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how many of you would take the chance..... (Page 3)
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 2009-07-01 9:26 AM in reply to: #2255065 |
Champion  7233    |  Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance.....see i am the other way around, did team sports in highschool college (hockey and rowing), got to school and started training on my own. trust me i didnt miss out on college fun;-) now i am looking for a new challenge, and this happens to line up with some of my goals, and frankly, as bad as it sounds i am not sure i could race and not be training pretty hard for it. |
| 2009-07-01 9:30 AM in reply to: #2254832 |
Pro 5169 Burbs | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Omega - 2009-06-30 10:48 PM I do it for sure! You only live once. If you're young enough and have not yet started a career or family then go for it and have a blast!! This is how I feel about about it... if I was younger, not married, not yet accustomed to nicer things - and, um, had the TALENT for it  - I think I would go for it.... now that I have a mortgage and a husband and would like a baby soon (and really enjoy shoe shopping) - nope. |
| 2009-07-01 9:36 AM in reply to: #2255483 |
Champion 7233 | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... trishie - 2009-07-01 10:30 AM Omega - 2009-06-30 10:48 PM I do it for sure! You only live once. If you're young enough and have not yet started a career or family then go for it and have a blast!! This is how I feel about about it... if I was younger, not married, not yet accustomed to nicer things - and, um, had the TALENT for it - I think I would go for it.... now that I have a mortgage and a husband and would like a baby soon (and really enjoy shoe shopping) - nope. haha see thats what i figure, going right from college to living on my own to this should keep me feeling right at home;-) |
| 2009-07-01 9:47 AM in reply to: #2253582 |
| New user 219 | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Sure! I'd give up my job to do nothing but train. But, no one goes into elementary school teaching for the money and prestige. |
| 2009-07-01 10:03 AM in reply to: #2253582 |
Extreme Veteran 357 Ft. Myers, Florida | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... I am an independant consultant and my work comes project by project. I completed a project in Nov 2007, my first IM was Arizona in April of 2008. I decided that I would not even look for another project until after my IM. So I took several months off and just trained. I was a bit worried going into it that I might get bored. I have to say that I enjoyed that time 100%. I feel extremely fortunate that I got to have that time to focus completely on training for my first IM and I had a great coach as well. I am looking forward to completing the project that I am currently working on and hopefully taking another training hiatus. |
| 2009-07-01 10:25 AM in reply to: #2254954 |
Expert 1394 Wilmington, NC | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... newbz - 2009-07-01 12:08 AM so for those of you that have done this, tips, thoughts, share your experiances? Newbz I did this in a way. I had started running and was getting ok and I decided I was not going to pursue going to university and that I was going to run and work part time to try and get over here to the States on a scholarship (my times were no where close to getting that done at the time) Obv most people thought that was a dumb move but I saw it as I can only run at that level till a certain age, but I will be able to go to school at any age, so I went for it. It can be tough and when things are not going great it gets even tougher. Long story short I eventually got a scholarship to come over here to a Div1 school. Best advice is to be honest to yourself and believe in yourself. If you truly deep down inside think you can do and you are not just doing it as an excuse to enter the "real world" then you you are on track. Work hard, work smart and even if it does not work out as you dream you will not regret it if you give it 100% effort. You also have the photography thing to help bring in some $'s so I would 100% do it if I was in your shoes. |
| 2009-07-01 10:25 AM in reply to: #2254954 |
Expert 1394 Wilmington, NC | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... newbz - 2009-07-01 12:08 AM so for those of you that have done this, tips, thoughts, share your experiances? Newbz I did this in a way. I had started running and was getting ok and I decided I was not going to pursue going to university and that I was going to run and work part time to try and get over here to the States on a scholarship (my times were no where close to getting that done at the time) Obv most people thought that was a dumb move but I saw it as I can only run at that level till a certain age, but I will be able to go to school at any age, so I went for it. It can be tough and when things are not going great it gets even tougher. Long story short I eventually got a scholarship to come over here to a Div1 school. Best advice is to be honest to yourself and believe in yourself. If you truly deep down inside think you can do and you are not just doing it as an excuse to enter the "real world" then you you are on track. Work hard, work smart and even if it does not work out as you dream you will not regret it if you give it 100% effort. You also have the photography thing to help bring in some $'s so I would 100% do it if I was in your shoes. |
