Event or Training, which do you like better?

Hard to say, I think I like both the same. I wouldn't train that much without the race and I wouldn't race without the training 

i love the events, but only if i have training adequately. i enjoy training also, but for me the event is like the cake and the icing. training is a nice steak.

Having not done a tri yet, I have to say that perhaps I'll change my mind once I do one.  I tend to be a goal oriented person and perhaps I'm a little anxious about finishing the event and not being sure what to train for next. 

I like the training more than the racing.  The training gives me a chance to socialize with other people interested in the same things I am and it is more frequent interaction.  On the other hand if it werent for the races I wouldnt be focused on the training on the group of people I train with wouldnt get together at all... so perhaps there is pretty nice relationship between the two.

I like the events more. A bunch of people come together who are interested in the same thing. Plus in races I push myself much harder in training...especially in the bike...and I like to see how my training really paid off during the races. I Just like the atmosphere and the expos are cool too!

Good point on going harder during the race.  I suppose the adrenaline picks up.  I know that's how it always worked in football and even track.  I broke our high school track record in javelin at a district meet.  The atmosphere was so exciting, I threw 20 - 23ft further on my three throws than I had ever thrown in practice or small school meets. 

I'm sure the Ironman 70.3's and full Ironman events are very exciting. 

I love training.  If I didn't I would definitely be in the wrong sport.  Even more so I love racing though.  It's a culmination of all that hard work and seeing the payoffs brings a whole other level of satisfaction that training alone does not provide.

I wanna race! Even though I am a BOPer!

I like the training more than the events.  I get too nervous before events and can't sleep or eat well.  Love the training though.  

jami

I like the events more as it provides an opportunity to see if the training is working. I like the events so much that I race a lot. Last year I did about 40 events, mostly running. This year I've probably done between 25-30 events with 8 of them being multisport. I would do more tris if there were more local events, but most I have to travel to. I can almost never push myself as hard in training as I do in a race.

Hmm, I haven't done a tri in over a year, haven't done an organized run since TG...I think I like training! Seriously, though, I like both. I see events as a nice break in training, something to push toward, a party, a benchmark. I would never run in some areas except at an event, so it is also a way to see new places. It's kinda like asking if you like having a glass of wine with dinner or going out to an all-night party - well, both are kinda fun and both can fit into a balanced life.

I'll be the evil one and bring up how this plays exactly into why I personally don't like using completing a triathlon as the "test" for getting to call yourself a triathlete. I was a triathlete the day I started focusing on three disciplines to bring together one sport. Some random event doesn't define that for me, my training and mindset define that for me. Others, obviously, think differently, but I happen to think it is a very personal decision. You'll *know* when you are a triathlete; that point may or may not be at a race.

It's funny, one of the reasons I don't like adult-league soccer is that we don't get to practice. We just show up and play. I vastly prefer practice to games!

I like the events.  I push myself way harder in them than I would have thought I'm capable of.  I haven't been able to do that while training.

From someone who just started this sport in April, I definately like the races more.....training is a way to relax and get away from the stresses of everyday life, which with 4 kids 5 and under can build up lol!!, but the race really gets my adrenaline flowing.  I love the idea of catching that person in front of me.  I am still a BOP'er but not a DFL'er!!!

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I've come to enjoy the training more than the racing.... I actual sometimes find it a PITA to have to get up early, pack up all the stuff, etc. to participate in a race, and sometimes feel guilty about taking time away from the family to race (I'm usually able to train at times that don't take away from "family time"). I do need some races on the schedule to keep me motivated to actually do the training, though. But I think next season I will do fewer races than I have done in the past.

I only train and race for the post-race reception treats and massages.

I love the races.

Definately the training. I would train the same way even if I didn't race. I guess you couldn't call it training though if a race wasn't involved.

What I really dislike is the week before a race because of tapering, etc. I still enjoy races though, but I really enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes after the race when I place in my age group, etc. If I don't I tend to beat myself up a bit over not performing better.

But I just enjoy swimming, riding my bike (especially), and running and would do those things whether I raced or not.

I love it all.  It is a whole lifestyle to me.  I love training - that really struck me during my taper this week but how excited am I to be heading up to Timberman!!!!!!  The whole weekend will be a blast.  And sunday's race might be a sufferfest in humidity but I will love the whole thing.

Training is great, I love to train.  But without the race, what's the point in getting out on the bike for 4 hours or getting up at 5 to go swimming?  I just don't think I would have the same motivation without the race experience to top it off.  Plus it's cool to get together with a group of people that have committed to the same dream...

I like this thread.  It's motivating.

I like races better than training. I can't race if I don't train so I like the training too, but the questions is which do I like better. Races.