[LookiLoo]

So I've been watching the registration for the inaugaral NC Beach 2 Battleship iron distance race with great interest. It opened on Janurary 2nd, race cap is 500, and they are already at 414 registered (1 week!). What I found really interesting is the age distribution of the registrants:<br><br>
<20 n=1<br>
20-29 n=53<br>
30-39 n=142<br>
40-49 n=158<br>
50-59 n= 53<br>
>60 n=7<br><br>
I'm shocked that the largest number of registrants populate the 40-49 age group - is this normal for iron distance races? I would have expected the 20's or 30's to have more players - why is this? Do people find they have more time in their 40's to take on such a huge commitment?<br><br>
I realize this is a much smaller sample size than that of an IM brand race; I'm wondering if it's similar across the board?<br><br>
This may be of no interest or big news to anyone besides me, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[TriBob]

It is an excuse to get out of the house. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[LookiLoo]

I kind of wondered if it was something along those lines. Mid-life crisis, perhaps? That's what I call my new found addiction to tri's <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[BethR]

I think the longer distances generally attract older folks. The young guys often lack the discipline needed to train for endurance races. - and maybe the $ to train and register for the longer races too!

 

[rottensquirrel]

I think it is mid-life crisis. As people get into their 40's they start thinking about their mortality, start thinking of ways they can get fit, lose weight and find new challenges in life.

 

[hobey]

I don't think it's necessarily a midlife crisis.<br><br>
20s - Most people are very social in other parts of their life and branching out trying to figure out what they want to do re: careers, love, etc. They may work out sporadically and enter races for fun but not necessarily to compete. It makes sense longer distances would not appeal so much to this group<br>
30s - A lot of people are starting families and advancing their careers so training time is limited but $$$ is generally more plentiful<br>
40s - Kids are growing up and involved in other activities. Money is generally not as big of an issue.<br>
50s & up - age starts catching up<br><br>
I found it interesting that in many of my races last year, I was MOP in my AG but would outright win the 25-29 group if you compared my results. 30-45 in my area is extremely competitive.

 

[Thor]

1! All of it.

 

[RunningForT3]

To summarize what Hobey said:<br>
20s - people have a life<br>
30s - people have kids and a nice new family<br>
40s - people do Ironmans<br>
Research shows the 3 exclude each other in most cases. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[paulboth]

What hobey said! Besides, what IS a midlife crisis??? I guess I'm midlife at 41 and there is no crisis here.<br><br><br>
Paul

 

[rottensquirrel]

Midlife crisis is probably the wrong term suggesting buying a convertible and/or cheating on your spouse. Midlife return to fitness is more fitting and longer distances and triathlon are a challenge as you get more fit. I agree that the 30-45 age groups are frequently the most competitive.<br>
As an aside, I leased a convertible several years ago and I think I might get another despite the limited use New England weather.

 

[rottensquirrel]

I also agree that in your 20's and 30's you do not have the time although I am in my 40's and still do not have the time to train for a marathon/Ironman. On second thought I also do not have the inclination to go beyond half marathon/Olympic in the foreseeable future.

 

[roostertrax]

<img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif">

 

[spinandrun]

Definitely mid-life crisis and dread of potential empty nest for me. Additionally, in my opinion, it takes years to build an aerobic base strong enough to safely withstand the rigors of IM training and racing.<br>
Cheryl

 

[Tithers]

LOL...I sent an email to the RD saying I was signing up b/c there were no IM spots left...ha!<br>
Then the next day they announced IMAZ November.<br><br>
So-I was almost registered. Sounds like an interesting IronDistance!

 

[VictorN]

As one who will be 50 next year, I can't wait to move to another age bracket. Unfortunately, all the fast guys keep aging too.<br><br>
Victor

 

[bcc594]

I'll post as a twenty-something here - I don't think that I lack the time or the commitment to train for an IM distance race. Furthermore, I've been doing endurance sports since I was in elementary school. Aerobic base probably isn't the issue. I think that the main reason why the 20-30 age-groups are so empty is the cost involved.<br>
It interesting to watch the periodic discussions about IM-prices over on Slowtwitch. The guys (and girls) there are mostly older, and debate the pros and cons of thousand-dollar wheelsets. A lot of those folks are in favour of raising the prices on IM-branded events to the 'level the market will bear'. I really believe that all that would do is wipe out the 20-25 and 25-30 age groups.

 

[kimber45]

Victor, I will be 50 in November,2008. But we are placed in the age group of the age we will be in 2008. We don't have to wait until the actual date of our birthday. So if I race in May, even though I'll only be 49, I'll be racing in the 50 age group. At least that's what I was told........and it came from a reliable source.<img alt="notworthy.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/notworthy.gif">

 

[LookiLoo]

<img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"> So now we're wishing ourselves older so that we are more competitive in our age group <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"><br><br>
bcc - you're right, unfortunately the cost thing is still inhibiting to most I think, but likely even more when you are in your twenties. I'm pushing 40 right now, and it's still hard for me to justify dropping 2-3000 on a tri bike, or to pay all of those race fees when I'm trying to save for retirement and my dd's college fund at the same time....I'm just planning on playing the game as much as I can afford to, but no $1500 wheelsets for me <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[donskiman]

That doesn't surprise me at all. Just looking at the results from a local 10K indicates the largest number of participants by far for both men and women were in the 40-49 age group. Next for men was 50-59, for women it was 30-39.<br><br>
The fastest times generally come from the 30-39 group, but the older groups are very competitive and it's tough to place.<br><br>
As others have said, I think the younger groups are not as dedicated to training because they have other priorities, plus the cost factor. For me the cost factor for running and triathlons is actually significantly less than my former passion for skiing.

 

[VictorN]

kimber45,<br><br>
Yes, I think you are right about the timing. I turn 50 about 4 months after you, so I'll be 50 for pretty much all of 2009, no matter how you figure it.<br><br>
I hope you aren't faster than me and racing in New England.<br><br>
Victor