New York Times sez mid-life crisis = triathlon

Corncub - 2010-10-26 7:42 PM So it was, I missed that... But really, kinda surprised that no one else said anything about how lame it is that the guy in the article is motivated by not being "Chicked" (passed by a woman) So lame. I've never heard this term, is this fo real? Do guys really worry about that?

wbayek - 2010-10-27 7:51 AM $175,000 average salary?  And spending $22,000 yr on the sport?  Really?  sigh, I need a new job.  I don't have enough tri bling...

pga_mike - 2010-10-27 7:52 AM

$22,000 during an IM year.  Sounds a little high, but not too far off.

Corncub - 2010-10-26 8:42 PM

So it was, I missed that... But really, kinda surprised that no one else said anything about how lame it is that the guy in the article is motivated by not being "Chicked" (passed by a woman) So lame. I've never heard this term, is this fo real? Do guys really worry about that?

Corncub - 2010-10-26 7:42 PM

So it was, I missed that... But really, kinda surprised that no one else said anything about how lame it is that the guy in the article is motivated by not being "Chicked" (passed by a woman) So lame. I've never heard this term, is this fo real? Do guys really worry about that?

KSH - 2010-10-27 8:11 AM WOW. You haven't been riding long. Being "Chicked" is a very well known term. My little joke is this, "If you want to see a guy ride faster- let a girl pass him." In fact, if I pass a guy, I know I will have to endure him trying to pass me back. It's just how it goes. Many men can't handle the idea that a girl might be faster.

AndrewMT - 2010-10-27 8:14 AM



Not that there's anything wrong with it.  Just another source of motivation!  If it weren't for being chicked, I don't think I ever would have started running!

KSH - 2010-10-27 9:19 AM


Yeah, I don't care if they pass me... IF they can stay ahead of me! Usually it becomes a leap frog situation. I pass the guy... he surges ahead. Unable to keep the pace he surged ahead at... I pass him back. That's annoying.

KSH - 2010-10-27 9:11 AM WOW. You haven't been riding long. Being "Chicked" is a very well known term. My little joke is this, "If you want to see a guy ride faster- let a girl pass him." In fact, if I pass a guy, I know I will have to endure him trying to pass me back. It's just how it goes. Many men can't handle the idea that a girl might be faster.

AndrewMT - 2010-10-27 7:56 AM

I was thinking about the $22k on my bike ride yesterday.  Still seems high, but once you account for travel for the whole family, lodging, nutrition, etc, I can see it approaching that level. 

Rogillio - 2010-10-27 9:11 AM

You'd have to try real hard to blow $22k in one year on an IM.  Even assuming flying first class with a family of 4 to the IM venue.  We flew first class to London this year on family vacation and it was only $8k...and that was international; domestic flights would be shorter/cheaper.  Hotel @ $500 night x 4 nights = $2k.  Good tri bike, $6k.....assuming you buy a new bike every year and donate the old one to Goodwill.  Still a way short of $22k.

I don't know where they pulled that number out of.....but I've got a pretty good idea.  :-)

~Mike 

browncd - 2010-10-27 9:46 AM The article is pretty shallow and generalizes way too much. From a personal point of view, being that I am 63 years old, I sure hope getting into Triathlons is a sign of a mid-life crisis. That means I may being doing this when I am 126.

AndrewMT - 2010-10-27 9:15 AM

It's extreme, no doubt.  I just think that for someone starting from scratch (no equipment) and doing an IM, the money spent can be well over $10k.  Buy a top of the line bike, wheels, etc, fly the family, food for a year of training, lodging, coach, etc, you start approaching $20k. 

Regardless, to each their own!  As long as the person has the money to burn, then there's nothing wrong with spending that much.  Just the same, there's nothing wrong with doing an IM on only a couple thousand!

Rogillio - 2010-10-27 9:32 AM

From the article:  “The average Ironman spends $22,000 a year on the sport.”

Average?!  $22k a year?!

On the word average, I gotta call BS!  I've walked thru the bike corrals at and IM and I'd say the "average" bike is in the neighborhood of $3k....and that is being generous.

I've done triathlons for 12 years and I've come nowhere close to that!

Bikes (4 bikes plus various gear):  ~$5k
Race fees:  ~$3k
Pool fees, gym fees:  ~$1k
Clothes, running shoes, misc junk:  ~2k 

I consider myself an 'average' triathlete and I've spend about $11k over 12 years! 

Just have a little fun...I really do think the $22k figure was put in for 'shock purposes' for the writer to impress his editor.  Someone will read the article and read 2.4/112/26.2 and suspect we are a little nuts...and then when they read $22k they will conclude the average IM is certifiably insane!  :-)

~Mike

blynott - 2010-10-27 9:42 AM If this is a mid-life crisis I guess that means I'll live to 134!  My swimming should improve by then.