It’s just a number on your leg
Or is it more than that?
A few of my buddies were disappointed to have their age marked on their legs at the Sunday triathlon, especially after seeing some relayers* had gotten by without the leg marking.
Maybe disappointed is the wrong word. Annoyed? Embarrassed? Upset?
Whatever it was, I heard them mention several times that they didn’t want their age on their leg.
I’ve always said I am a bad guess of age when it comes to the people in my running and multisport club. Everyone stays fit and looks much younger than their true age!
So why not have the “I’m doing much more (athletically) than most people my age!” attitude and be proud of that? Why care if someone else knows your age? You’re only as young as you feel, right?
I probably don’t “get” this because I am regularly around people who are older than me and are doing amazing things. I don’t see age as a setback. I never think about age, until it goes the other way when someone seems immature.
Maybe I have a warped perspective, since I am surrounded here by people who are in to health and fitness?
All I know is, I wish my friends would be easier on themselves! I look to them for inspiration of how I’d like to be at their age. And no, that is not a back handed compliment.
Also, it could be worse. Hee hee. When I told Steven people were upset about their age on their legs, he thought they put your weight on there too, at triathlons. Can you imagine the reaction to that?!
Now, feel free to give me all the reasons I should give a crap about my age! Or tell me to STFU and that I’ll get it, eventually.
Of course, if I wasn’t being super lazy, I could talk about the work environment and how a younger age is sometimes detrimental there. But, yeah. Lazy.
*And actually, A LOT of solo triathletes weren’t marked either. Of course, someone told us we had to be marked, which is why we did it. Maybe that is part of the frustration? I think being marked is fun. Maybe that’s just me.
Themocracy
I’ll get to the point in a sec, but on a side note, until I raced in the Super Spartan with my EFit MultiSport Team, I had never had the occasion to be ‘marked’. Although in this instance, it was only my bib number it totally made me feel like an athlete….I was on cloud 9. As to the post of the day, bring it on…..put my age on my body….let the world know that (in some events such as the Spartan) I may be competing against people 20 years younger than me! Let the acknowledgement of my age be a reminder that we can do anything (well, within reason) that we want. Let me inspire others my age who haven’t had their epiphany yet…..BRING.IT.ON!
YES!!!! I was hoping you would comment, because I knew you would TOTALLY be on the same page! you are an inspiration!
I will be the first to admit to the “I’m approaching a new decade very shortly” anxiety but I don’t think being marked would bug me here – except that it was inconsistent. THAT would definitely irritate me because if I have to display mine it better not be singling me out, lol!
But just being marked? Eh. I’m already short and slow, showing my age doesn’t really seem that big a deal – getting out there is harder for me and if I’m already doing that? Colour on my leg alllll you like! 🙂
Such a good point – if you are out there, you have nothing to prove to anyone else! It’s all about our own race anyway (okay, except for the pros, ha ha).
I love that after years of not running I can run now – to me that’s my accomplishment. I will never be fast (fastER, but not fast) or a pro – so I definitly wasn’t talking about them, haha!
I have absolutely no problem with people knowing my age, but that’s probably because at 32, I’m not that old. And as I’ve been getting healthier and fitter the last few years, I feel better now than I ever did in my 20’s (and, I think, look a lot younger!). Though your comment about age in the workplace reminds me that when I was just starting out, I would never have indicated to a client that I was in my early 20’s and just out of school because it’d totally ruin my credibility. But now that I’ve been working at the same company for such a long damn time (9 years!), I’m sure no one gives my age/perceived age a second thought.
I do get a huge kick out of you late-20-somethings (not you, since you don’t care… though we’ll see where you are next summer!) FREAKING THE EFF OUT about turning 30. My 20’s were so crazy, often in a really bad way, that I was really excited to turn 30 and start a new decade! But each to their own, we’ll see how I feel when I turn 40 😉
I was telling Bobbi the other day how I was a manager at McDonald’s as soon as I turned 16, and at my first job out of college, how I had to tell construction workers twice my age what to do. Yeah. I don’t think it’s easier to get orders from someone so much younger than you. Although, Henry seems to like it (maybe since it’s only a year).
