What makes a triathlete? (Page 2)

Y'all are both wrong. You're not a triathlete until you finish an iron distance event. And just in case you are wondering, you're not an ironman until you WIN at Kona.

Congrats, Triathlete!

Sounds to me like your friend is maybe jealous.

You should invite him/her to compete with you at your next event.

Gearboy, I love your reasoning here. Really.

My .02c: I've read that once you cross the finish line at a triathlon event you are a triathlete. I like this definition. Also I've read that in certain circles you become a former triathlete if you have not completed a triathlon in the last 365 days. The exception to this rule is the Ironman rule. Once you complete an Ironman distance race you are an Ironman forever. I'm far from an authority on the subject.

I suppose the questions are, did you train? Did you toe the line? Did you finish? Then you are a triathlete. Welcome to the club.

Oh, and by the way, if you decide to compete in any races longer than a super sprint it should be because you want to. Not so your friend can call you a triathlete.

Wow... I guess that means I'm no longer a triathlete. Does that mean I've regained my virginity (again)?

I have no idea. Like I said before, I'm no authority on the subject. I was just adding what I'd read on the subject in one of the myriad of triathlon books I've perused. You may call yourself what ever you'd like. It has no bearing on me what-so-ever. (I mean this in a nonsnarky way.)

There are really 2 questions:

1.  When do you think of yourself as a triathlete?

and

2.  When do other people think of you as a triathlete?

The first one is totally up to you.  The second question is totally out of our control. 

Be definition, if you do a triathlon you are a triathlete.  But going from couch to triathlon and then back to the couch does not make one a "triathlete" for the rest of your life. 

Playing one round of golf does not make you a golfer.  Going out in the back yard and shooting a rabbit does not make you a hunter and making a couple of casts with a Zebco reel does not make you a fisherman.

I think what defines you as triathlete is lifestyle.  Do you s/b/r several times a week?  Do you occasionally race others who also s/b/r several times a week?  Do your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors routinely see you out running and biking?

Don't worry about your friends thinking of you as a triathlete.  After a while....after turning down drinks after work because you are going running....after passing on lunch while you go running....after coming into work smelling like chlorine.....eventually they will not think you are a triathlete, they will KNOW you are a triathlete. 

~Mike

panout - 2008-09-23 6:19 PM You're not a true triathlete until you've started a thread on BT asking how to count your number of swim laps!

Funny you should say that, because I was just wondering, how do you keep count of your laps in the pool?  I've been swimming for over twenty years and I haven't figured this out yet.