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When do you become a triathlete? (Page 2)
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 2005-09-08 1:48 PM in reply to: #242373 |
Champion  11641      Fairport, NY |  Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete?rice - 2005-09-07 8:46 PM I been learning how to play the violin for about 15 years now (on and off)… Would I call myself a ‘violinist’? Probably not. But I would say that ‘I play the violin’. I also sing everyday, in the shower. Am I a singer? You bet I am. Rice Interesting way of looking at it. I've played,studied and at times completely immersed myself in the bass guitar for 30 years. I consider and refer to myself as a 'bassist'. I've been noodling around on guitar for the same period of time and I've developed a respectable facility on the instrument to the point where I could definitely get a gig if I decided I wanted to. I play guitar, but I do not consider myself a 'guitarist'. When thinking about the question "am I a triathlete or someone who does triathlons", my usual answer is "screw it. I'm gonna go swim (or bike or run)." |
| 2005-09-08 2:28 PM in reply to: #242288 |
Member 44 chicago, il | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? I think it's all about self-honesty. I just completed my first sprint tri, but am embarassed when labelled a triathlete because I have simply made a small step onto the bottom rung of the triathlon ladder. I have trained for 4/5 months but know I could have finished (puking, walking and half-drowned perhaps) 4 months ago. I also missed the time I hoped for by 10 minutes, due to being a little lax in training and maybe living in the comfort zone a little. I know I have something to prove to myself over the winter, and need to make strides forward to get to the point where I know I put it all out there, and I think it is as with many things in life - If you can look yourself in the mirror and say 'I'm doing this to the best of my ability, and deserve the name' then you deserve to be called a triathlete. If not, figure out where the dedication & motivation needs to come from and sort it out. I'll let you know after Lake Geneva this weekend if I think I'm any closer. Luke Rugby player - who somehow got talked into learning to swim again, buy a bike, and do the worst part of rugby stamina training at the end of it all - but for some reason love it. |
| 2005-09-08 3:11 PM in reply to: #242288 |
Elite Veteran 610 chicago area | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? I've done a number of triathlons but still have a hard time calling myself a "triathlete". I'm always a person who does triathlons or who likes doing triathlons. But I do play hockey and consider myself a "hockey player". Go figure. I guess if you do it, then you can call yourself a "player" or "triathlete". I'm not a runner either. I'm a stroller. :-) |
| 2005-09-08 3:30 PM in reply to: #242353 |
Veteran 236 Lansdale, PA | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? I totally agree about the t-shirt rule (except I use the jersey rule). And if that's the case, I'm a triathlete! Wow, cool...... |
| 2005-09-08 4:22 PM in reply to: #242288 |
Veteran 203 Traveling | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? I think its in the heart. I trained like hell for 7 months through a really cold winter to do a Oly. I finished (despite what turned out to be a fractured ankle) and I was a triathlete. Now I took a long break (no pun intended) and let all my training slide. I would not feel comfortable calling myself a triathlete today. However, if you take pride in something, work hard and compete then by all means call your self a triathlete and feed off the positive energy. If instead you like a goal then pick any one of the definitions cited and call yourself a triathlete when you hit the goal. To me its a way of life. And I am hereby rejoining the club... off to the track hope the grandmas don't pass me.... |
| 2005-09-08 6:27 PM in reply to: #242288 |
Regular 63 | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? You're not putting the term professional in front of triathlete, so what's the problem? I would draw the line at the shortest recognized race distance for a triathlon to call yourself a triathlete, but is someone who runs 5 miles three times a week not a runner because their neighbor runs 15 miles three times a week? If you want to go that route, then people who complete iron distance races aren't triathletes either because there are people who have done double iron distances. If you are actively engaged in training for a triathlon you are a triathlete. If you did a triathlon and you're sitting on your arse not doing anything now....then you were a triathlete. |
