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Completing vs. Competing (Page 2)
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 2009-07-31 10:07 AM in reply to: #2318780 |
Veteran  559  |  Subject: RE: Completing vs. CompetingAlways competing...with myself |
| 2009-07-31 10:08 AM in reply to: #2318780 |
Expert 1170   Southern Pines, NC | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing I'm definitely still a completer, but in light of my personal and professional lives, the fact that I go out and race is a victory in itself. If I had no kid and a 40-hour-a-week job I'd probably be able to train up and get competitive, but right now it's just not worth it to obliterate the balance in my life. |
| 2009-07-31 10:33 AM in reply to: #2318780 |
| Extreme Veteran 1030 West Windsor, NJ | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing remember..."competing" is not just "am I aiming for a podium". I think you are competing once you go into a race with a goal, any goal, besides "I just want to finish". You are competing, if anything, against yourself, against prior performance, etc. Another way to look at it, is you are competing when you are standing at the swim start and you say to yourself "okay, I know I am going to finish this thing, now its just a question of how much I want it to hurt"  I am a competer. I love that aspect of it and wouldnt do it if I wasnt in that mode. |
| 2009-07-31 12:40 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Master 1289 Franklin, TN | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing Am in 2nd full year of tri. Last year was about completing and now it is war er, competing. Have come from MOP to "upper MOP." |
| 2009-07-31 12:46 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
| Veteran 250 | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing After finishing 1st in my age group in my 1st tri and 18th overall, I know that I can do well, and I am out to compete at sprint this year and sprint and olympic next year. Now I realize that 19 isn't such a bad age after all... so far it looks like I can do great in my age group. |
| 2009-07-31 12:49 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Pro 4189 Pittsburgh, my heart is in Glasgow | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing A little from column A, a little from column B. If I place, that's awesome. If I come in dead last but still finish, that's awesome. I go out there every time to do my best for ME, and the overarching objective is to finish in some semblance of one piece and with a smile on my face. The day it stops being fun is the day I stop doing it. |
| 2009-07-31 12:51 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Veteran 178 | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing while its not all about the "hardware" i'm definatly out there to be in the front, I compete with my self to get faster, but on race day I look at overall and age group place before i check my s/b/r splits |
| 2009-07-31 12:54 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Champion 11989 Philly 'burbs | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing Compete. I always want to do well vs my previous times, the field, my AG, whatever. |
| 2009-07-31 12:59 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
| Regular 59 | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing Getting ready to do my third sprint tomorrow. From the beginning it was both complete and compete for me. Right now I'm pretty MOP in swimming and biking and BOP in transitions and running. I'm always looking to improve in each area. I was always really competitive as a kid, and its nice to have something to channel that into as an adult. I was in pretty poor shape when I started training, and I think with a couple of years of training, I'll be able to hit FOP if not a podium spot in some of the local races (I've got a long way to go to get there - but I'm willing to do the work to get there). And yet, it seems like completing is always an important goal no matter how competitive someone is. I've ready a number of race reports from strong triathletes that end with a DNF for one reason or another. So finishing and being competitive is my goal for each race. |
| 2009-07-31 1:02 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Elite 2998 Fishers, Indiana | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing Compete...I wouldn't have ever thought I'd be in that category, but I've done alright in quite a few races and look forward to just getting better. However, I have a feeling that come next year, when I enter the 30 AGs (*gasp, sigh*) that I'm going to be a little more humbled by my competition, but that's okay...just will drive me to get better! |
| 2009-07-31 1:04 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
| Member 33 | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing 100% Compete...it's in my blood and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's what drives me to train! |
| 2009-07-31 1:25 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
| New user 219 | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing A little of both.I just did my first tri and it was about completing especially since I'd only rode the bike 2 times prior. *But* I still had some expectations of time. I wouldn't have bothered if it was JUST completing. The swim portion was pretty pathetic - finishing in bottom 1/4th of the field, but bike and run I finished in top 1/4.I don't know about being competiitive as in anyone else should be worried I'd beat them! But, in every road race I've done, and in the tri, I seem to always have "the magic of race day," meaning I go faster than I ever did in training and surprise myself every time. The field and the crowds push me like I can't push myself. |
| 2009-07-31 1:28 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Champion 10157 Alabama | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing Participation has always been my goal. A man's got to know his limitations. :-) The cold, hard, brutal fact is, less than 1% of people doing any given race have even a remote chance of "winning the race". Oh I know there are numerous "winners" for various age groups, clydes, masters, master-clydes, pros, etc....but these categories are arbitrary IMO. What I mean is, I think most AG brackets are multiples of 5.....that is totally aribitrary. Why not make it multiples of 7? Or multiples of 2...or multiple of 17? I'm sure if you drew the dividing line right, you could pretty much make everyone a winner! But there are really only two legitimate winners IMO - the first male and the first femal to cross the line. I would like there to be a division for 250 lb+ southern men, 46 years of and of Italian heritage. I'm pretty sure I could podium finish in that category! Before someone get's all offended, I'm just teasing. I'm not really this cynical.
