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2014-07-21 7:33 PM

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Subject: Age group question
So, I raced over the weekend and I am 44. Picked up my packet and didn't look at it until yesterday. Noticed my swim cap was different color that the other 40-44 year olds (looked at people's calf for their age). I looked at my packet and saw I was in the 45-49 age group. Now, I'm not competing to win my group or even place, but is there a reason I was moved up or was it just a mistake?


2014-07-21 7:40 PM
in reply to: 0

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Subject: RE: Age group question
Age groups are determined by the Calendar year, not your actual birthday.

So if your 45th birthday is still to come in 2014 your USAT/Triathlon age is 45 and you fall into the 45-49 AG.

Edited by rick4657 2014-07-21 7:40 PM
2014-07-21 7:48 PM
in reply to: #5028761

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Subject: RE: Age group question
Ahhh, that's it. I'll be 45 in October. I knew someone here would know.
2014-07-21 11:42 PM
in reply to: hessma

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Subject: RE: Age group question

Originally posted by hessma Ahhh, that's it. I'll be 45 in October. I knew someone here would know.

Ah, welcome to the age-up!

I remember my first 45-49 age group well.  I started in triathlon at 38, did my first few IM in the 40-44 group.  Everything was "normal" looking in those groups.

Then I was standing in the age-group corral at IM Boise 70.3, the 45-49 group. I was think "man, these guys are looking kinda old.  White beards and goatees, salt-and-pepper, lots of laugh lines around the eyes. That was probably the first time I my life I was thinking I was starting to age if I'm fitting in with these guys.  But I was heartened that at least they'd be slower than the tough 40-44 competition and I'd move way up the age-group ranks. Turns out I was wrong, different story though.

This year is my last year in 45-49. Next year it's 50-54, and again I plan to really move up the age-grouper ranks. I'm betting I'm faster than those old guys. :-)

One year I'll be right!

2014-07-22 6:37 AM
in reply to: brucemorgan

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Subject: RE: Age group question
Not sure why they went a different direction than running races, which base your age groups on your actual age at the time of the race, but they did. It was confusing the first time I experienced it too, but it nice for those people who age up, especially late in the year.
2014-07-22 6:42 AM
in reply to: hessma

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Subject: RE: Age group question

Originally posted by hessma Ahhh, that's it. I'll be 45 in October. I knew someone here would know.

I was 43 when I signed up for IMCdA, but signing up a year in advance and with a birthday late in the year, it was a *bit* of a shock to see my registration confirmation in the M45-49 category!  



2014-07-22 6:57 AM
in reply to: McFuzz

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Subject: RE: Age group question
It can be a little confusing with triathlons that aren't USAT sanctioned during your "crossover" year. I raced a non USAT sanctioned tri earlier this year and they went with your actual age, but a couple other tri's I'm doing this year are USAT sanctioned so I'll be racing in the age group of my age on the last day of December.
2014-07-22 7:24 AM
in reply to: topolina


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Subject: RE: Age group question
Originally posted by topolina

Not sure why they went a different direction than running races, which base your age groups on your actual age at the time of the race, but they did. It was confusing the first time I experienced it too, but it nice for those people who age up, especially late in the year.


My assumption is that it is due to the rankings. This way everyone is in the same group for the same annual period. If it went on your birthday you would have people were some of their races fell into one group while the other fell into the other age group.
2014-07-22 7:24 AM
in reply to: Kenny-A


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Subject: RE: Age group question
A lot of smaller, local races just used your actual age. I turned 60 two weeks ago and was thinking that gave me an advantage at my next tri on 7/19. Well, I got silver, but I was actually faster than anyone in the 50-59 group and would have had gold if I hadn't just had my birthday
2014-07-22 7:27 AM
in reply to: brucemorgan

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Subject: RE: Age group question
Originally posted by brucemorgan

Originally posted by hessma Ahhh, that's it. I'll be 45 in October. I knew someone here would know.

Ah, welcome to the age-up!

I remember my first 45-49 age group well.  I started in triathlon at 38, did my first few IM in the 40-44 group.  Everything was "normal" looking in those groups.

