"It's Just a Sprint" (Page 2)

Originally posted by Trine

Originally posted by Left Brain For the sake of your question.....and I'll tell you up front that your points are almost all good ones and well taken.  I'm not from the "everybody gets a trophy mindset".....so I ask you, is the guy or gal who shows up for a 5k and walks the distance an "athlete"?  They are finishers for sure, and I give them all the props that any other person who gets off their arse and into the game gets.....but I wouldn't call them an athlete.  I kind of have that same idea about triathlon......no matter what the distance is.  Some of the folks doing triathlon are athletes, and some aren't. 

I've played some softball in my advancing age, but I'm not a ballplayer.  I can get down a mountain, but I'm not a skier (although I've probably also left a few people teary eyed.....and doubled over in laughter).

I'm in no way being derogatory toward anyone who does a triathlon of any distance, but you asked the question so there is my answer.

Well, it isn't a 5K we're talking about here - but I certainly get your point. And I agree that not everybody should get a trophy. But, for the people I think about, it's the journey they've made. The obstacles they've overcome. To say that it isn't great unless they get in under one hour seems to belittle their efforts and huge accomplishments. I'm a bleeding-heart liberal. A rooter for the underdog. And I love seeing people conquer their fears and succeed when they thought they never could.

I don't see where anybody said it isn't great unless you get in under an hour.  What has been said is that doing a sprint in under an hour is as brutal, or more, than any other triathlon race......and it is.  But it doesn't make the folks who finish in 2 hours an athlete any more than flying in an airplane puts me on the same level as an astronaut who has been on the space shuttle.

My heart bleeds for no one.

Originally posted by marysia83

Originally posted by Left Brain

Originally posted by Trine

Originally posted by Left Brain For the sake of your question.....and I'll tell you up front that your points are almost all good ones and well taken.  I'm not from the "everybody gets a trophy mindset".....so I ask you, is the guy or gal who shows up for a 5k and walks the distance an "athlete"?  They are finishers for sure, and I give them all the props that any other person who gets off their arse and into the game gets.....but I wouldn't call them an athlete.  I kind of have that same idea about triathlon......no matter what the distance is.  Some of the folks doing triathlon are athletes, and some aren't. 

I've played some softball in my advancing age, but I'm not a ballplayer.  I can get down a mountain, but I'm not a skier (although I've probably also left a few people teary eyed.....and doubled over in laughter).

I'm in no way being derogatory toward anyone who does a triathlon of any distance, but you asked the question so there is my answer.

Well, it isn't a 5K we're talking about here - but I certainly get your point. And I agree that not everybody should get a trophy. But, for the people I think about, it's the journey they've made. The obstacles they've overcome. To say that it isn't great unless they get in under one hour seems to belittle their efforts and huge accomplishments. I'm a bleeding-heart liberal. A rooter for the underdog. And I love seeing people conquer their fears and succeed when they thought they never could.

I don't see where anybody said it isn't great unless you get in under an hour.  What has been said is that doing a sprint in under an hour is as brutal, or more, than any other triathlon race......and it is.  But it doesn't make the folks who finish in 2 hours an athlete any more than flying in an airplane puts me on the same level as an astronaut who has been on the space shuttle.

My heart bleeds for no one.

You don't have a heart, LB.

LOL  I have twin 17 year old daughters........I can't afford a heart.

ding ding ding

I AM a bleeding heart liberal, and if you aren't there to win you are participating.  Which is cool, like do your thing, but its a race, not a party.  I don't think the completers understand how much blood sweat and tears go into winning a race.  I don't think most people even understand the race thats going on.  The race that I won last year, there were 3 people in the race, a few more that thought they were in the race, and then a bunch of people having a fun day.

The people that say "its only a sprint" are the people completing the race.  Sprints are easy to complete, longer races are harder to complete because they take longer.  When people say that I just roll my eyes and move on because they don't know that I trained more hours for sprints than when I completed an ironman.

The funny thing about being around really fast triathletes (folks who can swim sub 5:00 for 500, run 15:00 for 5K,  put down 4.5 - 5 W/kg on the bike - stand alone times) is that it all becomes relative to them too.  Pretty soon you hear things like, "he's never gone better than 58 minutes in a sprint" or "he can barely break 2 hours in an Oly" and it becomes the same discussion we're having here but on a completely different level. 

What I think gets lost is that there is never any lack of respect for someone who does triathlon AT ANY LEVEL.....although I think there is the perception that there is.  When I, or someone else, says something like  "you can't really call yourself an athlete when you're participating in a triathlon just to finish it", I never forget that I'm that guy too or that just participating in a triathlon puts you, fitness wise, above 99% of the population.....that's a big deal.  It's a big deal to drag your arse to the pool, or get up before your family, lace up your shoes, and head out for a run.  I respect everyone who does that.  Sunday I saw a guy who probably went 275-300 lbs. finish a sprint triathlon, and it kicked his arse.  But I and everyone who saw him threw out a "way to go"....and it was sincere....that's a big deal and a potential life changer.  That accomplishment can't be diminished.

I've been around triathlon in some way or another since 1985.  I had to learn what fast really looks like, and have been a part of watching firsthand what it takes to get to the level where you can podium on a National level....forget about distance.  The pain and sacrifice that goes with that is TREMENDOUS. I know, for me, that's where I split from the idea that we're all athletes.  No, we all do triathlons.  Imagine playing softball and calling yourself a ballplayer,  or playing in the "no hit" hockey league and calling yourself a hockey player.....hell, the list is endless.  Triathlon is one of the only sports we do that people end up calling themselves "triathletes".  Nah........almost all of us are beer league softball players.....it just takes a bit more work to finish a "game" in our sport.

Enjoy the ride and don't get too wound up and high about your place in the sport.  Most of the people I have known who did that are no longer a part of triathlon.....and our sport can use all the folks we can keep around.

On a final note.  I have been to dozens of elite races as a spectator.  I am always saddened by the complete lack of support from the triathlon community in the way of attendance.  When there is a Jr. Elite, or ITU Continental Cup, or World Cup, or WTS race within driving distance of you, think about going to watch.  You will see a side of triathlon that will give you a whole new perspective on what you are really doing, and what fast really looks like in our sport.  All of us "triathletes" can use a bit of the humility that comes from seeing that, and you'll be a part of keeping the sport growing in the U.S.

 You can't egg me on bro......none of this is personal to me and I've already been called every name in the book, spit on, shot at, and had all manner of stupidity directed toward me.  At this point I'm just walking around laughing.

I've been trying REALLY hard not to rile up the egos that go with triathlon. (as fun as that is)  And, dammit, I'm just getting old.  I need to start training again so that the person in the pool next to me can ask me if I'm training for a triathlon just so they can tell me all about their latest triathlon heroics.....that would get me pissed off again. HA!!

Yeah, you know, it doesn't matter what level you get to (to answer your other question above) there is always another monster to slay.  It's been an absolute unique perspective to watch talented kids come through high school and now on to college running, swimming, and doing triathlon.  Many of them now have their elite triathlon cards and have , once again, gone from the top of the heap to the bottom.  These kids were all-state in XC, or track, or swimming, and won  Jr. Elite races and have all stood atop countless podiums on the track, in the pool, and in triathlon only to find themselves fighting for air at the next level.  The best part of it is that they have grown so well as people because of that experience.  They've learned that you're really never "the guy" for very long so you might as well get used to taking every accomplishment and accolade with a big spoon of humility........because sure as hell you're about to get your arse kicked by some girl.