Joe Bonness is a frigging stud. he's been kicking butt for a while now.

Well it is a fact that your top end potential does become less with age, this guy's top end might have just been so high to start with that even though he is now in his 50s, he can still smoke 95% of the people who race. Just think if this guy would have reached his true potential back in his 20s/30s, he might have won 15 IMs in a row and be the King of Kona!

And then there was his KONA FINISH last weekend in 09:46:36 :)

Joe is an...inspiration.
He's only old to you TriGator!
When your're 52...it won't seem that old...hopefully, you'll still be racing.
Age is so relative to the individual...It takes a special set of genes to be able to still pull off competitive times in races at Joe's age or older...How many races you do, if you don't care about your time is simply a function of wallet size. Doing them fast is good training,good genes and good luck.
There is a bit going around that there has been a recent increase in older guys going faster due to better racing through chemistry (testostrone. See the slowtwitch series on this matter)...I'm not implying this is Joe's case..he's been doing this for years...but older guys who come out of nowhere and score big...that is a different matter.
How's that for "discuss?"

Yes, he IS a super stud. He does this alot. Like every year. I cant remember if he is doing clearwater 70.3 or not. Tough as nails. Hard as a rock. Superman. Just plain awesome.

Yeah... plus another at Wisconsin a month earlier!

Very impressive, and from what I know also just a great all around guy.

I'm not sure if they did at that race. However, this guy has consistently had those kids of results for *years*, so like Anton said I have faith there.

Aaahhh TriGator, the joys of youth that 52 qualifies as an "old dude". :-)

Anton - interesting question re: doping and AG athletes. When dealing with "old dudes", I don't think being new to the sport should be considered a trigger for looking at good performances as related to cheating/doping. I think you probably need to look at the athlete's lifetime.

Define "come out of nowhere". To use an example near and dear to my heart.... My husband did his first tri at 49, and has consistently placed on or near the podium in almost every race (including qualifying for Clearwater in our first HIM last month). But...he's a former Ranger/Special Forces type who has been an active athlete since his days in high school football and track. So in the triathlete community he might be this "Johnny come lately" with an odd string of successes. But if you put it in the context of his entire active life, his results aren't that surprising. thoughts?

man that would break my heart. I read about joe for a couple years now but in answer to your question i think only the ITU worlds this year is the only place where AGers are tested

There is no testing of AGers at IM races for PEDs. It is quite understandable to question someone who has either made sudden improvements or "come out of nowhere".

Joe does not fit the "come out of nowhere pattern". IM race strings are not new. Since 1994, he has done the Hawaii/GFT double 6 times, the Hawaii/GFT/IMFL four times previously. This was his 4th win at GFT. He's done a Hawaii/Xterra Champ/IMFL 3times. If he's using PEDs they sure have a long term effect.

Joe would be more than happy to provide a sample for testing at any time. He is in favor of AG testing and values his reputation as a clean competitor.

I can attribute Joe's achievements to a combination of genetic gifts, old school hard work, obsessive nature and the inability to feel pain.

Support Crew

"Coming out of nowhere" would involve someone who wasn't an active sort...training and then winning an age group slot in anything over 45-49. Unless it was someone who has a life long history of being in shape,like the previuosly mentioned SFG menber of Tams...or the runner who has been running for years and switches to tri's... There is another sort...someone who starts racing late in life after no previous career...some studies have found the even people in their 50's who are new to sport will improve consistantly for about ten years...which also holds true for the younger set... the bells and whistles start going off when you have a mid pack or lower athlete who "Comes out of nowhere" and starts winning things or spanking everone else in his or her AG.
Genetics most definately play a role...I know some awesome old guys who still have the hearts of horses but the knees of my dead Aunt Louise...While I have the heart of the afore mentioned dead Aunt but the knees of a 20 year old after 38 years of running nad 30 of cycling.
Nice discussion...

As a Floridian you should have known about this guy.
He has been kickin' a$$ for over 15 years,
and he probably has been having plenty of that over 30 sex too! :D

Welcome support crew (I have seen you over on ST so know you from there). Glad you chimed in, and give Joe a congrats from all of us over here :)

You're just in denial!! When he isn't training, he is getting busy! :D

BTW, I am his wife (33 yrs) and I know exactly how much sex he has. I don't kiss and tell. And I don't think he has the time for any extra-curicular activities, if you know what I mean.

I will tell you he doesn't believe in the "lose your legs" theory.

TriGator....let me intro you to my 87yr old grandfather. They could have written this article about him!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/08/22/senior.sex/index.html?iref=newssearch

Oh, I know......I DID see Private Practice last week with the old couple (a lot older than you and Joe, support crew.....and you, too, Anton :D). I made my girlfriend watch the Tour all summer, so now I owe her Private Practice and Grey's Anatomy every week.

Support Crew, I just checked the entry list for Miami Man.....I was bummed to see that you guys aren't coming! Guess that's just too short of a distance for him!

Oh, and excuse Trigators naive youthfullness. The dude doesnt even know how to check to make sure an event is USAT sanctioned ;) Of course he doesnt know too much about the history (however recent it may be) of our sport.

Brad, no apology needed. Like I said, it even makes me wonder when you see amazing results. I too have my suspicions about certain athletes, but they are only suspicions. I didn’t take your post as an accusation. I was just setting he record straight on Joe.

One reporter siad it well, "after the race they led Joe to the medical tent, not to test him for PEDs, but to cut him open and see if there was a machine in there."

"I'm not 40, I'm eighteen with 22 years experience."

"The idea is to die young as late as possible."

"Age and Guile Beat Youth, Innocence and a Bad Haircut"

:D

That's a pretty common practice in the cycling world, but I've never really seen it as much in swimming, running, or tris. Obviously people are doing it (like Joe) and getting really good results (like Joe), but I guess it hasn't really become mainstream practice.

As a young guy, I have no intention of doing an IM anytime soon.....but I'll take you on in a 400m run anytime!:D

Mark Allen advises a recovery ride the day following, or as soon as can be managed, and he cautions that you must guard against the urge to go fast. Z1 and no more.

I commuted to work on Monday morning after IMC and home again - 50kms. It felt quite good actually. I had to be careful getting off the bike however!

PoC

PoC

And Joe did also do IMFL this year... 9:23:10 for another AG win :) Congrats yet again Joe!