Getting Laughed At (Page 2)
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Regular ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() It has happened to me. When I first started out training for this around feb. I told my fiancees family one night over dinner, they are also like my own family to me, and her Mom actually snickered and shook her head. My fiancee said she didn't mean anything by it but I knew she doubted that I had it in me. Well in June I finished my first triathlon and when I got back to her house she was by far the most excited and proud for me of almost everyone else. I think that to her a tri is just so far out of the realm of human possibility that noone let alone I could do one. Everyone else has been so incredibly supportive and really happy for me. Keep working and prove the nay sayers wrong. |
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Getting laughed at is just one of the consequences of being ahead of your time - I've been getting laughed at my whole life |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Hello Thank you all for the excellent comments & support. Let me update this. Everyone here at my work & my wife have gotten on-board providing positive support. My wife told me this morning that she would go to the pool with me this weekend and work with me on my swimming. When I was at the pool last night getting a swimming lesson the guy who laughed at me showed up to swim. No laughing when he saw me in the pool getting help. He kind of gave me a nod & the look. The look being "Wow this guy is serious" I wont say anything to him unless he asks me something. When I finish my event I will have to say to him " Hey I have come a long way in a short amount of time but I did it" Adapt and overcome! One other thing about my swimming lesson last night. When we (me & instructor) arrived at the pool the kids swim team was finishing their practice. So there I was in the pool getting the very basic lesson while these kids and their parents were watched me. Very humbling. I was a little uneasy but thought about my reasons for being at the pool. I went back to that idea we used in the Army. FIDO Baby Kevin |
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I deal with situation by remembering that despite my stature, which I am constantly battling, I have accomplished some things athletically that some "In Shape" people would never even attempt. |
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Elite ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Hello. I have not posted in this forum before, but this thread called to me. I am 48 years old, 6 ft. tall and between 200-215 lbs. I was 285 a year ago May. So I think I qualify. What I would do to the naysayers (laughers/doubters) is: |
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Member![]() ![]() | ![]() I am currently the laughing stock of my building. I am 80 pounds over weight, and until this week paid someone to walk my dog! Now here I am working on getting fit to do an event. |
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Extreme Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() actually i was laughed at on my bike. i like to ride hills. i am 6'2 and about 260. as i was starting my weekly climb these two guys with their rather expensive bikes (really nice felts about $5k), asked me where i was riding to and i told them to the ranger station(about 3k ft elevation increase over 6 miles). they looked at me and smirked and said sure. well about 45 minutes later as i was passing them up the hill they were gassed. i ride this once or twice a week. i may only top out at 8mph up the steep grade, it was the look they gave me as i passed them in silence that was priceless. |
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Expert ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() fsr402 - 2009-07-09 1:40 AM Never had anyone laugh at me like that. But I did have a lady say " just think how fast you would be if you lost weight", "it's the beer that's keeping you fat". I did not know this person, never seen her before. That's just plain rude and disgusting. |
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Champion ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Just hearing that makes me angry!!! |
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Expert ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() b2673ad - 2009-07-10 10:00 AM Hello Thank you all for the excellent comments & support. Let me update this. Everyone here at my work & my wife have gotten on-board providing positive support. My wife told me this morning that she would go to the pool with me this weekend and work with me on my swimming. When I was at the pool last night getting a swimming lesson the guy who laughed at me showed up to swim. No laughing when he saw me in the pool getting help. He kind of gave me a nod & the look. The look being "Wow this guy is serious" I wont say anything to him unless he asks me something. When I finish my event I will have to say to him " Hey I have come a long way in a short amount of time but I did it" Adapt and overcome! One other thing about my swimming lesson last night. When we (me & instructor) arrived at the pool the kids swim team was finishing their practice. So there I was in the pool getting the very basic lesson while these kids and their parents were watched me. Very humbling. I was a little uneasy but thought about my reasons for being at the pool. I went back to that idea we used in the Army. FIDO Baby Kevin It seems like we all have stories about similar experiences so I won't bother sharing mine but I did want to say that I am glad you're taking the response to this that you have. The comments from one person, made for whatever reason, should not dissuade you from your goals at all. Go get 'em and achieve what you set your mind to doing. You've got a whole forum and community of people here to draw inspiration and support from (I know that I have). Best of luck and keep us posted! ![]() |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Who cares was some obviously negative neighbor thinks. Turn his negativity in something positive for you. Feel good about what you are doing, what you do is for you and your loved ones. Have fun, think positive! Keep up the good work! |
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Big Appa - 2009-07-10 10:44 AM Just hearing that makes me angry!!! I'm usually quite a Lady, but I SO agree withBig Appa on this one! I've been reading this thread for a few days now and I get fired up each time I reread it. I'll tell you this - when I said I wanted to do a tri no one except my husband thought I was serious. I've since lost 65 pounds and placed 2nd Athena in my first tri. All the naysayers are now huge supporters but the best part is that by the time I raced, I didn't give cr*p about any of their opinions! I had trained hard and felt great and their petty issues seemed so minor compared to my accomplishment. So, screw that guy and just go do your thing! Can I get an Amen?! |
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Regular![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I was watching Scrubs last night and in it the main star JD decides to do a triathlon. Of course in the show he's in horrible shape and takes all day to finish the race for the humor aspect. But it got me to thinking as to why people may laugh. I think when people picture triathlons they picture Ironmans and not the sprint triathlons. When I 1st saw Scrubs when JD does the triathlon I remember thinking that is something I'd never do in my lifetime. I'm signed up for #3 and have about 4more planned this year including an Olympic. If you think about it the only exposure the general public gets is the actual Olympic ones which people know are hard or the Ironman tris which are unreal. So they may be reacting the same way if one of my overweight couch potato friends came up to me and said "I'm going to do a 26.2 mile run this year" or my HS drop out buddy said "I'm going to become a doctor". I'd be going "WTF are you talking about". However, I will never say it can't be done. I'm sure if you said you're doing "Sprint" triathlons and explained how it's a shorter version and that you'd like to work your way up to bigger distances the reaction may be different. |
