Everyone's a Winner (Page 6)

We all have challenges that prevent us from training.  It's how you overcome those challenges that I find interesting and reveal character in someone.

The single-mindedness of some people here really boggles my mind. It's fine if you want to devote your entire life to triathlon, but DO NOT belittle other people for having some priorities that turn elsewhere.

First of all, my example was merely a hypothetical - I'm sure a lot of people here would love to have no job, and train as much as they wanted. The pros get to do that.

What I want to know is why everyone here seems to think that TRIATHLON determines whether or not you are a strong human being, worthy of being admired, etc. Sorry, people but triathlon is NOT the be-all and end-all of life activities and it does NOT make someone more valid because they choose to devote their time to that thing as opposed to something else and those who don't focus every waking second on triathlon are weak-minded, fearful of the world, fearful of risk, etc. I'm sorry, but that is elitist, arrogant and downright rude. Dan, you and your wife have chosen not to have kids, so you can pursue your hobbies to the fullest extent. People with children can still train and make compromises to do so, yes, but I guarantee you that they will have less free time than you, as I'm sure that they would like to sometimes spend time with their children. And I highly DOUBT that they think of their children as an "excuse".

I choose to spend my time training as well as doing other things that I enjoy very much, as I'm sure many others here do. Would I be a faster triathlete, if I excluded all of those other activities? Maybe, but why the hell are my other hobbies merely "excuses" and why do they make me "weak" or living a "humdrum, boring life"? I think statements such as that are HIGHLY judgemental and insulting. I don't judge you and say that you are selfish for not having children so you can train or something like that - and I'm sure some people might see it that way. Just an example, but I am currently learning guitar and brushing up on the piano so I can be of more assistance with the worship team at church, on which I already sing. That takes up some time. That takes some effort - learning a new instrument for example, and building new skills on an old one. I enjoy performing - and getting up and performing is something that a lot of people are afraid to do. Would you have the nerve and determination to get up in front of a crowd and sing? I'm betting a lot of people here wouldn't. DO I think that makes them weak? Of course not, I just know that some people have different priorities and interests.

The single-mindedness of some people here really boggles my mind. It's fine if you want to devote your entire life to triathlon, but DO NOT belittle other people for having some priorities that turn elsewhere.

First of all, my example was merely a hypothetical - I'm sure a lot of people here would love to have no job, and train as much as they wanted. The pros get to do that.

What I want to know is why everyone here seems to think that TRIATHLON determines whether or not you are a strong human being, worthy of being admired, etc. Sorry, people but triathlon is NOT the be-all and end-all of life activities and it does NOT make someone more valid because they choose to devote their time to that thing as opposed to something else and those who don't focus every waking second on triathlon are weak-minded, fearful of the world, fearful of risk, etc. I'm sorry, but that is elitist, arrogant and downright rude. Dan, you and your wife have chosen not to have kids, so you can pursue your hobbies to the fullest extent. People with children can still train and make compromises to do so, yes, but I guarantee you that they will have less free time than you, as I'm sure that they would like to sometimes spend time with their children. And I highly DOUBT that they think of their children as an "excuse".

I choose to spend my time training as well as doing other things that I enjoy very much, as I'm sure many others here do. Would I be a faster triathlete, if I excluded all of those other activities? Maybe, but why the hell are my other hobbies merely "excuses" and why do they make me "weak" or living a "humdrum, boring life"? I think statements such as that are HIGHLY judgemental and insulting. I don't judge you and say that you are selfish for not having children so you can train or something like that - and I'm sure some people might see it that way. Just an example, but I am currently learning guitar and brushing up on the piano so I can be of more assistance with the worship team at church, on which I already sing. That takes up some time. That takes some effort - learning a new instrument for example, and building new skills on an old one. I enjoy performing - and getting up and performing is something that a lot of people are afraid to do. Would you have the nerve and determination to get up in front of a crowd and sing? I'm betting a lot of people here wouldn't. DO I think that makes them weak? Of course not, I just know that some people have different priorities and interests.

The single-mindedness of some people here really boggles my mind. It's fine if you want to devote your entire life to triathlon, but DO NOT belittle other people for having some priorities that turn elsewhere.

First of all, my example was merely a hypothetical - I'm sure a lot of people here would love to have no job, and train as much as they wanted. The pros get to do that.

