There are actually many reasons, but here are the main 2 IMO.
- Your new fit body shape will become a drawcard and an inspiration.
- If you do get injured, there are always another 2 disciplines to keep you training.
Convinced? Great, here is the link to Triathlon Australia. Otherwise, read on.
I started triathlon at age 49, just prior to my mid-life crisis. I did a short course local club triathlon, which included a 750m swim, 21 km cycle, and 5 km run, and thought, well, that wasn't so bad. Then I went to Fiji on holiday, drank too many Fiji Bitters, and entered a full-distance IronMan, in four month's time. True Story. IronMan includes a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike ride, and then a 42.2 km marathon.
Since then, I have completed numerous standard distance triathlons, and about another five odd half IronMan Triathlons, or should I say 70.3 distance. Those who do them hate the fact they're called half IronMan, but just so you know, male or female, you can only be an Iron Man if you do a full Ironman, and that is something that elicits a ton of emotion, and lets go of any childhood trauma when you cross that line after completing 226 km. If you don't train, you will probably die.
I completed my first full Ironman in 2016, then went to Italy for #2 on the island of Elba and it got flooded during the swim. The only reason I went to Italy was that my wife at the time said if she was going to be an IronMan widow, then the race better be somewhere exciting. I thought Italy would do the trick. As it turned out, it was a shitty investment on both fronts.
This was the 13th race, and the town on race day had a flash flood, which literally happened while the 3.8 km swim was in progress and flooded the entire town. You can read more about that in my book (From Zero to Ironman.).
Now 10 years later, odd, here I am still doing triathlon, albeit badly, and trying not to die.
Why?
Well, to sum it up, I would say:
- Community
- Weight management
- Limits the alcohol & drugs
- I get to buy new toys in the name of health
- Overall mental and physical health
Just kidding on #3.
But beware, I was not the first to think triathlon was a good idea in my fifties. The 50-59 age group is one of the most competitive, and times are often not far off the 20-29 category. From 30-49, I think most folk are off building careers and raising kids. I'm just hoping the 60 - 69 category will be a little more forgiving.
What's next for me? The T100 in the Gold Coast, of course. There is still time. See you there.
So plan your Triathlon debut in 2026. Make new friends, spend the school fees you no longer have to pay, look better naked, and try not to die.