Then I was standing in the age-group corral at IM Boise 70.3, the 45-49 group. I was think "man, these guys are looking kinda old.  White beards and goatees, salt-and-pepper, lots of laugh lines around the eyes. That was probably the first time I my life I was thinking I was starting to age if I'm fitting in with these guys.  But I was heartened that at least they'd be slower than the tough 40-44 competition and I'd move way up the age-group ranks. Turns out I was wrong, different story though.

This year is my last year in 45-49. Next year it's 50-54, and again I plan to really move up the age-grouper ranks. I'm betting I'm faster than those old guys. :-)

One year I'll be right!




That was exactly what I was thinking!! I was looking at the guys, saying to myself "these guys are old. I'm competing with them?" And then I finished 42nd out of 85 competitors.....so much for that. I guess I have to get used to the fact that I am aging......
2014-07-22 8:30 AM
in reply to: #5028768

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Subject: RE: Age group question
I moved up to the 45-49 age group this year and thought the same thing. I've been on the podium less this year than previous years! So much for beating up on the old guys!


2014-07-22 9:50 AM
in reply to: Sidney Porter

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Subject: RE: Age group question
Originally posted by Sidney Porter

Originally posted by topolina

Not sure why they went a different direction than running races, which base your age groups on your actual age at the time of the race, but they did. It was confusing the first time I experienced it too, but it nice for those people who age up, especially late in the year.


My assumption is that it is due to the rankings. This way everyone is in the same group for the same annual period. If it went on your birthday you would have people were some of their races fell into one group while the other fell into the other age group.


Some of the ranking systems accumulate points from triathlon races throughout the year. The year, or season, is the calendar year. So you have to stay in the same age group throughout the year.

The age group system just carried over to other triathlons to keep things simple. Some running series actually do the age group rankings the same way.
2014-07-22 10:26 AM
in reply to: jennifer_runs

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Subject: RE: Age group question
My first multisport race was a duathlon. I was 39 and a couple months shy of my 40th birthday. It is a good thing that I wasn't one of those women who was afraid of turning 40 or I would have quit multisports forever when they wrote 40 on my calf in Sharpie.
2014-07-23 6:24 AM
in reply to: happyscientist

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Subject: RE: Age group question
Originally posted by happyscientist

My first multisport race was a duathlon. I was 39 and a couple months shy of my 40th birthday. It is a good thing that I wasn't one of those women who was afraid of turning 40 or I would have quit multisports forever when they wrote 40 on my calf in Sharpie.


Just wait until you see 60, that was a tough one. I still wonder who stole all those years from me.
2014-07-23 6:39 AM
in reply to: brucemorgan

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2014-07-23 9:00 AM
in reply to: Fred D

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Subject: RE: Age group question
I looked arround at the 45-49 male age group at augusta 70.3 last year and said god these guys look old I hope I do not look that old


2014-07-23 9:03 AM
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Subject: RE: Age group question
Originally posted by BuckHamilton

I looked arround at the 45-49 male age group at augusta 70.3 last year and said god these guys look old I hope I do not look that old


A lot of people looked at the top 3 55-59 year olds this year at Syracuse and said "I wish I could be that fast". They guys were really strong.


Edited by marcag 2014-07-23 9:03 AM
2014-07-23 2:40 PM
in reply to: marcag

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Subject: RE: Age group question

Originally posted by marcag
Originally posted by BuckHamilton I looked arround at the 45-49 male age group at augusta 70.3 last year and said god these guys look old I hope I do not look that old
A lot of people looked at the top 3 55-59 year olds this year at Syracuse and said "I wish I could be that fast". They guys were really strong.

Yes there are a lot of really fast old folks.  :-)

Sadly while I still have hope, I currently haven't been offsetting getting older by getting faster.

2014-07-23 2:59 PM
in reply to: marcag

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Subject: RE: Age group question
Originally posted by marcag

Originally posted by BuckHamilton

I looked arround at the 45-49 male age group at augusta 70.3 last year and said god these guys look old I hope I do not look that old


A lot of people looked at the top 3 55-59 year olds this year at Syracuse and said "I wish I could be that fast". They guys were really strong.



