clyde rant (maybe you can relate)

WOW!  A clown on fire jumping his unicycle over 18 school buses.  I would pay good money to see that.  On the other hand an overweight triathlete is no big deal.

So how much weight are you going to loose before you go long again? 10 pounds? 20 pounds? 100 pounds?  If you are not comfortable with yourself now then chances are you will not be comfortable with a lighter you.

I'm sorry that you ran into some a-holes but don't write off triathlons just because of it.  Everyone knows that a-holes are full of s... 

edit to add:  Clyde since forever...IM Clyde since 2004 to current.

Sorry to hear that you have gotten bad vibes from fellow triathletes. My first few triathlons, I have to say, I was really self conscious about how I looked. If anything though, the glances people gave me felt more like "man, that guy must have to really work it to finish a tri" rather than "what the hell is he doing out here". I also heard a lot of encouragement along the run course as people went by.

For anyone that ever gave me any other type of look, x2 on the F-em. 

Maybe part of the different experience is that I only attempted sprint distances before I'd lost a substantial amount of weight. Not that it excuses anyone being a jerk, but maybe the expectation of appearance you mention is exaggerated on the longer courses.

The best revenge is to train hard and see what kind of expression they have when you pass them. 

Not starting (and or doggin' it because of a bad attitude) may just prove they are right. 

On the other hand, kickin' it from start to finish proves that you are right - even if it is only to yourself.  

I guess my biggest rant is that when I paid $215 I didn't expect to get dogged by the people at packet pickup or the sponsors.  I honestly believe that when the events get higher profile they tend to bring out a less pleasant group of people.  I went with my wife and son to her women's tri packet pickup and while I got some looks it certainly wasn't the same (and I was a guy at women's tri).

It's likely worse since I live on one of the courses that I raced on this year and therefore was subject to @sshats for weeks instead of a day.  Additionally for this race I had additional responsibilities so I therefore had more exposure.  

Maybe I'm the only one who doesn't want to have to get pissed off to race.  This is supposed to be fun.  For me the long course was not worth the hassle.  I'm sure different tri's have different results.         

You had a bad experience, probably in part due to some jerks you encountered. Is it at least possible, however, that some of your PERCEPTION about how you were treated may be in your own view of yourself...

Your perception of how you were treated is consistent with your reaction not to do this anymore. It's a defeatist attitude... whereas I suspect that 90+% of the people that see you out there slogging away at something that is much harder for you than someone who ways 130 pounds are generally inspired.

I'm down about 25 pounds from my max, and ideally could lose 25 more. So I'm not huge and no one stares at me (although they're not admiring my beer gut hanging hover my race belt either)... but I know that every time I see someone out there who is OUT THERE when everything about them would make you predict they wouldn't be, I'm definitely impressed and inspired.  And MOST people I talk to feel the same way.

I was running on a treatmill once and a morbidly obese man came and started walk/jogging on the one next to me... almost no forward progress while I cruised along at 8:00 miles.  I gave him a smile, and he looked sheepishly back at me and said he was SORRY.  I don't know for what, but I told him to rock on and there was nothing to be sorry for.

Anyway - I have no doubt you were unfortunately treated poorly... but I'd recommend taking this opportunity to evaluate what your response says about your underlying self-image and attitude about coming to this sport.  I know there's a lot of bad-a$$ rock star in there or you wouldn't be out there in the first place... harness some of that energy and get out there and tear up the course, whatever that means for you... and whether those a$$-hats realize it or not you'll be putting THEM to shame.

Keep at it man... maybe they're just jealous that you get to shag your hottie triathlete wife whenever you want!!!

I'm not giving up triathlon.  I'm simply giving up long course events for now.  I enjoy the swimming and biking (and when I'm not hurt running).  So this doesn't happen to other people.  Great thanks for validating that.  I will manage my perceptions.    

