What triathlon is "about"

Agree.  It's just a race.  As 10 people what the race means to them and you'll likely get 10 different answers. 

From a purely statistical perspective, for the vast majority of triatheletes, it is NOT about winning.  Only 1 or 2% of people 'podium finish' and that is only because we've come up with these arbitrary AG brackets so we can have more 'winners'.  The brutal, hard fact is the only person who won the race is the guy that finishes first....usually a male, pro.  Everyone else just participated.  (ouch, ok, who threw that?!)

:-)

So much better than "I'll be back."  Don't know why it didn't stick more. 

This reminds me of people talking deep about other sports like surfing or kayaking or snowkiting.  Yes like triathlons are just a simple race, riding a wave is a simple thing, running a river is a simple thing, or riding the wind is a simple thing.  So is sitting in a large building on Sundays with other people, that's a simple thing too.  It's how it makes you feel doing these things that matters.

What you put into is what you get out of it.  For some people, doing a triathlon will be the hardest thing they've ever done.  Others are doing it just on a whim because a friend suggested they "tri" it.  Other are out there pushing themselves to their limits every day so they can be the first person to cross the finish line.

I think it can be "about" everyone because we're all different and we're all in this for different reasons.  You can talk deep about it but to me it's just fun.  I do a lot of other fun sports and I feel like they touch me deep to my core or soul.  Triathlon is one of them.

^^that.

^^^but not that, for me anyway. I don't know how to measure how much harder someone works than I do, nor do I really care to be dead honest. So long as whenever I'm out there I know I worked as hard as I could to be ready for that moment.  Sure, I don't know how interested I would be in competing in races with only a handful of others, but when the race is on, I'm not racing to catch, pass or lead anyone, I'm only busting my as hard as I physically can.

I didn't even know there was a triathlon magazine

Perhaps I read the OP wrong, but when I see a question about what 'triathlon' is about, I'm not thinking the question is asking what a triathlon IS, but what the whole enchilada means to each competitor.  The question isn't what the race is about per se, but what the 'lifestyle' (for lack of a better word to describe it) is about.  The drive to finish (or compete), the training, the experience, the comraderie, the gear, the research, the race day experience....you know...the whole enchilada.

Anyway, for me, triathlon is about fun.  I do this because it's fun and when it no longer becomes fun, I'll stop.  In order for it to remain fun for me, it must fit into the rest of my life because I do lots of fun things and I'd like to keep it that way.

Well said, Sue.  Well said.

I would have to say that TRIATHLON is "about" the people that make it exist.  If NO ONE showed up at Kona, it wouldn't be special on its own....The RACE can not exist on its own is  I guess what I am trying to say.  What makes triathlon so special IMHO, is that at each race there are a thousand stories that many of us can draw inspiration from or attach ourselves too.  It is these stories that make the event so special, so magical.  If we were all just naturally talented, extremely fit wonders of nature it would likely lose some significance.

Now for the Pro's it's a different story.  The race is what becomes significant, the tactics and the small battles over 140 miles that take place to ultimately crown a winner is what becomes important.  Then all of us AG'ers look to them and go back out and train.... But honestly, there isn't another sport that I can think of right now where you can participate at the same time as someone who earns their living doing the same thing.

x2

I can add my two cents worth in terms of the journey part of Triathlon.  I've been working harder on the bike lately, already at a record month in terms of mileage.  Last night I did what I call my hilly time trial, 4 laps around a local park with some short rolling hills, one steep one at the dam.

First lap, my fastest ever

Second lap, my fastest ever two lap split

Third lap, ditto for 3 lap split

Finish, fastest total time for me.

I even swam 2,450 yards in the morning before work.

These little workout accomplishments are part of what Triathlon is about.  Talk about gettnig into a good mood, feeling good about yourself, sharing with others, making my kids dinner while on this "high"

Everyone has great points about what a tri means to them and others. I enjoy the atmosphere of the race. The people so far have been great! To me I love cheering on those who are just trying to finish, as it can be the biggest change in there life towards a heathly lifestyle. But I am there to have fun and Tri and kill the dreams of others. It hasn't happened yet but I love seeing my times get faster and my standings going higher. A triathlon is about Everything from passing someone in your ag on the bike to cheering on those last competitors coming across the line for there first time. You can't define it you just need to enjoy it!!!

Triathlon is about….

Winning

Losing

Competing

Completing

Being capable in 3 distinct disciplines

Working towards a goal almost every day

Really cool bike

An excuse to buy new shoes every couple of months

Pace booties

Finishers’ tee-shirts

Being able to blow snot rockets

Bricks

Post race euphoria

Pre-race pasta

Pushing your limits and finding new ones

Discussing peeing while you bike with 10,000 of your internet tri friends