~Mike |
| 2009-07-31 1:33 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Veteran 840 | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing Complete. My long term goal is to be in the upper half of my age group. I'd be very happy with that. |
| 2009-07-31 1:37 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Expert 1342 Apex, NC | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing I'm a "completer". My swim is so bad that I'll not be a "competer". That said; I do like to compete with my training partners, to see how I stack up against them. I've gone from slowest swimmer, cyclist, and runner, to slowest swimmer, #2 cyclist, and #2 runner, outpacing #1 cyclist. Enough so that he was a little worried in our last sprint (I was several minutes behind his swim, a minute off his bike, but :40 faster on the run). So, I guess I'm a "completer" in my age group and overall, but a "competer" with my friends. Fair enough! |
| 2009-07-31 1:42 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Expert 838 West Palm Beach, FL | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing For me it's complete when it came to my first tri or my first attempt at a certain distance. I worked my off during my last sprint and made the podium (Clydes, not skinny people) but that was just a side effect of wanting to push myself as hard as I could and see how much time I could take off the course in the 9 months since I last raced it. I'm taking my first shot at a 70.3 in a few months and my plan for that one is to complete it in a way that has me smiling the whole time. I'm sure the next attempt I would make at that distance will hurt more as I try to beat my previous effort with the knowledge I'd gained from that first experience at that distance. |
| 2009-07-31 1:43 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Pro 4507 Simpsonville, SC | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing I started out in 2004 just to finish a sprint. I did that. I was 74th out of 81. In 2005 & 2006, I won my age group in that same sprint. In 2007 & 2008, I won overall female in that sprint. Was injured this year and didn't have the pleasure of racing. This is a very small race. At most there are 120 total competitors with 25-30 females. But that is my little piece of glory  Pam |
| 2009-07-31 1:44 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing execmom7 - 2009-07-31 1:19 AM I am just curious how many began this sport with a simple goal of completing a triathlon and have gone on to actually be competitive in the sport. By competitive... do you mean going pro... or just winning AG spots? I'm an age grouper... and since 2005... I have been a COMPLETER! Then, last week, I missed getting 3rd in my AG by 4 seconds. And I started thinking... "WOW, now that I can run faster than a 9 mm, I MIGHT have hope of placing at some sprints". And I have to say, it's got me really pumped thinking that I MIGHT be able to actually place in my age group and be competitive out there on the course. I have a lot of hope for another tri I'm going in 3 weeks... I want to be competitive! |
| 2009-07-31 1:46 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
| Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing Yes, first one was to finish. First time I went up in distance, was to finish. I'm competitive, but not fast enough to win much. Have been on a podium once, that was fun I like to do the best I can (read, go the fastest I can) in each race. If that means I beat someone else, fine. If that means someone else beats me, fine. |
| 2009-07-31 1:46 PM in reply to: #2319909 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing TexasMPGal - 2009-07-31 1:02 PM Compete...I wouldn't have ever thought I'd be in that category, but I've done alright in quite a few races and look forward to just getting better. However, I have a feeling that come next year, when I enter the 30 AGs (*gasp, sigh*) that I'm going to be a little more humbled by my competition, but that's okay...just will drive me to get better! Girl, I know you race to complete... but you are serious competition out there on that course... and you do win your age group. |
| 2009-07-31 2:11 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Expert 1139 Austin | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing Most races I go to complete, this season there's one sprint that I'm aiming for an AG podium. |
| 2009-07-31 5:06 PM in reply to: #2318780 |
Lethbridge, Alberta Bronze member | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing With no background in any kind of organized sports, I started a few years ago just trying to complete. Since then I've gradually gotten a little faster. Earlier this year, I actually took 1st in my age group (out of 7) at a small local oly distance tri and I'm starting to move up towards FOP in some bigger races. I'm still not really focused on competition though, it's more a matter of trying to better my own performances. If I could only learn to run ... *sigh* |
| 2009-08-01 7:19 AM in reply to: #2318780 |
Veteran 151 Coldfoot, Alaska | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing I thought before my first race that I was just going to complete everything. But as soon as the race results came in I was sitting there analyzing them - seeing where my strengths and weaknessess were compared to the rest of the field. Why? Not really sure - I was 97-100 in all three events out of 120. Obviously no chance of a podium. But I also calculated my transition times - Top 20! I was a little happy with that. Sure it's only transition - but considering I had never transisitioned before - and my bike shoes have laces - and not yankz - that's not too bad. I found something I can be competitive in. Also, I know next year I'll be competing against those numbers. Trying to break a 15 minute mile. Trying to swim with my head in the water this time. Figuring out the art of clip-ons. Those are the things I'm going to compete against. |
| 2009-08-01 8:52 AM in reply to: #2318780 |
Champion 5522 Frisco, TX | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing If I am ever on the podium or getting hardware in my AG or Clydes it will be a long time. I spent too many years smoking and generally being slothful and gluttonous. That being said, I will still sprint it out to the finish each race. I still spy the person in front of me and try to catch them - is that competitive? I think so. If I can't see anyone to catch, then I compete with the voices inside my head. They like to talk a lot of trash |
| 2009-08-01 8:55 AM in reply to: #2318780 |
Master 2491 | Subject: RE: Completing vs. Competing 1st season it was BOP, 2nd was BOMOP, and 3rd season was FOMOP. This year, I got a couple of AG podium finishes, and my goal is to bring home some hardware every race. |
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