| 2009-07-01 10:28 AM in reply to: #2253582 |
Iron Donkey 38643 , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... If I didn't have a family, had a carpy job, was selfish, then, maybe. |
 2009-07-01 10:41 AM in reply to: #2253582 |
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| 2009-07-01 12:21 PM in reply to: #2255684 |
| Master 1359 South of SLC | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... 1stTimeTri - 2009-07-01 9:28 AM If I didn't have a family, had a carpy job, was selfish, then, maybe. If I had a CARPY job, I would probably quit too. But then again, I dont really like fish... Mike |
| 2009-07-01 12:36 PM in reply to: #2254954 |
| Elite 4048 Gilbert, Az. | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... newbz - 2009-06-30 10:08 PM so for those of you that have done this, tips, thoughts, share your experiances? 1. Track ALL your race results. I had a resume similar to a job seekers, except mine was race related. 2. Create as many "industry" contacts as you can. As a starting or minor pro, you may not land the cervelo contract, but there are a LOT of various manufacturers out there. A chance conversation can turn into $$ later. And 5 sponsors at $1000 each is just the same as one for $5000, and with 5, chances of a raise are better. 3. Training is your job, treat it like that. (This is where most wannabe's fail. Lack of discipline) 4. Make yourself as visible and approachable as possible. Sponsors will want to know how you can benefit them the most. 5. Trade shows, IM festivals, etc. 6. Even if you aren't racing, you might make the time to hit up some of the biggie events (Kona, St. A's, etc) and do the meet/greet thing with the boothies. 7. Be prepared to make a lot of compromises and sacrifices. 8. Accept the fact that you may not "make it" as a pro, and it is not a condemnation of you personally. (That was the hard part for me, I was just on the edge and I felt like all the no's that I got were a valuation of my worth as a person. Makes it really discouraging sometimes) 9. Get to know some of the other pros, they may turn into references/contacts. John |
| 2009-07-01 3:38 PM in reply to: #2256169 |
| Champion 7233 | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... thanks for the info. I agree and understand that whether i make it or not, that is really not the value of things. to me, if i can put forth my best effort, wherever that puts me i will be happy with. going pro is a goal, but i understand i may not be ffast enough, or not on the right day, etc. I simply want to see how far i can push myself, and where that will leave me. and i love to race, so this seems like a good time as any to give it a shot and see. On the living side of things, i grew up in a fmaily without a lot of money, so that at least has made this part a lot easier as i am really not doing a lot living wise that i have not been my whole life. thanks again for all your views. |
| 2009-07-01 9:23 PM in reply to: #2254344 |
| New Haven, CT | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Hmmmm.... current job: lawyer. So I am well paid to solve other people's problems and absorb their stress day in and out. Even get to do that on vacation (billed about 3 hours today). Alternate universe: swim, bike and run for a living. Option B sounds pretty appealing as long as I can pay the rent. However, MOP is not going to send the kids to college. BTW, I am still waiting for the NY Giants to call, I think they could use an undersized, 35 year old defensive tackle given Fred Robbins injury issues. Edited by jsklarz 2009-07-01 9:25 PM |
| 2009-07-01 9:49 PM in reply to: #2257306 |
| Champion 7233 | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... hahahaha. |
| 2009-07-01 10:30 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
| Expert 658 | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Do it bro. You are heaps heaps better to do it now rather than 5 years down the track. If you are contemplating it this seriuosly, definitely go for it. If I was good and fast at triathlon I'd most definitely consider it too. Just go live with mum and dad, have them pay all the bills and it will be sweet... |
| 2009-07-01 10:32 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
| Expert 658 | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Check out this video of a guy trying to go pro ironman here in New Zealand, my mum taped this off the tv cause she thought I might like to watch it. http://www.tv3.co.nz/Money-Man-0409---Richard-and-Kristen/tabid/742... |
| 2009-07-01 11:46 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
| Elite 5316 Alturas, California | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... My job is a part of me that I enjoy and it allows me to pay my bills and support my family. I am not sure that my body would support working out more than 15-20 hours a week if I were not employed. If I were young and not married I still don't think I would have had the ability to go pro. Even if I had the ability the lack of reliable income would be too insecure of a way to live without some other kind of income as well. |
| 2009-07-02 12:19 AM in reply to: #2253582 |
| 214 | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... I spent my early 20's following the Grateful Dead. If I could go back and be in shape enough to place in a couple of races and live off the prizes, Yes I would go back to the vagabond lifestyle. Living for and looking forward to the next big event. |
