triathlon related question - age group, or????

[divingbiker]

Well, I certainly qualify as an Athena and entered in that category once last year, but I hated it. I feel way more kinship with the other people in my age group (50-54) than the 20-something Athenas. Since I'm not going to come close to winning in either category, I'd rather start in a wave with my peers.

And an added bonus is that in all but one of the tris I've done, the old ladies start early (after the pros and elites) while the Athenas start about an hour and a half later. I hated standing around getting nervous while the temperature got hotter and hotter.

[colby]

Well, I certainly qualify as an Athena and entered in that category once last year, but I hated it. I feel way more kinship with the other people in my age group (50-54) than the 20-something Athenas. Since I'm not going to come close to winning in either category, I'd rather start in a wave with my peers.

And an added bonus is that in all but one of the tris I've done, the old ladies start early (after the pros and elites) while the Athenas start about an hour and a half later. I hated standing around getting nervous while the temperature got hotter and hotter.

Good perspective - some races do not differentiate Athena and Masters Athena when it comes to the start, and there are usually fewer Masters Athena racers so you're right about the youngins. I think my mother in law might agree with you - more fun starting in her age group vs. Athena. I don't think she's had the choice yet, though, so far she's only done the Danskin which doesn't have a separate Athena category.