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Expert ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() THink of it extra motivation to get you through when you need it the most. |
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() fsr402 - 2009-07-09 4:40 PM Never had anyone laugh at me like that. But I did have a lady say " just think how fast you would be if you lost weight", "it's the beer that's keeping you fat". I did not know this person, never seen her before. I just got back online after a few days and this thread really pisses me off. People don't laugh at me to my face (I think most would be afraid) so hard to say how I would react but would probably ask what's funny and start some dialog. As far as the comments quoted above, they are pretty much true for me so I'd probably say "no $h!t." My extra lbs are from years of lifting and about 20lbs of having a good time. Neither one of which I regret. If I go from 250 to 230 I'm faster. Or you could just say "just think how much more attractive you'd be if you shut up." Edited by slick 2009-07-11 1:53 PM |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Hello New update This morning I was at my pool doing my 600 yards backstoke swim and I was 4 minutes faster than two weeks ago. But when I finished the swim I did a simulated run/walk through for T-1. I went around the pool sat down on deck wipe my feet on my bike jersey (Corona Jersey), put on my shoes when I overheard two neighborhood ladys in the pool say triathlon. I had seen them running when I was on the way to pool. So I said hey you all can do that because thats what I am training for. Their first comment was something about a 1/2 marathon and I explained the sprint triathlon to them. These ladys were not as old as me & they did not laugh at me and kind of gave me the check out look. Pumped me up! I then walked to my bike & walked out to the street. I think they started talking about triathlon because they saw me swimming & my road bike with aero bars was inside the pool complex where they could see it. So my swim time dropped 4 minutes, my 13 mile bike ride time dropped by 4 minutes. Today was a training day for me so I completed my 30 mile bike and was just walking for a mile to take the running pressure off my right knee. I had a swimming lesson Thursday with high school/college swimmer. But I have another lesson Monday mid-afternoon with a real swimming coach from the local recreation center. I have not given on freestyle I just need more help so I do it correctly. I figured with 5 weeks before I go to live race action I will have to do a combo freestyle & backstroke swim. What ever it takes I will do it. So I have gone from getting laughed at by some dude to women checking me out. What a week! Thanks to all of you! Kevin Edited by b2673ad 2009-07-11 2:38 PM |
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Extreme Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I didn't get a chance to read every post here, so this may have been addressed, but.... I don't care what shape your in, if you don't have the mental game down to keep going and going, you are not going to finish. So if you've got the mental, which has got nothing to do with your physical attributes, you have game. And it's easier to get in shape than it is to toughen the mind. I think it's as simple as that. |
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Member ![]() ![]() | ![]() I'm proud of you man, pay no attention to the haters. It makes no difference what they think. You have to do this for you. I lost 80 pounds in a little under two years. I am sure people thought I didn't belong on a bike, or on the road running, or in the pool. You keep doing what you are doing, focus on the task at hand, and do your best. That is literally all you can do. None of us can change the attitudes of others, we can only change our own attitudes. Rise above it and good look in your race in August. I am excited for you. |
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Member![]() ![]() | ![]() I did my first Olympic distance race a couple of weeks ago. My neighbor and his wife were doing the same race, but they did the sprint distance. He is what you would consider to be the prototypical endurance athlete, and he was bummed that he was going to have to do the sprint distance with his wife. Well, come to find out, he didn't finish his sprint distance event...he had to be pulled out of the lake by the rescue boat. His wife and I both finished our race. A quote I ran across when I was training: "It doesn't matter how slow you swim, bike or run...you're still faster than the person on the couch". |
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Went to the pool to swim and my 16yr old son who is built like a brick #$%@house and plays football wanted to come along, so we are in the pool and start to swim, after about 200 meters i do not see him any longer and stop to take a peek, he was sitting on the edge of the pool lane so i asked if he was okay and all he says was Wow Dad, this Triathlon thing is no joke do you think i can train with you next summer and we can do one together ?? So, i say to him in a joking way, only if you can keep up with the old man !!!! Then i took him to Friendly's for some icecream. ![]() |
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![]() | ![]() My own personal trainer, who can be brutal at times but I love her like a sister, said that "I would never make it through" when I told her 6 weeks before the event that I wanted to try. Well that just motivated me even more. She was more upset because we were at the time trying to build some upper body strength and I started cardio like a madman. My goal was to complete, not compete, and I did just that. Now she wants to help me with my 5k run times...lol. Most people will be very supportive. Others just dont "get it" and truthfully...the H*ll with them. It just give me more motivation so if I even think about quiting I hear them in my head and it pushes me. |
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() fsr402 - 2009-07-09 4:40 PM Never had anyone laugh at me like that. But I did have a lady say " just think how fast you would be if you lost weight", "it's the beer that's keeping you fat". I did not know this person, never seen her before. that's classic! BEER RULES! ESPECIALLY AFTER A HARDLY EARNED TRI FINISH!
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Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Hello Another update with revenge in mind! I got a second & real swimming lesson yesterday. Within 30 minutes I was able to freestyle swim the length of the pool. Last night I went home to our neighborhood pool and did 150 meters freestyle. My goal for tonight is to try to do one lap without stopping (50 m) and complete 300 m total freestyle. I am hoping Mr. Laugh will be at the pool to watch me in action. Getting laughed at was very motivating for me! Kevin |
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Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Keep up the good work. I know for me the swimming has been the most frustrating thing but it is getting easier and I am sure yours will to. |
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