The Limits On Getting Faster - super duper frustrated

Screw getting faster!!!  Wear a gorilla costume for the bike and the run.

Really,  I think I'm kind of in the same place you are.  I just have to remind myself that I do this for fun.  I'm never gonna make a dime doing this stuff, so why not make the priority having fun and not stress out about how fast I can go.

Is there any reason getting up in the morning knowing that the day may not be better than yesterday?

Seems like an extremely negative point of view. Me, I'm 50 years old, still exploring my limits, believe it or not, still getting faster.

What are you doing to improve? Adequate volume? Speed work? Professional coaching? Where there's a will there's a way, but first you have to want to, then you have to put forth the effort.

I just looked at your logs. WOW! That is quite a blog you got going there. 

This part really rings with me.  Scott, you've been riding for a while but you haven't been tri'ing that long.  Give it some time.  For example, I'm 38 y.o.  I may be past my physical prime years, but I'm in the best shape of my life because I finally GOT OFF MY A$$!  I figure it will take years to find out what my limits are.  The good news is I don't have years of physical abuse on my joints so hopefully there is a silver lining in the clouds there.  Now, by the time I'm 50 I'll adopt your attitude because I figure I'll be pretty much done for and have one foot in the grave because that is REALLY old! 

{ducking, running out of room}

Swim/Ride/Run lots old man...

(heeding hanglooses advice and running out of the room)

And I mean that in the kindest, most sincere of ways.

So much in your post it's hard to addres it all. 

At 44, you're relatively young, so maybe you're being overcautious about injuries. You're averaging ~50 miles per month, ~12.5 per week, I would consider that a good start. What types of workouts are you doing? All I see are "leisurely mid evening runs," to race fast you have to train fast, but first you have to build a base. Seems like you are well on the way to establishing that base, just need to build on it.

 "My legs scream if I run more than 3x a week." What does this mean? Is it joint pain or muscle pain? You know the old saying, "No pain no gain"? Well within reason there is some truth there. running fast hurts, albeit in a good sort of way.

I'd suggest after your first tri you look for a "next" race (CajunMan?), and follow an intermediate plan that has speedwork and tempo runs.

I really don't believe "There's no one to train with around here," I have friends in Jackson that are gung ho triathletes, but slow runners. I'll see if I can get them contact you. Meanwhile, work the network, ask at bike shops, talk to folks at races, volunteer at the ones you don't race in. I'm sure there are local folks that are in the same boat as you.

You've only been at running since Jan.

I'm finally feeling moderately "fast" with my running.  It's been ~3 years of solid work to get here.

IMO of the three sports, running takes the longest time and most consistent training to see improvements.

Give it time, keep doing what you're doing.  Triathlon is a sport that tests your patience. 

Having problems adjusting to life in Miss.? Try blacking out a few teeth and losing 50 points off your IQ.

Just kidding...just kidding