So when do you become a triathlete?

Big surpeise here, but I disagree with Gary, Dominic and Cristin. Would you call yourself a marathoner when you start training for a marathon?

How about triathlete-in-training until you complete your first race?

This is just me, but I set a goal of proving to myself that I could become a triathlete by finishing an Oly.  It was my own personal measure of success.  I feel you become a triathlete when you set your sights on a race and finish it, whether its a sprint, an Oly, an IM, etc. 

When you train, you are not necessarily dealing with all the details that are involved in a race, like transitions, adrenalin and the unexpected.  You don't have the crowd or other competitors.  When doing mock tri's, you're on your home course, but in a race, everything is new, different and more exciting.  I would encourage everyone to make it a goal to finish a race as a prerequisite to becoming a triathlete so that they, too, can experience the sense of accomplishment and achievement that comes with crossing a finish line.  It is awesome.

 I would encourage everyone to make it a goal to finish a race as a prerequisite to becoming a triathlete so that they, too, can experience the sense of accomplishment and achievement that comes with crossing a finish line.  It is awesome.

I agree with you Karl - I personally feel a great sense of accomplishment and achievement in crossing the finish line.  However, I know a number of long-time runners, bikers and swimmers who have never entered a race and never will - they are motivated by something else and do not need to finish a race to feel a sense of accomplishment. I have a great deal of respect for that. 

Maybe its just semantics here, but IMHO, "triathlete" is a generic term such as "runner", "golfer" that does not have a tangible, defined pre-requisite, such as marathoner, Ironman, and PGA Tour Professional. 

There is another thread on this site about people wanting to impose a 13 hr cut-off to "better" define an Ironman.  Most people here are in disagreement with that.  To me this is a similar situation.    As always, just my 1 cents worth

Gary

Got to agree here. If asked to describe myself, I would maintain that I am just a casual athlete who runs marathons, rides centuries, and does the occasional triathlon.

There's really too much emphasis on labels. Call yourself what you will. Just don't expect everyone to agree until you have truly earned it.

Main Entry: tri·ath·lete
Pronunciation: trI-'ath-"lEt, ÷'a-th&-
Function: noun
: an athlete who competes in a triathlon

This can be debated until we are all blue in the face!

I think it is a personal preference!

My $1.95 worth!