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how many of you would take the chance.....
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 2009-06-30 1:16 PM |
Champion  7233    |  Subject: how many of you would take the chance.....to give up working for a while, and live and train like a pro, or full time, and see what the lifestyle was like? i'm not talking go out and take your life savings and train for a while, but rather, take the amount of money an ave mid 20 something would have (cough not much cough), and race and train full time? i see a lot of epople complain about how the pros have it great, they just get to race and train, but i am not sure how much of the choices that go with that that people outside of the sport or that are not living that way understand. many of the lower teir pros, or some of the higher ups, are not making much money, sure they are racing and training and little else, but its a choice, you may choose to go out to dinner, they are deciding which brand of generic pasta is cheaper. discuss. |
| 2009-06-30 1:18 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Not a Coach 11473  Media, PA | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Not me. I made those 'life choices' years ago. I'd stick with 'em. |
| 2009-06-30 1:19 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Would never consider it. After HS I had a small college offer a spot on their swim team w/a partial scholarship attached. I turned it down. I didn't like swimming enough to swim in the morning and at night. Pretty much how I feel about tri training. While I enjoy it, I also like having a real life too. |
| 2009-06-30 1:20 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
| over a barrier | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... If I had just finished college with degree in hand at 22, I would certainly think about it assuming I was at the level to make the jump to pro. I assume I would have some sort of odd job that would pay for food and rent and beyond that it up to me to EARN. There was a great blog (can't remember the address) that two kids posted to slowtwitch on their goal to live the life of a pro. Two guys a couple of bikes and a few hundred bucks going from town to town racing bikes. If you dig around slowtwitch you'll probably find it. Wish I could remember the address, I'd like to check up on their progress. I know one only lasted through the summer and then went to find a "real job" Edited by running2far 2009-06-30 1:23 PM |
| 2009-06-30 1:22 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Extreme Veteran 683 Cleveland Area | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Though the idea of being a pro sound terrific, I've done enough searching to know it ain't all that glomerous. Until the race purses begin to grow, especially in the IM distances, the lifestyle of a pro triathlete will cntinue to resemble that of a college student. Aside from the top notch bikes, components and gear, there really isn't much that I would trade for. A Kona slot, now I'll hae to think about it. |
| 2009-06-30 1:22 PM in reply to: #2253593 |
Master 1485 | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... I kind of am now because I am unemployed and I have as much time to train as i want. |
| 2009-06-30 1:25 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Champion 10742 Ames, IA | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... I took a week off of work earlier this summer and all I did was train. It was a great week  It would be interesting to see if I could sustain such a lifestyle or if burnout would settle in eventually. Oh, and I have another week of "traincation" scheduled in July. I'm really looking forward to that too. |
| 2009-06-30 1:26 PM in reply to: #2253599 |
Champion 7233 | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... |
| 2009-06-30 1:31 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Champion 19812 MA | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... I don't have the ability even if I was 20 years younger. I know some local pros and they all work too. One won IMLP last year and I'm not sure if she is working but she coaches. Her husband has been a teacher and he is a pro and came in top 10 at Lake Placid. Sad thing in triathlons pros don't really make big money compared to other sports. I think from talking with these guys most go pro for a bunch of other reasons like tax breaks, can get into an IM race last minute, lots of races comp entry fees, but the one guy I've chatted with the most about it never has made money doing it. Lifestyle would rock. Truth is I gave up working 3 years ago so I can train when kids are in school and be mom when they are home. Not a pro in any sense of the word but I do train a lot and have freedom to do so. My husband is very supportive and kind. |
| 2009-06-30 1:31 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Champion 7595 Columbia, South Carolina | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... I was a rock climbing bum for a year -- I occasionally worked an odd job or led some people up pitches they had little business being on, but basically I just climbed. I was so into rock climbing at that time that I thought I could just spend the rest of my life doing nothing else. After several months of this, reality set in, and I realized that this was not the life for me. I'd be willing to bet that if I had done the same with any other physical endeavor (I hadn't even heard of triathlons at the time...), the result would have been the same. Now? Well, it's not an option now. Those days are gone. |
| 2009-06-30 1:32 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Master 2355 Houston, TX | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... I'd at least hold down a part-time job, working at a bike shop or something.. Then when you are starting to be the first AG'er across the line at some of the big races. THEN maybe throw the job away. I'd focus more on getting a job that would allow for more training around it. Time for morning, lunch and evening sessions. |
| 2009-06-30 1:35 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Master 4119 Toronto Bronze member | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Nah. I am just not good enough to quit work to be or train like a pro ... plus, this is still fun for me and having to do it as a job would likely take some of the fun out of it. BUT! I would consider taking a Leave of Absence if i had the right goal and financial cushion. A few months might be enough to be able to train well and not get burnt out from balancing everything but I would go stir-crazy without work. |
| 2009-06-30 1:35 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Expert 1139 Austin | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... I'm a 20 something finishing up college. I don't think I would take the chance to do this simply because I don't think I have the genetics to put me at pro level even if my job were solely to train. While I'm okay with the college "lifestyle" right now I'm almost looking forward to getting out of here and making some real money. |
