"I'd rather be seen on my bicycle than on a park run" - Quote from the dark side

Wednesday 5 February 2014

Uhm... was that a challenge...?

I was talking to someone at work about the beach and ocean at Mauritius where we went in January. We were looking at this photo...


I mentioned that it is an ideal place for open water swimming and that I did indeed see a few people swimming along the beach for exercise. Our conversation ended at triathlons and ironman.

I said that Mauritius would be a great place to train for ironman. It was then that he made the following statement to me:

"It's a pity you never did and ironman before you got old. You will never know what it's like..."

Yip, he said it just like that!

Now then...I'm not old! Only 50! Plus I'm a good swimmer and used to cycle to university every day. I've done a few triathlons. All in the late 1990's and I was not bad at all.

Was that a challenge? I know I'm a trail and ultra runner through blood and bone, but I'm certainly far from too old to still become an ironman.


Mmm...this is sticking in my head. What do you think?

17 comments:

misszippy said...

50 is the new 30. Go for it!

coach dion said...

You have to do it now... I could never swim, and only ever used my bike for transport, but 180km on the bike never scared me. The swim scared me.

With out real training I did ironman and I tell you if you train a bit it isn't that bad, so go for it...

Karien P. said...

You'll rock it :) .

Karien P. said...

You'll rock it :) .

Kate Geisen said...

Ooh...I say go for it if it calls to you. That guy didn't know what he was talking about!

Michael said...

First you aren't old at all! You would do an IM without any issues.

Second, maybe it was just a challenge, if not, who is he??? Does he realize the mileage you put in?

I would only do it if you want to. I don't think everyone has to do an IM to prove anything!

Amy said...

Oooh, those are fighting words!!! Looks like you got a gauntlet thrown down before your feet, LOL!

One Crazy Penguin said...

People have no idea what they are talking about most of the time. I know people who are in better shape at 50 than some people who are 25!

Raina said...

I'd take it as a challenge!! It would be a great way to start the second half of your life :) www.smalltownrunner.com

Char said...

Rude. If 50 makes you old then I'm old too and I certainly don't feel like it. You might just have something to prove from all of us young 50 year olds.

ajh said...

I say go for it. I would love to follow you on an Ironman journey. Someone calling you old is laughable.

Jerry Smallwood said...

What a silly comment, you know you can do it. Now go and prove them wrong.

Robin said...

Definitely not too old to be an ironman. Read this article....he only started doing ironman at 65! He's 72 now and has won 7 world championships!

http://www.ckom.com/story/sask-ironman-wins-world-championship-triathlon-72/139889

Black Knight said...

You can do it.
When I was 50 I ran a marathon in 3:46:32.

Tina @GottaRunNow said...

Sounds like you need to do it!

Liz said...

Ha, what a cheek! I'd love to read about you doing an ironman - go for it!

Paul said...

What a numnut. Doesn't pay much attention to what people do nowadays does he?

e.g. the 60's couple than ran a marathon a DAY for a YEAR around the perimeter of AUSTRALIA.

You should challenge HIM to do something! Tell him I suspect he's TOO OLD.