Category: Training

One of the most common questions I hear from senior triathletes is simple:

“Where can I find a group to train with?”

It’s a fair question—and an important one.

As triathlon coach Laura Rossetti recently noted, “If you don’t always have a community, you just don’t do the work.” For athletes over 50, that community often makes the difference between getting started—and staying consistent.

To better understand how senior triathletes are finding their “tribe,” I reached out in three ways:

• Conversations with athletes, including members of FCA Endurance and of The Villages Triathlon Club
• A short survey of readers and fellow triathletes
• Research into existing clubs and training communities

What I found may surprise you—and may make your search much easier.

Why Finding a Group Matters After 50

Training for a triathlon is not just about following a plan. For many athletes over 50, it’s about:

• Accountability — showing up when motivation dips
• Safety — especially on the bike
• Consistency — steady progress over time (especially when supported by proper recovery strategies for triathletes over 50)
• Connection — enjoying the process with others

In fact, among survey respondents, the most frequently cited benefits of group training were social connection, motivation, accountability, and safety.

In other words, the “tribe” matters as much as the training.

What We’re Seeing in the Real World

Groups Are More Common Than You Think

Of those who responded to the survey:

• Most train with others either regularly or occasionally
• Only a small number reported always training alone

That’s encouraging. It means you’re not alone in wanting to train with others—and there are more opportunities than you might expect.

People Find Their Groups Through People

The most common ways athletes found their group were:

• Through a triathlon club
• Through a friend or family member

Many senior triathletes don’t start by searching for a formal organization. They start by meeting one or two people—and building from there.

Not All “Groups” Are Clubs

When asked what type of group they train with most often, responses were split between:

• Organized triathlon clubs
• Informal groups of friends

Your “tribe” might be a club—or it might simply be two or three people who ride, run, or swim together consistently.

What Training Together Actually Looks Like

The most common group activities were:

• Group rides
• Swim workouts
• Group runs

Cycling and swimming, in particular, benefit from structure and shared experience—especially for older athletes who also need to balance training with effective strength training for senior endurance athletes.

Many athletes also combine different types of training environments rather than relying on just one. For example, they may belong to a triathlon club while also participating in single-sport sessions such as group rides or swim workouts, along with social meetups and shared race trips.

A Personal Note on Training Alone vs. Together

When I first began preparing for triathlon, I didn’t have a group.

“After registering for this triathlon, I realized how little I knew about preparing for one. Nevertheless, I relished the challenge. I read triathlon-related articles in my spare time. I swam, biked, ran, and did various body weight and core-strengthening exercises six days per week.”

Much of that early training was done alone. Over time, I came to appreciate the value of structure—and the energy that comes from training with others.

Even something as simple as a spin class introduced a new dimension:

“The ‘girl’ who led my 5:30 a.m. classes left me exhausted in the wake of her sprints, climbs, intervals, and endurance segments.”

Many of these early training experiences—and what I learned about training, consistency, and community—are described in Triathlon Adventures Across America, where I share how I trained and competed in all 50 states between ages 58 and 70.

A Starting Point: Training Communities for Senior Triathletes

To make this more practical, here is a starting list of training communities where athletes over 50 are actively participating.

This is not a complete directory—just a credible starting point. Many of these groups were shared directly by athletes in our community.

Training Communities (U.S., Canada, Ireland, UK)

Club/Group	Location	Notes for Athletes 50+	Open to New Athletes	Link
Baltimore Area Triathlon Club	Baltimore MD	Growing 50+ participation	Yes	Website
Bethany Swim Bike Run	Bethany Beach DE	Informal community-based group	Not specified	Facebook Group
Carlow Triathlon Club	Carlow, Ireland	Open to new members over 50; member joined at age 70	Yes	Website
Clermont Triathlon Club	Clermont FL	Inclusive all levels	Yes	Website
DFW Tri Club	Dallas–Fort Worth TX	Large metro community	Yes	Facebook Group
FW Tri Club (Friends Who Tri)	Fort Worth, TX	Active local club; welcomes athletes 50+	Yes	Facebook Group
Coalville Triathlon Club	Leicestershire UK	Welcoming to older athletes	Yes	Website
Ocala Triathletes	Ocala FL	Beginner-friendly, social	Yes	Website
Team Triumph	Ottawa ON Canada	Age-diverse, welcoming	Yes	Website
Portland Triathlon Club	Portland OR	Lots of athletes over 50	Yes	Website
Sacramento Triathlon Club	Sacramento CA	Many athletes over 50	Yes	Website
Golden Gate Triathlon Club	San Francisco CA	Large club with active 50+ presence	Yes	Website
Team Blaze Spokane	Spokane, Washington	Membership-based swim, bike, and run coaching	Yes	Website
The Villages Triathlon Club	The Villages FL	Strong 50+ community	Yes	Facebook Group
Tulsa Area Triathletes	Tulsa OK	Active regional club	Yes	Website
DC Tri Club	Washington DC	Strong 50+ presence	Yes	Website

Know a Group We Should Include?