| 2009-06-30 1:43 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Many of the 2nd and 3rd tier pros are working full time and training and racing. There are not all that many in the big picture that can afford to train and race full time. If you legitimately think you have a shot at making it in the pro field and are willing to make the sacrifices of driving all over the country and living on penaut butter and crackers while racing for $1,500 purses, fo gor it! I actually think I would do something like that if I was young and talented enough. |
| 2009-06-30 1:47 PM in reply to: #2253659 |
Champion 7233 | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... i brought this up for a number of reasons. one, i have heard WAY too many conversations with people thinking it would be the life two, i am sort of in that situation right now (not the pro level part, but the training/living situation). three, it is just like college all over again living wise, only there was more food at school. |
| 2009-06-30 1:48 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Extreme Veteran 575 Concord, NH | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... I see lots of guys who have done this when they got out of college for cycling and it is not glamorous. I just think of the fact that I want to retire when the time comes and I know guys who now 12 year later still have not worked a "real" 40+ hour a week job. The training would be great, but no 401K or retirement plan, you would have to pay for your own medical insurance, what happens if you need to have an expensive car repair, the list goes on. Now if you can find yourself a sugarmomma or sugardaddy depending on your preference who will fully support you and you do not have to worry about any of the above mentioned issues that is a whole different story. |
| 2009-06-30 1:49 PM in reply to: #2253645 |
Master 1610 Kirkland, WA | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... F1longhorn - 2009-06-30 11:35 AM I'm a 20 something finishing up college. I don't think I would take the chance to do this simply because I don't think I have the genetics to put me at pro level even if my job were solely to train. While I'm okay with the college "lifestyle" right now I'm almost looking forward to getting out of here and making some real money. i guess i am in a similar boat - as i am 22, have had a college degree for a little over a year, and have been working for a little over a year. . . in peaking for the HIM i did a few weeks ago - i came to realize that i don't think i could train 20+ hrs/week. i don't think mentally, that i would want to. . however, it could be different if i didn't have the work commitments - because i was having a hard time completing my 15 hrs or so a week training, but i was working 45 hrs a week as well. i think it would be fun in some regards, but i don't know how much more i could improve than just following a plan and putting in 10-12 hrs per week. i think i am still in the improvement stage and base building (if that ever ends). . i don't know how much doubling my volume would help - although i would feel like a bada$$ riding 1000 miles/month etc. oh, and i don't know that i have the capability to ever get to that level i think i am capable of FOP results (as i have gotten a handful of AG podiums, and top 10 overalls), but not FOP at big races yet. . racing elite is a whole different level. |
| 2009-06-30 1:51 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Regular 89 lowell | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Funny, Bicycling.com just ran this: http://bicycling.com/blogs/livingthedream/2009/06/30/my-crib/ |
| 2009-06-30 1:52 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Pro 4277 Parker, CO | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... If I was 20 - 25 years younger and had the talent for it, yes. Over the years I have spent a lot of money to finish in the middle of the pack and I really do enjoy training! When it was most enjoyable was when I was younger and single. I would train very hard and while the training paid dividends...I learned that even on my very best day I might win some hardware but I could never come close to challenging the pros! I was okay with that and changed my perspective on things. I know how to train hard and if I had the genetics and talent I would have given it a shot.
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| 2009-06-30 1:57 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Expert 878 Tallahassee, FL | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Thought it'd be interesting to bring up Paul Tichelar (sp?). He is a Canadian Olympian in triathlon and he took a leave of absence to focus on training with the Candian national team leading up to the Olympics. After the Olympics, and a good year of racing, he decided to go back to his job. I know all this through his blog, which he hasn't posted to lately, so I don't know what he's up to these days. |
| 2009-06-30 1:59 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Elite 4564 Boise | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Assuming I would be mildly competitive, I would do it. I used to train 25+ hours a week as a swimmer in high school and I loved it. It was hard but I wouldn't have traded it for anything. If I had the opportunity to do it again I would. |
| 2009-06-30 2:02 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Veteran 355 Lakewood Ranch, Florida | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... I may need to train that much just to finish my first sprint !!! Maybe i can turn pro when i retire ! If you are young enough and do not need the money i would say you can try it for a while but like alot of people have said it may take the fun out of it and you may not make any money doing it . |
| 2009-06-30 2:05 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Pro 4675 Wisconsin near the Twin Cities metro | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Wouldn't even consider it unless I was ALREADY going head to head with the pros and already beating some of them in bigger races. Then you're at a level where you can begin to train like one. |
| 2009-06-30 2:05 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
Master 1678 Olney, MD | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... I'd probably give it a shot if I thought that training like a pro would give me a chance to be competitive at that level. I'd be OK with putting in the hours, eating generic pasta, and living that lifestyle. However, since I'm a long way from being competitive as an age grouper, I'm pretty sure I'll never make a living as a pro triathlete no matter now much I train. Nuts! |
| 2009-06-30 2:07 PM in reply to: #2253672 |
Champion 7595 Columbia, South Carolina | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... newbz - 2009-06-30 2:47 PM i brought this up for a number of reasons. one, i have heard WAY too many conversations with people thinking it would be the life two, i am sort of in that situation right now (not the pro level part, but the training/living situation). three, it is just like college all over again living wise, only there was more food at school. I think you are dead on, but I also think that it's really hard for some people (I include myself here, 20+ years ago, -- that was the point of my original response) to appreciate this without experiencing it in some form. |
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