2013: Tri-ing something new

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

... And when your main goal is to finish faster than a 70 year old woman, you can afford to wing it a bit.

All I can say about that is to repeat this short extract from my Sydney Half-Marathon race report last year... remember there are plenty of astonishing 70-year olds!

Here though, as we approach 19km, something a little remarkable happens: from behind I hear this frail but insistent voice half-yelling "Coming through! Excuse me, thank you! Coming through!", and passing me on my right is a four-foot nothing elderly waif of a woman running gamely past what for the most part is a group of young, fit, healthy runners who are doing OK thank you. Still, here's this elderly elf boldly overtaking the lot of us. I'm greatly impressed and pick up my pace enough to stride with her a while and ask "Excuse me, but exactly how young are you, if you don't mind me asking?" "I'm in my 71st year" she happily replies. "Well you're an inspiration - that's fantastic running!" I say, to which she modestly replies "Well thank you, but I'm finding it a bit of a challenge." Challenge my foot - she zooms off and I see no more of her. Astonishing lady!