This list is just the beginning—and with your help, it can become a valuable resource for triathletes over 50 looking to find their own “tribe.”

If you train with a club, virtual community, or informal group that welcomes older athletes, I’d love to include it—and continue building this as a resource others can rely on.

Your input could help another athlete:

• Find a local group
• Stay consistent with training
• Take the first step toward their first or next triathlon

Please share:

• Group name
• Location
• Link (if available)

Submit your group here: Groups for Triathletes Over 50.

Or, if it’s easier, just send me a quick email.

I’ll review submissions and continue updating this list so others can benefit.

Thank you for helping build this community.

You Don’t Have to Find a “Senior-Only” Group

One important takeaway:

Many senior triathletes are thriving in general triathlon clubs—not age-specific ones.

Several respondents noted that clubs often include a meaningful number of athletes over 50, and that age diversity can be a strength rather than a barrier.

Virtual Communities: A Growing Option

Not all tribes meet in one place.

Groups like FCA Endurance and Peloton, two virtual groups mentioned by our survey respondents, provide a different kind of connection—one that combines training, racing, and shared purpose.

In one of my races, I encountered FCA athletes gathering before the start:

“Before the race, several dozen participants and a few spectators gathered for Bible reading and prayer. The leader reminded us that our performance and attitude on the course represented another way to worship.”

For some athletes, this type of community adds a deeper dimension to the sport.

I plan to explore how athletes get involved in communities like this—and how they train and race together—in a future post.

How to Find Your Tribe

Based on what we’ve learned—and what other athletes are actually doing—here are a few practical ways to get started:

• Start with local clubs or fitness centers
• Ask friends, training partners, or race contacts
• Try group rides, runs, or Masters swimming
• Explore virtual communities if local options are limited

One athlete offered this advice:

“Search online for your area, attend local bike shop rides, go to races and strike up a conversation, volunteer at a race.”

Your tribe doesn’t have to be large. It just has to be consistent.

Final Thought

You don’t have to train alone—and you don’t have to figure this out by yourself.

Whether it’s a formal club, a virtual community, or just a few training partners, finding your tribe can make all the difference—not just in how you train, but in how long you stay in the sport.

Does This Match Your Experience?

Please share comments and questions in the Comments below.

Comments: Join the conversation below — Click on “Subscribe” (located above the Comment box) if you’d like to be alerted to replies to your Comment. Even if you do not submit a comment, you may subscribe to be notified when a new comment is published. Please note that I review all comments before they are posted.

I am constantly hearing about the importance of strength training for seniors, especially senior endurance athletes. And, I don’t think it’s just because I have become sensitized to its importance.

According to the authors of Muscle tissue changes with aging, “One of the most striking effects of age is the involuntary loss of muscle mass, strength, and function, termed sarcopenia. Muscle mass decreases approximately 3–8% per decade after the age of 30 and this rate of decline is even higher after the age of 60.”

Senior Triathletes coach Tony Washington shared about strength training and its importance to senior triathletes and other multi-sport endurance athletes. According to Tony, senior triathletes and other multi-sport endurance athletes should prioritize strength training as the fourth discipline in triathlon.

Key Takeaways from Coach Tony Washington

• Strength training is the “fourth discipline” of triathlon—critical for performance late in races
• Most breakdowns are muscular, not cardiovascular, especially under fatigue
• Injury prevention is the primary goal, particularly in the lower legs
• Senior athletes need more strength work, not less, to offset age-related decline
• Think beyond strength: stability → mobility → strength
• Consistency matters most—do something every day

These points challenged how I had been thinking about strength training—and how I applied it in my own training.

Let’s look more closely at how these ideas apply specifically to senior endurance athletes.

Strength training is just one part of a complete training plan. See how it fits into a broader approach to triathlon training after 50.

Strength Training for Senior Multisport Endurance Athletes

Since publishing my experience with triathlon icon Mark Allen’s strength training program, the post has been among the top most read on SeniorTriathletes.com.

This is not surprising, given the intrinsic loss of strength with age. There is plenty of evidence to show that we may not stop this decline, but we can absolutely slow it down through consistent strength training. This includes some strength training every day, according to Tony Washington.

