Enjoy Race or Train more? Why? (Page 2)

I'm a competitive personality and I like to win and do well.  So it is all about the racing for me.

BUT ....... I do not train as much as I should nor do I have the opportunities to train as much as I would like.  So it creates a slippery slope.  I love to race, I love to do well, but to do that I need to train more and train smart.  Catch 22 .........

I love training and if looked at as a percentage of our season its an overwhelming number compared to racing. That having been said I don't do this to just survive. I have a couple friends who do that and while I respect it that ain't me.

A buddy just finished his first HIM, took him 8 hours. I applaude the accomplishment but If I'm not working on being an AG threat I will not enter.

I took hardware this season in my 3rd Tri ever and did a PB at Timberman Sprint.

Whether its bike racing or Multi I want to be a threat on some level, survival is for the other guy...

Eric J

I really enjoy racing, but it's inseparable from training.  Races are training/education for me and training is prep for races.

Competition can help me dig deeper, really good competition inspires me to raise my sights. I dig that.  I love racing and training with people who are better than me.

There are many things I enjoy about structured races (the party atmosphere of a 5k, the wheel van following the field in a bike race, volunteers handing out water at a tri, the friendly socializing in any of them...).

Still, even if there were no wheel vans, or party atmospheres, or post-race food, or medals, or money, or whatever.... I just like competition.
 
I like competition even in its simplest forms, such as training races or town line sprints.  It makes me smile when someone comes around the side and contests a sprint.  It's a great joy to me.  Win or lose, the contest itself makes me happy. 

I thoroughly enjoy the process of training, and I love to bike and run (and swim, but if I had to give up one of the three, swimming would be it). So even if I didn't race, I'd still bike and run (though probably with a lot less intesity).

But I also love the racing aspect. Pushing the limits, seeing how I stack up against others. And yes, I'm competetive in my AG, and usually place well overall in smaller races.

I like to train. I really like to swim and run. I LOVE to be able to sit for 8 seconds in T1 and then blow the doors off of people that hurry out of transition.

What a great lifestyle. 

what he said.

but i do like my medals.

For me its all about the training.  Currently im focusing on breathing techniques after doing hard cardio like lunges to sprints to flights of stairs then jumping jacks.. I enjoy the way my body reacts to intense workouts and the way I think after getting extremely out of breath.  You really have to concentrate so much harder.  Racing is fun but only because of adrenline you dont feel during training and beating Cevelos and other fancy bikes is always a plus.

Plus during training you can try beating old times, making up new exercises.   Partners make it fun as well.

Tough question.  I love the training, but couldn't do it all without a race to set as my goal. 

I'd still have to say that I enjoy racing the most.  The emotions of race day give me such a high that training just doesn't provide.  That early morning peacefulness(see my avatar) before the start, then having all your hard work pay off and then the relief afterwards...I just love it.