Do any of you NOT primarily identify yourself as a triathlete? (Page 2)

I don't really think of myself as an athlete, so I wouldn't really think to identify myself as a triathlete. Plus for me, triathlon is more of a means to an end (i.e. motivation to exercise and deal with a tendency to lay down a layer of blubber that would serve a grizzly in winter). When I'm asked what sports/activities I do, I would do a mental circuit of the gearzone/garage and respond:

kayaking (both touring and white water)

backpacking

climbing

SCUBA diving

snowshoeing

biking (road and mtn)

triathlon

Reminds me of a t-shirt I saw at a race, being worn by the spectator-wife of one of the competitors:

I don't do triathlons, I do triathletes

haha thats great, can just picture her standing at the end of a straight on the bike leg, causing all the triathletes to doubletake and crash 

Not something I talk about, except with one fellow runner at work.  And yes, I'm a 'runner', if directly asked, but it's not information that I volunteer.  (And the honest answer is that I used to be a 'serious' runner and now I am trying to regain form.)

I'm training for triathlons, but any real triathlete who saw me bike or swim would laugh.  (At least, I think those were snickers I heard getting out of the water at my race this year, and I'm pretty sure they were directed at me...)

Competitive eater.  (with a side of tri)

Funny! ... that is similar to what my roadie friends say about me.

So if you were asked, "what's your primary sport?", would you say "Triathlon?"

No.  

All of my friends, relatives, coworkers and casual acquaintances know that snowboarding is my sport (hence the avatar and handle).  I took up triathlons this year as a focus for my exercising to keep me in shape for the upcoming snowboarding season and as part of a healthy and active lifestyle that I try and follow.  I enjoy tri's and will continue to race and improve, but snowboarding is my passion.

And, FWIW I would rather buy a plane ticket to snowboard on 1 trail at A-basin in Colorado than to Florida to race in a tri this weekend (sacrilege on this site - I know)  But A-Basin opened yesterday    which means winter is almost here and I'm getting my gear ready.   Rumored projected Mt Snow opening date - 11/8 for those of us in the North East.

I've done 4 triathlons, including 1 HIM, but don't consider myself a triathlete. I've done 5 marathons and a few Half's, but don't consider myself a runner. I played soccer for almost 30 years, including D1 in college and competetively aftward, but don't consider myself a soccer player. I guess I've never been asked to label myself. If I were asked to describe myself, I would say I'm a husband and father who enjoys: running, cycling, triathlon, hiking, soccer, golfing, swimming, traveling, and last but not least, spending time with my family (in between my training. ha ha)

That being said, I'm sure that I'll be willing to call myself a triathlete after finishing an Ironman.

I ran 3 marathons, and didn't call myself a "marathoner" until I did the Advanced Marathoning Pfitzinger 70mpw plan. I felt that with that much time and energy committed to the run, calling myself a "marathoner" was pretty legit.

Now that I've transitioned to a lot of tri training, I spend probably equal number of hours split amongst the 3 disciplines. But it's a LONG way until I call myself primarily a "triathlete" - I'm not sure when it'll ever happen - perhaps if I ever get good enough to win an AG prize at a local race or dedicate enough swim training to AG the swim portion, I'd feel that the label might be warranted. O, and finishing an full Ironman seems like fair game as well - that one likely takes the cake for me.

This is funny, and my first thought is that I consider myself a cyclist that also does triathlon (not plural yet).

But when I think about it, if someone asks me if I play/do sports, I will automatically say that I played high school football ... 20 years ago.  I am SO Al Bundy!  

Did you score 4 touchdowns for Polk High in one game too? 

Yeah, but now we are both Pfreaks

Does being home sans spouse for a long weekend with three children 6,5, and 3 and keeping them fed, safe, and happy count as being a triathlete?  Lord knows it felt like an athletic event. 

Seriously though, I don't call myself a triathlete and probably never will.  To me, athletes are professional.  I have an arduous, yet addicting, hobby.

Labels...great for those days you're feeling the need to justify why you spend 2+ hours clearing your head head by biking, running, swimming.  Or the day when some azz who knew you when you were stressed-out & overweight sees you & asks why you look so great now.

On those days, yes...I'm a triathlete - with a vengeance!  

Other than that...who cares?

I bike.

I run. (kind of)

I swim.

I do yoga.

I kayak.

I am sooooo not an athlete.

I manage my world through activity!!!!!  I am sane (kind of)

I try and be a runner, a swimmer and a cyclist before a triathlete, so I usually just say whichever one is more pertinent to the situation when it comes up.  However if I had to choose, I would say I'm a runner having an affair with the pool at the moment.

Every time I'm at a ride, run, swim (whatever) and the first words out of somebody's mouth are "I'm a triathlete", I cringe a little inside.  To explain it would take a LONG post, but I just try not to be THAT guy.   If I'm at the pool, I swim like a swimmer, on the road, I run like a runner and on the road (again) ride like a roadie.