Don’t worry. I will not freak out about turning 30! I might be sad to not have another party though, since I just had one this year and it seems selfish to have one next year 🙂
Sorry no, Henry likes older women bossing him around 🙂
You should totally have a party for turning 30! I’m not saying it’s not a significant birthday! But one to celebrate. I had a huge party at the Brauhaus for my 30th. Actually, that’s how I’d like to celebrate every birthday. Or every day 🙂
GAHHH I commented but for some reason it did not go through… this post reminded me of mine and Anne’s convo during ZOOMA about how we have NO idea how old any bloggers were. We knew who was “older” and who was “younger,” but that’s about it. And, Anne assumed I was her age because my husband ages me. That is all.
I just assume everyone is more or less my age! And it turns out Rich IS my age (except a couple months younger)!
Sorry! I will check le spam filter! Thumbs down on the missing comment.
LOL! Because Rich looks older? My sister’s fiance looks older than he is too. 😉
That is interesting though. For some reason, I know how old most bloggers are. Because I have all your birthdays, muah ha ha.
No, because Rich is 6 years older than me. So I think when I turn 30 it’ll be TBD to me because, I’m always the young one. 🙂
Ahh, yeah. Steven is older than me, and his bro is like a zillion years old so I always have them to make fun of. And my own older bro 🙂
What sparked this post, interestingly enough, was my sister pretending to freak out about turning 24 this month 🙂
My first though was “Oh it’d be nice if everyone had their age on the back of their leg at road races so I could know if the lady I’m trying to catch is in my age group!” hah.
I don’t do tris, but isn’t it common to have your age (or age group) marked on your body? I don’t think it would bug me too much (ask me again in…4 days…eep) especially if that is what the race requires.
Maybe you care more as you get older? I am with you though – if you’re out there being active and healthy, who is anyone to judge? If they marked your age in line at McDonald’s then that might be a different story…
Ha ha ha. Start a movement to get them at road races?!
I think it is common! But I don’t know why. And looking at the pics Steven took at this race, a lot of people didn’t have them.
I was wondering if I will care as I get older. I will probably have robotic arms and sh*t then, so I will be even stronger than I am now!
*snort* McDonald’s body marking!
I have a December birthday, so even though I’m 42, I get 43 on my leg. I don’t care — I’m used to being marked up. I like seeing how young the older athletes look — it is very motivating!
BTW, I accidentally figured out early on that lotion or oil will take the marks right off. I put on sunscreen after I was body marked and smeared my numbers.
Ooo! Good accidental find!
I thought it was funny in June when I had to remember my USAT age, since my birthday is in July!
Ha ha! One of those people was me! I hereby declare that I will no longer be neurotic about my age. I will revel in the fabulousness of me! (Or at least till my birthday in October! :).
YAY!!!!! Please do! Because I think you ARE fab!!!! And you had a freaking SPEEDY swim time!!!!!
Age is just a number. When I turned 30, I didn’t mind one bit! I’m way happier now than I’ve ever been in my whole life!!!
So yeah, I’m 34, who really cares? Not me. Half the time I have to think how old I am!! (I totally had to think about it just now!!)
Now if we put our weight on our legs….hmmmm, I would NOT be a happy camper!!!!
Having my age displayed for all to see doesn’t completely bother me. Most people I meet believe me to be in my early 40’s. I equate this to the haggered look I have been sporting for the last 2 years.
What would TOTALLY bother me about having participants ages displayed would be my distraction towards them. Often, in my road races, I find myself sizing up runners who pass me. This especially happens if I’m not working at 100%. Seeing another runner whiz by me who is 20 years my senior has the potential to mess with my mental game. During my most recent race I passed a lady who’s shirt read, Don’t worry I’m not in your age group!!! LOVE IT!
So, as much as I wouldn’t be bothered by people knowing my age I would be distracted knowing theirs!
LOL! I never thought that! (about your age or said “haggard” look). Be nice to you! You look great and energetic!
Interesting point! Would you care as much if a younger person passed you? Or a male?
I wonder if that was a Mile One shirt. They have the coolest stuff!
Oh, I’m totally ok with my haggered look. It’s my season right now 😉 I’m totally owning and rocking it. I have plenty of years in my past and future to look fresh 😉
Ok…so…younger people, no I don’t mind them passing me. Heck, sometimes when one of the really athletic types pass me by it gives me a boost to move my butt!! Now, men..the only man I am distracted by is my husband passing me.
I’m with you. Maybe it’s because at 42 I feel better than I have in my whole life. Just a number…I’ve never understood the shame or secrecy some feel about it….
I’m still young so I feel like I don’t need to freak out about my age yet at all. I like that everyone has their age on their calf at triathlons so I know who I need to pass. And also it is pretty impressive when a 50yo (or 80) goes flying by you on the run or bike.