For a sedate person, starting at about age 40, they can lose as much as a percent of strength per year.

Tony Washington

Before you leave thinking you don’t have time to go to the gym seven days a week, listen to Tony’s approach to strength training and how you can supplement visits to the gym or weight room with strength training while going about your day.

My Conversation with Tony Washington

Milestones in our Conversation

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire conversation now, you can download it for later listening. You can also jump to a specific point within the conversation. Just remember, points later in the conversation often build on those Tony made earlier in it.

• 1:11 – Strength training is underappreciated in triathlon
• 3:07 – Key goal for strength training
• 5:15 – Ways strength training for seniors differs from that for our younger selves
• 8:25 – Three targets for strength training
• 13:37 – Changes in strength training for seniors as we age
• 18:41 – Differences in strength training between men and women
• 21:30 – Approaching strength training when transitioning from a single endurance sport to triathlon
• 24:55 – Influence of race distance on strength training
• 27:11 – Reader question about preventing injury when strength training for the bike
• 30:30 – Final advice: “Do some strength training every day.”

What Tony Washington Wants Senior Endurance Athletes To Remember

Three ideas stood out from my conversation with Tony Washington. First, strength training is not simply about lifting heavier weights. Second, senior athletes benefit from doing some form of strength work consistently, even if it is brief. Third, strength developed in isolation is not enough; we need strength we can use when swimming, biking, and running while tired.

1. Think Stability, Mobility, Then Strength

Tony describes strength training for senior endurance athletes as having three targets: stability, mobility, and strength. Stability helps us control movement and avoid injury. Mobility helps us remain strong through a useful range of motion. Strength helps us continue moving well, especially late in a workout or race.

This is especially important for runners and triathletes because running is, in Tony’s words, much like repeatedly hopping from one foot to the other. Each foot strike places significant force through the feet, ankles, calves, knees, hips, and back. A strong body that is also stable and mobile is better prepared to absorb and return that force.

2. Do Some Strength Training Every Day

This may be the most practical takeaway from our conversation—strength training does not need to be a separate workout to be effective. Tony isn’t suggesting that every senior athlete needs to go to the gym seven days a week. Instead, he encourages athletes to do something—a few simple movements added naturally to other movements—every day along with at least two structured strength sessions each week. These can include:

• Calf raises while waiting for coffee, the microwave, or an appointment.
• Standing on one foot while brushing your teeth.
• Bodyweight squats, lunges, or step-ups during a short break.
• Walking up steps two at a time, instead of one.

The point is consistency. Small movements repeated often can help make strength training part of an athlete’s lifestyle rather than one more item competing for time on the training calendar. In other words, strength training becomes something you do throughout the day—not just something you schedule.

One point Tony emphasized really stood out to me:

3. Prepare the Body To Perform While Tired

In triathlon, especially, we are rarely performing on fresh legs—the ability to maintain form while tired is what ultimately determines performance. Tony also mentioned using a series of intervals after harder efforts, especially biking and running, to simulate the feeling of longer-distance racing. This prevents overuse fatigue and injury, while still building endurance.

For senior athletes, this does not mean forcing hard workouts when exhausted. It means gradually and safely teaching the body to maintain good form when fatigue is present. Strength training helps support that goal by improving durability, balance, posture, and muscular endurance.

This is where many races are decided—not by fitness alone, but by how well we hold form when tired.

My Main Takeaway About Strength Training for Senior Triathletes

According to Tony Washington, strength training for senior triathletes is less about lifting weights and more about building a body that can handle the demands of swimming, biking, and running—especially when fatigued. For older athletes, this means focusing on stability, mobility, and strength, and finding simple ways to include these throughout the day. Done consistently, this approach not only improves performance but helps us continue swimming, biking, and running well into the later decades of life (see also Recovery After 50).

While strength training creates the stimulus for improvement, the actual adaptation happens during recovery—especially during sleep. Improving sleep quality is one of the simplest ways to get more out of your strength work and continue making progress over time.

Want to see how this works in practice? Here’s my experience following a structured strength program here: Strength Training for Triathletes: My Experience With Mark Allen’s Approach

What Do You Think?

How has Tony’s perspective changed your idea of strength training? What did you find most interesting or thought provoking? Post your comments below.

Comments: Join the conversation below — Click on “Subscribe” (located above the Comment box) if you’d like to be alerted to replies to your Comment. Even if you do not submit a comment, you may subscribe to be notified when a new comment is published. Please note that I review all comments before they are posted.

This post was originally published on April 18, 2023. I updated it on September 23, 2024 because of a keener sense of the importance of this topic for older athletes. The latest revision was on April 23, 2026.