Where The Sport Is Heading - July 12, 2009

Caps emailed me today and forwarded a link over to the results to the Quelle Roth Challenge Iron distance race over in Germany that took place today.  The stunner was Chrissy Wellington posting an 8:31 finishing time.  I'm in shock and disbelief.  Four women were under 9 hours.  One male under 8 hours and 5 males under 8:05.

This comes a few weeks after Ironman Germany where the top 3 times for the age group men in the 40-44 age division were 8:38, 8:40 and 8:51 (age-groupers not pros).  The top 3 in the mens 35-39 age group went 8:38, 8:44 and 8:48.  Seriously, what the heck is going on?  62 men in the 40-44 age group broke under 10 hours at Ironman Germany.  62 men!!!

So what does that now mean, if you are a male 40-44 age grouper and you post a 9:50, you get a response that includes a yawn, a shoulder shrug and a comment that probably includes, "Big deal...you aren't even top 10%."

By the numbers;

• 183.2 - today's weight (January 1, 2009 weight was 184.2)  Goal weight for 10/25/09 is 165
• 106 - Days until the Marine Corp Marathon
• 176 - Total days trained in 2009  
• 0.00 - miles run today
• 14.00 - miles on current pair of shoes
• 969.25 - Miles run in 2009

Comments

[Jim]

My plan was to continue in this sport until my rate of improvement year after year, along with my increasing age would get me an agegroup placing and maybe a slot before I was too old and feeble to continue. Looks like that plan is OUT THE WINDOW!

[Sam]

Paul,

I know you are the competitive sort, but a a sub-10 IM still impresses me. I know the sport is getting faster, but the idea of a real separation between amateurs (defined as people that carry real jobs with real responsibilities) and pros (whose job is to train) is getting blurred.

When I played golf, I remember hearing a quote from JFK that went something like, "Show me a man with a great golf game, and I'll show you a man who has been neglecting something."

I think it's the same for tri. If you've got a real life with real responsibilities, going sub-9 means you are ignoring something else.