So...I'm 40, Now What?

So, I got up this morning at 5:40 a.m. to ride my indoor trainer for an hour. It was a great gift because this is what I do for fun.
Today is my 40th birthday. Yeah, yeah, yeah, happy birthday, blah-blah-blah. Seriously, I appreciate it, but birthdays to me either represent a continued year in a given age-group, or a chance to step up to the next one. For the 2011 season I will begin my journey in the 40-44 age group. I'm officially a Master's Athlete. Funny, I don't feel masterful. I feel like I'm still in progress. Eh...so it goes.
I remember during my earlier years in triathlon when I was in my 20's seeing several 40-somethings blow by me on the bike. I thought, "Man, I hope I'm that fast when I'm that old." Then, realizing they were smoking my a** right then, I changed my perspective. I thought, "Wait! I wish I was that fast right now!"
Here's the thing, when looking at results of the 'old guys'. Yeah, you know who you are. You are 40 and older. Oh...that's me now. I'm an 'old guy'. I digress. When looking at the 'old guys' results in the past I would think, "If I can keep moving at least at this pace, I should be a solid Master's Triathlete."
Well, my peers apparently were on that same wavelength because there are a whole lot of us 'old guys' who are faster than shmick! Did these other guys not realize that I was supposed to be 'The Man' when I turned 40? They were supposed to have fallen to the wayside with burnout, career and family commitments, and even though I don't wish this upon anyone...injuries. I was supposed to be the guy to rise to the top and hold the 'old guy' trophy and paycheck above his head. ...jerks.
Ok, I don't feel that way about my peers. Let me just be honest, they are simply amazing athletes.
So here's the deal, now I'm checking out the 'older guys' results. If I can just be that fast when I'm older. Wait! If I can just be that fast now! Yeah, the 'older guys' are fast hombres as well.
Huh, here we go again. The good news is that it's fun staying in the mix and looking forward. Furthermore, now that I am in the 'old guy' category, there is bound to be a 20-something that I'll be passing out on some course who will be thinking, "Man, I hope I'm as fast as him when I'm his age." Then he will pause for a moment realizing I'm passing him...in this race...at this moment, and he'll adjust his thought process and say to himself, "Wait! I wish I was as fast as him right now!"
Here's to another 40 years of living life, enjoying the journey, swimming, cycling, and running, and of course, traveling The Road to Ironman Louisville, 2011.
Peace,
~Sam

Here's the 'old guy'...and he's not too shabby. 

(Note: I promised myself when I was 30-something that I would do my first Ironman when I turned 40. This August will be my third. Go 'old guys'!)