 60-64 age group. I am ‘aging up’ into a new age group!

Racing in a new age group is highly motivating to me.  I have always wanted to be in the front pack of my age group, and aging up, gives me my best chance of achieving that goal. 

If you check out my race results for the past five years, you will see that when I race well at Ironman events, I usually finish in the high teens in my age category. I have been able to hold this position in the group, despite the fact that I am now five years older than when I started.  If I can maintain my current times, there is every chance that I can finally break into the top ten, next year.

Maintaining my times in Ironman events is no easy task however.  It will require me to be super consistent in my training and I will also need to avoid injuries.  The possibility of placing in the top ten of my new age group is however, is fueling my desire to train.  I am about to finish my best December training month ever.

Getting older isn’t always the greatest thing, but every five years, it has its benefits.  2022 is one of those years for me, and I cannot wait.