A:  Christine McKnight, Schuylerville, N.Y.

A:  62

A:  I retired in 2007 from the University at Albany after a 35-year career in journalism, public relations and magazine publishing.

A:  Twelve years

A:  Three months

A:  My favorite races are the USAT National Age Group Championships. It's a chance to pit yourself against the best of your age group in the country. It's humbling! You also have a shot at earning a berth on the World Championship team and representing your country on the world stage of triathlon.

A:  My Garmin 305. It's become an indispensable training tool.

A:  I was sedentary until the age of 36. I took up running for fitness and ran five marathons in my early 40s, completing all of them in under four hours (including Boston twice).

A:  1. To set a personal best at the Olympic distance. Current best is 3:07:29, set in 2003.
2. To finish in the top 10 in my 60-64 age group at the National Triathlon Championships in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at the end of September and qualify for worlds in Beijing in 2011.
3. To finish in the top 5 in my age group at the National Duathlon Championships in Richmond April 25 (finished top 3).
4. To post a sub-36-minute swim leg in an Olympic distance triathlon
5. To run a sub-9-minute pace in a 5-k road race by fall (already ran a 44:57 time in the five-mile Delmar Dash in early April)

A:  To remain competitive – not just participate – as an age grouper well into my 70s

A:  All of the makings for dinner-size green salads, Old-fashioned Quaker oats, apples

A:  Olympic distance seems to suit me best. It's a challenging distance, but I find I can recover better and I have fewer injuries training at this distance. Being able to recover and race another day is critical to me as an older competitor.

A:  Hang out with more experienced triathletes, join a triathlon club, get a coach and (especially for women) strength train.

A:  Treat the off-season as a critical time in your annual training plan. This is when you should be working on your weaker skills, managing nutrition and heading to the gym to build strength and flexibility. Cross country ski, snowshoe, go to a spin class or attend a swim clinic. When March rolls around, you'll be ready to go.

A:  Is there anything better than a long easy run on trails in cool weather?

A:  Being a triathlete is a way of life. If you embrace it completely, it will provide you with an immense sense of fulfillment.