Training and no Social Life, a Bad Thing?

I always chat with people at the gym and chat on my bike rides...I feel much better about skipping out on a nice dinner and going out for a run/bike ride instead.

Also, my husband and I have been training together-so our social life has improved amongst us! 

its different when you already have a significant  other/spouse. A social life is very important to me and unless I'm a pro elite athlete trying to podium I will not be giving it up...I enjoy my beer and beer pong and my friends. And since I am single...if I had no social life I would be single for the rest of my life (I plan on doing tri's till I can no longer walk) as there are few opportunities to meet the opposite sex when you have no social life. This is only my situation of course. of course you can meet people at races, but I'm in my own world preparing for the race mentally.

Don't drop the social life.  Nothing compares to having a partner to support you in your training, injuries, and races.  My hubby doesn't tri, but he rides along side me as I run...rubs my sore muscles...and drives home from events when I am tired...and listens to my highs and lows.

Akrenik you are lucky.... I have a fiance that I moved away from everything I knew after I got out of the Army and have 0 friends and have almost no support from her. I dont have a social life either because I cant seem to find any decent people in Chicago to hang out with and actually get the time away from the lady to hang out with anyone. Not having a social life is tough... especially when you are a outgoing person. I would have to say that getting and keeping some what of a social life is very important....

Man, I have next to know social life anymore. Work 3 - to 11:30 pm at night for 7 days for the last few months have pretty much dissolved all relationships I used to have. Have found myself definatly spiraling into a bit of a depression I think especially lately. It's hard to find real friends anymore. Get alot of super pokes on facebook I guess that counts for something. Second shift sucks ! Sorry had to get that out, but on the other hand I have definatly improved myself 10 fold by training and getting better at something. Just in a little rut I think right now and after the economy picks back up hopefully I can get back to some normalcy, but back when I did go out all the time, it was even a fraction as rewarding as completing a 10k run or riding my bike past fresh cut grass. Honestly I don't miss the bar drinking, with horrid people. Definatly prefer that triathlete lifestyle alot more.  

Edited by nthomas1999 2009-07-25 2:13 AM

x2. Triathlons are something I do IN my life, but it's not my LIFE.

It's one thing to be glad that one isn't out drinking all the time, staying up too late, sleeping until who knows when, etc.  It's another to be "glad that your social life is bad."

Training and no Social Life, a Bad Thing?  Yes, IMO.

X2... Having friends and some kind of social life is a GOOD thing. However, if you're not generally interested in the kind of "social life" that your college colleagues are taking part in, then there is absolutely no need for you to participate. But it sounds to like you do have a DIFFERENT kind of social life - one that includes going for a ride with a friend who shares your interest in training, and participating in training rides in a group. And I'm sure there are also other opportunities for social growth that don't necessarily include binge drinking and partying all night. You need to find the balance that is right for YOU. Everyone has different social "needs". Some people thrive on a lot of social interaction, others prefer more time to themselves. If you're happy with the level of social interaction in your life, then you're probably fine. If you're using training as an escape from or substitute for social interaction, then maybe you need to modify your approach.....

I moved to a town where I didn't know anybody last November.  I was bored, lonely, gaining weight......
I have no social life whatsoever, I STILL don't know one person in this town but at least since I decided to train for a triathlon, I am occupied.  At least I have something constructive to do and am not sitting in my room romancing Ben & Jerry.
I, of course am older but I think if you ignore your social life there will come a day when you will regret it.  Living in the small town that I do, I don't have a lot of options.

Maybe you just haven't found the right social group.  My social life was completley different before tri's. I would go out late, see bands, drink, party etc..but when I got into tri's I met others with the same interests.  Now, my social circle revolves around my tri friends.  We go out weekly for dinner/drinks, but never make it late since we all have to get up for training, and once a month someone hosts a dinner party.  I love my new social group and also love that I can still ahve a great time without the bars and late nights.  Out of season, we do a couple full assaults on the town..total let loose and party. 
I think balance is so important..work and tri's can't be the only thing in your life...having friends and spedinig quality time with them is just as important.  I would think I would be a very unhappy person if I didn't socialize.

Just reading your subject line and answering your question: Yes.

Yes x2 if you are a normal person. And still yes, if you are a pro.

IMO, any time something takes up all your time, consumes your life to the extent of everything else, you have an issue. Balance. Is. Key.

Very true.  It's easy to say your training (and races mainly) don't affect your social life if you come home to someone already.  Different if you come home to no one and have to find the energy on a Saturday night after a grueling race to go out.

And at the beginning of my racing (which was this January) I didn't have anyone and it sucked a lot.  My friends were going out to bars and partying it up with girls and I was sleeping and fixing to get up at 4am knowing they were on their way home.  I got a GF now and it has made my training so much easier.

Edited by ATLsbr 2009-07-26 8:48 PM

Well basically, if I want a social life, I either socialize with my one friend who cycles or with the drunks...

I'm quite good friends with my swimming squad but never see them apart from that? Maybe try to get together sometime apart from swimming?

There you have it.. Suggest to your swimming buddies that you should all go out for a drink or meal?

So true...parenthood changed everything for me, not that I'd change any of it back.

I'm perfectly fine without a social life...as long as my kids and my wife support me, I am g2g.

I spent the last couple years socializing (and drinking) quite a bit.  This past year with the training I've been doing - I haven't been nearly as social.  Honestly - part of it I'm okay with.  My BF is very patient and understanding about my training and I see my friends on a regular basis - but it isn't the booze/food-fest it was before.  I simply can't afford that in my training.

I think you need to find some sort of balance.  You need that socialization even though being on your own and training totally okay with you.

I wonder if we all sort of go through a period when we become more comfortable with who we are.  2 years ago I couldn't have imagined living by myself or spending the amount of time I am alone.  Now I'm quite happy being on my own with my own thoughts.  That will impact the "need" to socialize.

The amount of time I spend drinking just to drink with 'friends' has significantly decreased over the last year. And to be completely honest, I'm okay...wait no I'm happy with that. I still go out from time to time, however I don't go out and drink just for the sake of drinking. Overall the groups of friends that I hang out with now have more interests than just college binge drinking every night. They still think I'm crazy for working out so much.

Basically what I'm saying is that my social life has shifted rather than disappeared.

i think it is very important to still keep a social life going on, no you dont have to go out and get hammered every night (but since when was this the only thing to do with friends?)

i do go out and drink with friends on ave once a week, and try to get out with them 1 or 2 other days if i can.
outside of that i have a lot of things id o on my own as well. g/f is also training a lot and we hang out the better part of most days.

frankly, if you dont have a life outside of triathlon, you are going to be in for a very sad life the first time you get hurt. what then? the only thing you have going on is gone.
go out and have a good time, and fit some in around training, you are only young once, and you dont want to be 50 and asking where it all went.......