While I have been fortunate not to have someone say anything but encouragement to me at a race and my LBS I was on the road Sunday about 48 miles into my 53 mile ride when a car pulled up to me at a stop light rocking out.  The guy gave me a shout and apparently wanted me to get into the gangsta rap coming out of the car.  I don't care for it so I just half smiled and then the light turned green.  I got up out of my saddle to get started and hear the guy yell "Fat *ss" at me.  Wow, that hurt.  Of course I wanted to go back after them and tell them that this fat *ss has been riding for over 3 hours (kinda slow day) while they're sitting on theirs doing nothing.  But it still hurt.  I know inside that I'm better than that and I'm not the stereotypical overweight person but those kinds of comments do cut hard.  I try to manage my reactions and instead of letting it stop me from my dreams I make it push me harder. 

And if it's event people or volunteers making remarks or treating you poorly I'd let the race director know.  I'm guessing they wouldn't be happy to hear that's going on.  

Dude, relax and remember that if "they" took on our load, "they" could not do what "we" do as well as "we" do it.

I often thought the same way you did, but frick-I am a former BigTen Lineman doing triathlons.  How many of "them" can say that?  Not many.  Frick!

On to my other feelings...I can do "their" sport better than "they" could ever do at my sport.  So I feel good everytime I start and I finish.  I will let them play fantasy football! 

As I was leaving my last Oly, I saw a very heavy set lady still on the run...perhaps 2hrs since I finished.  My assessment of her was she couldn't give two sh!ts about what anyone thought of her...she was out there finishing a triathlon.

BUT I DO WANT TO SEE YOU JUMP OVER 18 SCHOOL BUSES! 

i have read through this a few times now, i am able to relate from both sides. I was a skinny kid through highscool and college, and always wondered why people were heavy or just plain big. I was a late bloomer and as life goes on so did a few more inches and 120 lbs.  fit and trimness went out the door, and now i understand what they were going through. I am now a full fledge Clyde and probably will be forever. I thought that maybe my life was going to be regulated to low impact sports such as golf. Reading the threads here started by guys like you and others, gave me the courage and desire to get back in shape regardless of my size, and fitness level, and without guys like you to be my inspiration from your successes, alot of guys like me may have never had the courage and desire to get back into shape. I would love to take those "lookers" and put them in my body for a day, let them feel what we feel, the aches, pains, feelings, frustrations etc., then see how they react after doing it, I would be they would be a little kinder. So next time you think you are out of place cause someone gave you a "look", just remember you are an inspiration to a lot of us here and at the race, and we have to work harder and longer to be the atheletes we want to be. Nothing is given and everything is worked for. Remember there are only a few lookers and alot of people that you are an ispiration too.

Rudy

Sweet anecdote dude! Thanks for sharing!

x 3000?

Let me share my perception of this as I've been doing tris 5 years and struggled with the same thing.

When I started I weighed about 190 and felt really like I didn't belong. My first tri I didn't have fun. Some folks were very kind to me but those I call "the 4%" guys with 4% body fat, intimidated me and I felt like I was invading their party and didn't like me there.

Over time I made more and more friends, lost a bit more weight and kept at it. As you know I did my first IM this summer. My biggest fear is that those 4%er would intimidate me and make me feel like I didn't belong. When I went up to Lake Placid and trained I felt so out of place...and like why was I do an Ironman when I am not fast.

I specifically worked on being mentally positive and my goal was to feel like I did belong..I had done the training...I belonged..I toed the line with all the athletes ready to do my first Ironman.

In time I've come to believe it was me more than them and my feelings about myself not belonging. I was fat for so long and not athletic. I often view or viewed myself that way. I can only control how I feel and how I perceive things.

Are you really going to let a comment or two to change your goals or what you want to do? Is that really what you want to teach your son? Who really cares what others think?

I don't know what was said or how many folks said things to you. If you don't fit the norm often folks are surprised and may say something very hurtful but with no bad intention.

I was amazed come Ironman weekend how kind and supportive everyone was to me. I felt like a belonged and even fast folks if I said anything doubting they would stop me and say very positive and encouraging things.

 You train, you have the desire, you can do whatever you set your mind to. Don't let a comment or two or five keep you from what you want to do.