The Coach: Old Guys' Club












Since the majority of athletes working with CTS Coaches are older than 35, and Lance Armstrong was 37 when he returned to competition following his retirement, I get a lot of questions about athletes and aging. I think the reason we're seeing improved performances from a larger number of older athletes (there have always been successful older athletes, there just seem to be more now) is due to a greater understanding of training, nutrition, recovery, and injury prevention/treatment. Put simply, athletes are taking better care of themselves now because there are more resources available and they have more access to information about how to use those resources. For instance, access to and utilization of physical therapy by endurance athletes - of all ages - can help keep small injuries from becoming chronic problems.


Learning to supply your body with better fuel helps maintain energy levels and the motivation to get out there and train with the intensity necessary to build and maintain optimal fitness. And in my experience, older athletes actually have the best recovery habits. They tend to be more settled in their lifestyles and careers, meaning they have more manageable work schedules, have the finances to purchase healthier food, and don't feel as much need to stay up late. All of these things can keep athletes engaged in their sports longer, and in endurance sports, training benefits accumulate over time. Even as athletes age, I believe the benefits of continued training lead to performance improvements that can equal or surpass the declines brought on by growing older (to a point... VO2 intervals are not the fountain of youth).


But, you say, the old guys didn't win! Well, you're right, they didn't. But to say that they were beaten to the finish line today just because they're older than the winner would be to discredit the strength and power of Pierrick Fedrigo. He didn't win because he was younger, he won because he was the strongest rider at the end of a 200-kilometer stage in the mountains and he positioned himself best in the final sprint to the finish line.


And with that, I'm taking my 49-year-old self out for a hard training ride. I have the four-day La Ruta de los Conquistadores mountain bike stage race in Costa Rica to train for! Chris Carmichael is Founder and CEO of Carmichael Training Systems and coach to Lance Armstrong. In 2010, CTS is celebrating its 10th Anniversary of being the premier destination for coaching, camps, and performance testing. For information on what CTS can do for your performance, visit, call 866-355-0645, or find us on Facebook at

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