In January of this year, I made the decision at 70 years of age to transition from a sedentary lifestyle on the road to declining health to Ironman athlete.
I did it because I was tired of being tired all the time and feeling old.
Seeing myself in vacation photos made me realize I wasn’t feeling confident in my body.
And I knew if I didn’t do an immediate lifestyle 180, there was a good chance I was putting my long-term health at serious risk
I thought training for an Ironman would be a good way of getting my health back, and I made my Ironman attempt in Ottawa on August 3rd.
Although I was unable to make the finish line due to a bike crash, I learned some important lessons along the way.
You can read my full race report here.
Personal Growth Through Ironman Training
Training for an Ironman at age 70 was hard, one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But it was also one of the greatest things I’ve ever done because it was life changing.
It was a transformative journey that went way beyond the realms of physical fitness. It required me to get healthy again, push beyond self-imposed age limitations, discover untapped potential, and gain profound insights about what is possible.
It helped me find myself
During training, I re-discovered the depths of my strength – how gritty and stubborn I am. I made a promise to myself not to miss any training sessions and managed to get them all done, although it was difficult at times because of bad weather and poor air quality caused by the forest fires out West.
An added bonus is the new friends I made along the way
One of the best things about training is the people you meet on the journey.
I met and became friends with some wonderful people, including the Iron Ladies, a group of triathletes I now train with.
It’s all about the camaraderie and bond that is created with others. The bond is strong because of the values and goals we share along with the suffering.
My happiest discovery was that training with others became play and made me feel like a child again.
I was able to get my health back by playing hard and often with others.
Redefining Limits: Ironman Lessons on Aging
I learned that the only limits on my life are the limits I place on myself. When I pushed beyond my perceived 70-year-old limits, everything opened up for me.
I unlocked mental and physical reserves I’d forgotten I had.
In the race, I finished the swim just a couple of minutes ahead of the oldest person in the race, who was 82. Either he was fast, or I was slow, I still don’t know the answer to that one.
On the positive side, I finished ahead of some fifty-year-old swimmers and even managed to pass some younger people on the bike as well.
My Ironman adventure triggered a big change in attitude and my understanding of what it means to grow old.
Future Fitness Goals After Ironman
I do not plan on making another Ironman attempt because training for them is too time-consuming, and there are other things I want to invest my time in, like writing another book.
But having said that, I do not want to give up and grow soft like many retirees seem to do.
My goal is to live a fully functioning life for as long as I can.
Next year, my plan is to take my current level of fitness and improve on it, getting faster and stronger in the process.
I know I can’t stop the aging clock, but I know I can slow it down and remain in better shape than average until my eighties and hopefully beyond. The performance of the 82-year-old in the race proved to me what’s possible.
It makes me smile knowing that if I continue to put the work in, I can functionally be the same person I was at fifty in my eighties.
Life is precious, and I want to make sure I am doing everything I can to protect and prolong it.
Going The Distance
Even though I did not finish the race, I take great pride in what I was able to accomplish over my six-month Ironman journey.
Because of the training, I feel both mentally and physically stronger. I have much more energy and feel much younger than my actual years.
I gained a sense of achievement and confidence for the future and my ability to get through whatever challenges life might throw my way.
I still wear my Ironman wrist band as a reminder to keep improving and not get lazy and lose my health again.
Wearing it reminds me that I can accomplish most anything I want, things I once thought impossible, if I want it bad enough and if I’m willing to do the work. I plan on wearing it till it falls off.
These days sixty, seventy, and eighty-year-olds are living extraordinary lives by staying active, having goals, having fun connecting with similar minded people, eating healthfully, and continuing to challenge themselves.
In 10 years, I expect to be in reasonable shape. Sure, there will be some decline, but just like that 82-year-old athlete at Ironman Ottawa, nothing significant.
Twenty years from now, when I’m ninety and think back on some of the most memorable days of my life, my Ironman Ottawa adventure will be one of my most cherished memories.
It’s where I earned my health back, met and became friends with some wonderful people, and I will always be part of a special club – who knows, I might even get an Ironman tattoo!