I haven't noticed this in my case yet for the TRI on a regular basis, but this weekend I ran a 5K with close to 700 finishers and took second in my age group (F60-64), when I checked my time against other age groups in my gender I discovered I would have been on the podium for all 5 year age groups from 45-49 on up. That made me feel good. Still got that competitive spirit anyway.
2014-07-23 4:05 PM
in reply to: brucemorgan

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Subject: RE: Age group question

Originally posted by brucemorgan

Originally posted by marcag
Originally posted by BuckHamilton I looked arround at the 45-49 male age group at augusta 70.3 last year and said god these guys look old I hope I do not look that old
A lot of people looked at the top 3 55-59 year olds this year at Syracuse and said "I wish I could be that fast". They guys were really strong.

Yes there are a lot of really fast old folks.  :-)

Sadly while I still have hope, I currently haven't been offsetting getting older by getting faster.

If I don't get any slower, I could be competitive in the M65-69 or M70+ AGs.  

I was at the USATF Master's meet last weekend watching my mom compete.  As I watched people walk by, I kept thinking "they can't be that old."  At the meet, the top 4 finishers in the 400m run for M50-54 were 53.07--53.30 seconds.  Even in high school, I never ran that fast.  

2014-07-23 6:00 PM
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Subject: RE: Age group question
Originally posted by topolina

Originally posted by marcag

Originally posted by BuckHamilton

I looked arround at the 45-49 male age group at augusta 70.3 last year and said god these guys look old I hope I do not look that old


A lot of people looked at the top 3 55-59 year olds this year at Syracuse and said "I wish I could be that fast". They guys were really strong.



I haven't noticed this in my case yet for the TRI on a regular basis, but this weekend I ran a 5K with close to 700 finishers and took second in my age group (F60-64), when I checked my time against other age groups in my gender I discovered I would have been on the podium for all 5 year age groups from 45-49 on up. That made me feel good. Still got that competitive spirit anyway.



Check this out
http://www.runnersworld.com/tools/age-graded-calculator

Don't tell LB but I think I'm faster than Jr



Edited by marcag 2014-07-23 6:00 PM


2014-07-23 6:39 PM
in reply to: marcag

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Subject: RE: Age group question
Originally posted by marcag

Originally posted by topolina

Originally posted by marcag

Originally posted by BuckHamilton

I looked arround at the 45-49 male age group at augusta 70.3 last year and said god these guys look old I hope I do not look that old


A lot of people looked at the top 3 55-59 year olds this year at Syracuse and said "I wish I could be that fast". They guys were really strong.



I haven't noticed this in my case yet for the TRI on a regular basis, but this weekend I ran a 5K with close to 700 finishers and took second in my age group (F60-64), when I checked my time against other age groups in my gender I discovered I would have been on the podium for all 5 year age groups from 45-49 on up. That made me feel good. Still got that competitive spirit anyway.



Check this out
http://www.runnersworld.com/tools/age-graded-calculator

Don't tell LB but I think I'm faster than Jr




I love the age-graded calculator. I was feeling bad about my slower times as I've aged until someone told me about that. Now I am faster than I was in my 30's based on that calculator. Not sure how that happened, but I'll take it.
2014-07-24 12:00 AM
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Subject: RE: Age group question


Edited by Left Brain 2014-07-24 12:02 AM
2014-07-24 12:03 AM
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Subject: RE: Age group question

Originally posted by marcag
Originally posted by topolina
Originally posted by marcag
Originally posted by BuckHamilton I looked arround at the 45-49 male age group at augusta 70.3 last year and said god these guys look old I hope I do not look that old
A lot of people looked at the top 3 55-59 year olds this year at Syracuse and said "I wish I could be that fast". They guys were really strong.
I haven't noticed this in my case yet for the TRI on a regular basis, but this weekend I ran a 5K with close to 700 finishers and took second in my age group (F60-64), when I checked my time against other age groups in my gender I discovered I would have been on the podium for all 5 year age groups from 45-49 on up. That made me feel good. Still got that competitive spirit anyway.
Check this out http://www.runnersworld.com/tools/age-graded-calculatorDon't tell LB but I think I'm faster than Jr

I'm faster now than I was when I was 3......and I don't even need a calculator, or training!!  It's crazy!!!  I have found the fountain of youth!



Edited by Left Brain 2014-07-24 12:04 AM
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