Please. I wish every race made us put our age on our legs. I want to know who I have to pass!
I mean, it’s not like we can’t look at people’s bib number in the online results and find out how old they are. It’s why all the runners in my running group don’t care about saying their age when it’s their birthday. We all know we can find out with a few keystrokes anyway 🙂
I am 57 and celebrate each and every birthday proudly! Compared to some people – I am old – and compared to some people – I am young! Don’t sweat the small stuff!
I wish you had to be marked in roadraces. My daad used to say that all the time when he was killing it in 5ks. He wanted to ensure he kicked all the other old guys arses! hehe
I dont understand the secrecy or embarrassment concerning an age. (maybe thats because im 31 and “look” 21)? whatever the hell that means.. But seriously? Why is there so much shame with aging- A PART OF LIFE WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT AVOID? Again, the media shames older people by saying they arent good enough because they have wrinkles or spots or whatever and they need botox to look like ridiculous chipmunks or facelifts to look younger because that’s “ideal.” I think people in general need to stop caring so much about how THEY think OTHER people perceive them. Because then they’d realize that NO ONE freaking cares if they have a few wrinkles or if their age starts with a 5 instead of a 4 or 3…. I mean c’mon lady in my office who is 44 and tells people she is 37, you arent fooling anyone! Embrace who you are. 🙂
Oh gosh. I could write a whole rant about people caring too much what others think. But it would end up being PAGES long.
I think it would be inspiring to see someone older than me kicking my ass. One of my Ragnar teammates is in her 50s, and damnit, I want to be like her when I grow up!
That is how I think about it too 🙂
I didn’t like the age put on my leg either last year when I did a bunch of triathlons. I don’t really get why that has to be. We all should be pushing ourselves regardless of the age of the person in front of us. 🙂
It’s funny you say this, as many commenters are saying they want to know ages so they know who to “pass.” LOL! Good point though. Run your own race 😉
My age is my motivation. It is a fun reminder that if you want to be awesome, your time to do it is dwindling! So get up and goooo!
OMG can you imagine putting weight on our legs?! Actually just imagine how many lies would be on legs… that would be horrific!
I love that they do that at tris. I just think it is so interesting, because I am horrible at guessing how old people are. I play a little game with myself where I guess first and then look at the leg to check. I usually way underestimate how old they are.
Like Kiersten, I love that they mark the age – for my last tri, I totally pushed it at the end b/c there was someone in my age group just ahead of me! I also think it’s amazing to see people who are 60 and 70 out there, still going strong.
At 41, I don’t mind having my age on my leg, and I don’t mind my age THAT much. The only thing that really bothers me is the fact that my body feels my age more, especially my knee. It’s ironic – I was pretty unhappy with my body (and myself) for years and years when I was younger. Now, I’m in a much better place mentally, and, of course, my body is breaking down.
I didn’t mind having my age marked on my leg for the triathlons I’ve done. I liked seeing it on other people too during and after the race. During the race it was interesting to see how old people who were passing me were (or if they were in my age group and I should HTFU) and after the race I found it interesting to see that the guy who had to point out how red my face was (and not even say anything else to me!) was 51 and should have better manners. Maybe it’s wrong to assume that someone who is 51 should have better manners?
I think tactless comes in all ages 😉 And! Sometimes it’s a cultural thing, too. LOL!
I’m be totally down for leg marking at road races especially the small ones where I’m aiming for a time group! At least it is just your age and not your weight… that would be more of a big deal and something to cry about, I think. Age to me is just a number.
And, I definitely look up to the older women in my training group who are twice my age that are still out there, kicking butt and taking names and look so much younger. It is definitely something I admire. I’d definitely like to still look like 28 when I’m 48!
I’m ok with having 50 on the back of my leg. LOL
i personally don’t care but i know how some women are and can respect that (like how i wouldn’t be too keen on having my weight on my leg). they age marked me and i heard people say the earlier people that were marked got away without the age b/c the markers were informed.
Harrison cares a lot more about his age than I do. He usually complains around his birthday that he’s “old” now even though we both look super young. I am not “at an age” where I care yet, but I think once/if I do care, it will be because I worry that people will judge me for my age. Or maybe it’s because age-marking will serve as an overt reminder to myself that I am now ___ years old and that will make me sad that my youth is slipping away or gone. Which just goes to show that age is all what you make of it? Maybe? I don’t know. Gah, I’m babbling.