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2008-10-18 10:28 AM
in reply to: #1751438

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Alpharetta, GA
Subject: RE: "If I can do it, anyone can" is BS
asaling - 2008-10-18 10:49 AM
Anditrigirl - 2008-10-15 2:05 PM

I used to say it all the time, too.  Then my husband asked me to stop saying it - he said I was belittling my accomplishments.  I think the above poster is accurate, anyone can do it but most won't.

I also don't say it anymore because I didn't like the response it solicited.  "Yeah, I guess I could do an ironman.  I know I could do the bike and run, the swim would be the hard part."  This from people who I'm pretty sure never biked over 10 miles or ran more than 3.  For most, the swim is the EASY part.  I got tired of listening to the rhetoric that would follow.

Also, being a woman - and an apparently very feminine looking one at that - I have a hard enough time being taken seriously.  EXAMPLE: I was standing in a line with my husband and wearing my IM finisher shirt (it had the distances and finisher on the back).  Now, at the time I was still in damn good shape.  This man behind me read my shirt, looked at my husband and said "wow, did you do that?" to my hubby.  F-U.  I get this kind of crap all the time, I don't need to bring it on myself!

Andi

EDIT: The shirt I was wearing was a small and fit perfectly - it was not oversized so as to be mistaken for me wearing my hubby's shirt.

OK - So "you've been there, done that and got the t-shirt to prove it" ... what I want to know is, how did your husband answer the question...

When the same hing happened to my wife, I quickly responded (before she got hold of his neck) with "why do you think I'm in line behind her... it's not me just being polite!" The whole line exploded with laughter>

 

 

That's a great response.  My husband said, "Don't look at me - I couldn't swim if my life depended on it!"  And yes, I also wanted to ring the guy's neck.  But, I could tell he was immediately embarassed and shocked by his generalization so I let it go.

My favorite time was when I was standing in line for a race packet and a volunteer walked up to me and said, "I am sorry, this area is for the athletes who will be competing in tomorrow's race."  WTF?  I can't figure out why this happens to me, except I was dressed fairly decent (not in shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops).

The stories could go on and on!



2008-10-18 10:47 AM
in reply to: #1744230

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Champion
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Bellingham, Washington
Subject: RE: "If I can do it, anyone can" is BS

Just brings to mind this little song.  (Lyrics are somewhat different than other versions)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfHBPusZg6E    Sing along if you want.

2008-10-18 1:11 PM
in reply to: #1744230

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Veteran
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Richland, MS
Subject: RE: "If I can do it, anyone can" is BS

Sorry guys, I had to chime in here.  I don't use the expression myself anymore either.  Not everyone can do it.  I have found, being new to this sport, first, triathlon is a lifestyle, it isn't just a fad or gimmick.  One has to make a conscious decision to change their entire lifestyle, their mindset and in order to succeed, their entire perspective regarding food and exercise.  No, not everyone has that level of committment or "stickability".  I know people who have dropped 3 grand on a bike, only to have the tires dry rot with less than 100 miles on them.

I have also learned through this endeavor, it doesn't matter what equipment you have, how many trainers you hire, what gymn you belong to, the deciding factor between success and failure is you!  I can honestly say that training to become a successful triathlete is much more mental than physical.  You can be in the best shape of your life, if you don't have the mental toughness to WILL your body to keep going when everything inside you is screaming quit, you will not succeed.

So NO, everyone can't do it, and everyone won't do it!  Someone used the analogy of being an NFL player, aside from the genetics of the game, it takes mental toughness to get on that field and keep going with broken bones and pain in all your joints... IT TAKES HEART, and not everyone has it!

my .02

2008-10-18 3:22 PM
in reply to: #1744230

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COURT JESTER
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ROCKFORD, IL
Subject: RE: "If I can do it, anyone can" is BS

On pretty much any topic, if someone says "I could never do that," I say "As long as you keep talking to yourself like that, you're right."

This topic holds hands with "With positive thinking you can do anything."  This is also bunk.  I do believe this one, and paraphrasing Zig Ziglar, "Postive thinking won't help you do anything.  It will however help you do everything better than negative thinking will."

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