| 2009-07-02 5:56 AM in reply to: #2253582 |
| Master 1531 TORONTO | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... newbz - 2009-06-30 2:16 PM to give up working for a while, and live and train like a pro, or full time, and see what the lifestyle was like? Well - along with this fantasy we'd have to assume I was a gifted athlete and someone would actually pay to sponsor me - in that case - ya! But for now... I won't be quitting my day job any time soon |
| 2009-07-02 11:01 AM in reply to: #2253582 |
| Master 1651 Breckenridge, CO | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... When I was younger, I raced elite pretty competitively for a few years and was eligible for a pro card but never took it because it didn't seem like there was much money, and I wasn't willing to do the travel thing that TJ describes. I also had run up against what appeared to be my genetic maximum on the run and it wasn't fast enough to compete against the top pros. I had some opportunities to go into pure bike racing which was my strength and I was already riding as an alternate for my sponsor's roadie team. I was deciding to either do that, or train a serious run focus with a specialist coach and try to break my run barrier when I had a bad bike crash that took two years from which to recover. So I set off to discover how to make enough money with part-time projects so that I'd have plenty of time to recreate (mostly real estate stuff). I ran some after that and did a marathon but it was such a disaster that I never ran another step again for about 13 years until I took up tri training again a couple years ago because my PT girl told me swimming would be a good activity for my Spinal Fusion recovery. When I started training again, I didn't even know that there was more than one Ironman race... If I had it to do over, I'd do the exact same thing that I did. I don't know much about how much money the top pros are making now but Andy Potts mom is a local up here and I run into her occasionally at parties and stuff. My impression is that even he isn't making all that much money all things considered. |
| 2009-07-02 11:50 AM in reply to: #2253582 |
| Champion 9600 Fountain Hills, AZ | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... I have wondered upon occasion what would have happened had I started doing triathlons in my mid 20's as opposed to 36. Shame as my Mother was such an accomplished triathlete. If I could go back knowing what I know now and I was as good as i think i could have been, you bet I would do it. It's really not a "career" choice as only the very top of the pro field make any appreciable money. Being a professional athlete comes with a lot of financial sacrafice but there are so many other awards it affords you.  |
| 2009-07-02 11:52 AM in reply to: #2253582 |
| Science Nerd 28760 Redwood City, California | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... Would I do it? No. I don't think I'd be any good at being a pro If you think you have a chance and can make it work, go for it! |
| 2009-07-02 6:54 PM in reply to: #2258337 |
| Champion 7233 | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... breckview - 2009-07-02 12:01 PM When I was younger, I raced elite pretty competitively for a few years and was eligible for a pro card but never took it because it didn't seem like there was much money, and I wasn't willing to do the travel thing that TJ describes. I also had run up against what appeared to be my genetic maximum on the run and it wasn't fast enough to compete against the top pros. I had some opportunities to go into pure bike racing which was my strength and I was already riding as an alternate for my sponsor's roadie team. I was deciding to either do that, or train a serious run focus with a specialist coach and try to break my run barrier when I had a bad bike crash that took two years from which to recover. So I set off to discover how to make enough money with part-time projects so that I'd have plenty of time to recreate (mostly real estate stuff). I ran some after that and did a marathon but it was such a disaster that I never ran another step again for about 13 years until I took up tri training again a couple years ago because my PT girl told me swimming would be a good activity for my Spinal Fusion recovery. When I started training again, I didn't even know that there was more than one Ironman race... If I had it to do over, I'd do the exact same thing that I did. I don't know much about how much money the top pros are making now but Andy Potts mom is a local up here and I run into her occasionally at parties and stuff. My impression is that even he isn't making all that much money all things considered. if i ever make any money from this sport i will be impressed, not a lot going around |
| 2009-07-02 9:06 PM in reply to: #2253582 |
| Member 46 Seattle | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... This is really no different than trying to be a professional musician. Not a ROCKSTAR but a MUSICIAN. If you go pro as an athlete, musician, tax accountant or whatever that is your job. The rules are a bit different if that's what puts food on the table or a roof over your head. That being said...If I were 20 again I'd do it in a New York minute. |
| 2009-07-02 10:46 PM in reply to: #2256169 |
| Champion 7233 | Subject: RE: how many of you would take the chance..... just wanted to say thanks to everyone that has replied so far for sharing your experinces. |
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