What I want to know is why everyone here seems to think that TRIATHLON determines whether or not you are a strong human being, worthy of being admired, etc. Sorry, people but triathlon is NOT the be-all and end-all of life activities and it does NOT make someone more valid because they choose to devote their time to that thing as opposed to something else and those who don't focus every waking second on triathlon are weak-minded, fearful of the world, fearful of risk, etc. I'm sorry, but that is elitist, arrogant and downright rude. Dan, you and your wife have chosen not to have kids, so you can pursue your hobbies to the fullest extent. People with children can still train and make compromises to do so, yes, but I guarantee you that they will have less free time than you, as I'm sure that they would like to sometimes spend time with their children. And I highly DOUBT that they think of their children as an "excuse".

I choose to spend my time training as well as doing other things that I enjoy very much, as I'm sure many others here do. Would I be a faster triathlete, if I excluded all of those other activities? Maybe, but why the hell are my other hobbies merely "excuses" and why do they make me "weak" or living a "humdrum, boring life"? I think statements such as that are HIGHLY judgemental and insulting. I don't judge you and say that you are selfish for not having children so you can train or something like that - and I'm sure some people might see it that way. Just an example, but I am currently learning guitar and brushing up on the piano so I can be of more assistance with the worship team at church, on which I already sing. That takes up some time. That takes some effort - learning a new instrument for example, and building new skills on an old one. I enjoy performing - and getting up and performing is something that a lot of people are afraid to do. Would you have the nerve and determination to get up in front of a crowd and sing? I'm betting a lot of people here wouldn't. DO I think that makes them weak? Of course not, I just know that some people have different priorities and interests.

The single-mindedness of some people here really boggles my mind. It's fine if you want to devote your entire life to triathlon, but DO NOT belittle other people for having some priorities that turn elsewhere.

I dont think he is belittling you, I think he is pointing out some incorrect statements you make.  For someone who wants to improve in the sport, you make it seem like life around you must end and that folks need 40 hours to train (which is ridiculous, even for most pros), no kids, no job, etc, etc.  That is proven incorrect by many on this board, who do keep tris as a hobby AND work full time jobs AND have kids AND other obligation and some who continue to see improvement, because that is currently what they seek.  You make it seem as though anyone who wants to improve in the sport is a nutjob with gobs of time and probably a too.  I think most of us get it in that this sport is an individual sport- you race the clock based on your perameters- how much time and effort you want to train, how hard you want to race, what your objectives are.  The problem is too many seek some kind of validation from others that what they are doing is 'ok'.  Everyone does themselves a big favor by knowing their reasons what they do and when and why, take what advice fits with those reasons and really looking to themselves for what is the way to do it.  Get the chips off the shoulders folks, and that includes Joe Friel. 

And I find it strange that you think that "you can do anything you put your mind to" - isn't that really long the same vein as "everyone is a winner"? 

Dan, I was using my other hobbies merely as an example. If someone else were typing, they might use their own hobbies. Just an example, so chill. I know you're not picking on "me" specifically, but you ARE picking on everyone like me, who chooses to spread out their available time and maybe not train as hard at one particular thing. I understand that this is a triathlon board, but as I said, people do have other hobbies and that is okay and does not make them weak. To be honest, I don't know if I would be a super-great triathlete or not, if I trained 40+ hours a week. I might be, I might not. I don't know. But the point is that I have other priorities that keep me from finding out. I'm sure that is the case with others here. And I'm not sure why that is acceptable.

And I find it strange that you think that "you can do anything you put your mind to" - isn't that really long the same vein as "everyone is a winner"? Because, no you may NOT be able to do anything you put your mind to. My sister can't sing worth a damn. That's not a talent she was born with. A lot of talents you simply cannot learn - to an extent they're god-given (or whatever deity or non-deity you prefer). Some people don't have the talent for running 6:00 miles no matter how hard they try. And so to waste their time trying to achieve something they will never be able to achieve seems kind of dumb to me, esp. if it could end up hurting them. You can't be good at everything - again, not everyone is a winner - and realizing that doesn't make you a "weak person". I understand not ever trying it and still saying 'Oh, I could never do that'. But I think that most of us here have a good enough sense of our abilities to know where our strengths lie and how much effort it would take to get to point X and whether or not that attempt would really be worth our time. Recognizing where your talents lie and focusing on those is no less worthy than trying to be mediocre at everything...

And I find it strange that you think that "you can do anything you put your mind to" - isn't that really long the same vein as "everyone is a winner"?

Coming from a real hothead?!  :-)