| 2005-09-08 6:51 PM in reply to: #242288 |
| Elite Veteran 781 | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? Well said, Nukem. |
| 2005-09-08 7:46 PM in reply to: #242993 |
Master 2447 Marietta, Ga | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? I have no problem with anyone calling themselves a triathlete, I believe its a very personal thing and is better left to individual interpretation. However, here are the standards I apply to myself:
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| 2005-09-08 8:19 PM in reply to: #242288 |
| Online or Offline | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? snake111 - 2005-09-07 6:03 PM Like a pilot, you can read books, but until you fly a plane your not a pilot. Mmmmmmmmmmm......no. One is not a pilot just because they flew a plane. You are a pilot after logging a government appointed minimium number of classroom and flying hours, then passing a checkride for at least a Private Pilot Certificate, subsequently being issued an FAA (or in your case CAA) pilot certificate (or license). Your reasoning is the same as hers. If by merely handling an aircraft in flight ("flying" ) makes you a pilot, then if you can swim, bike, and run then you are a triathlete! YOU GO DUTCH! I never considered myself a triathlete til I completed my first triathlon. Edited by TypeA Girl Pilot 2005-09-08 8:19 PM |
| 2005-09-08 8:24 PM in reply to: #242906 |
Champion 6931 Bellingham, Washington | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? Miss_Bethy - 2005-09-08 12:30 PM I totally agree about the t-shirt rule (except I use the jersey rule). And if that's the case, I'm a triathlete! Wow, cool...... I can't remember where I saw it, but there was a thread/webpage about what T-shirt/jersey to wear to a race.... Basically don't wear a 5 k fun run to a 10K RACE or a 10k race to a Marathon. Same thing applies to Triathlons. |
| 2005-09-08 8:34 PM in reply to: #242353 |
COURT JESTER 12230 ROCKFORD, IL | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? southwestmba - 2005-09-07 6:11 PMTriathlon 101 by John Mora has a section with the unwritten rules of the sport, including the T-shirt rule(if you don't finish the race you can't wear the shirt). One of these "rules" is the "license to call yourself a triathlete rule." The rules stipulates you must compete in one triathlon a year in order to refer to yourself as a triathlete (of course if your friends can refer to as whatever they see fit since they are not bound by the rule). No matter how much swimming, running, and biking you do in training you must prove your mettle on the race course once every 365 days to retain that license. There is one notable exception to this rule "the lifetime Ironman license" which states that anyone who completes an Iron distance triathlon you are here by awarded the right to call yourself an triathlete even if you never get off the couch again. Thank you for posting that....Glad I read through the thread before running to get my Triathlon 101 book.....I would agree with those unwritten rules. |
| 2005-09-08 8:40 PM in reply to: #242288 |
| Elite Veteran 781 | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? Lots of thoughtful posts. I really don't care anymore since swimming, biking and running is sort of what I do. I don't really care what you call me. With respect to T-shirts, I do agree that you shouldn't wear one advertising an event you didn't compete in, but I wasn't aware of the 'lesser race' protocol. I sorta grab something and show up. Apparently I have new choices to contemplate. I think we're way overthinking this. Swim, bike and run. Have fun. Sounds like a triathlete to me. |
| 2005-09-08 8:44 PM in reply to: #243050 |
Champion 6931 Bellingham, Washington | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? lynda - 2005-09-08 5:40 PM Lots of thoughtful posts. I really don't care anymore since swimming, biking and running is sort of what I do. I don't really care what you call me. With respect to T-shirts, I do agree that you shouldn't wear one advertising an event you didn't compete in, but I wasn't aware of the 'lesser race' protocol. I sorta grab something and show up. Apparently I have new choices to contemplate. I think we're way overthinking this. Swim, bike and run. Have fun. Sounds like a triathlete to me. I don't think it's a hard and fast rule. Kinda coolness type thing. It was just an interesting thread to read...(need to google it) |
| 2005-09-08 10:20 PM in reply to: #242288 |
| Veteran 293 The Emerald City | Subject: RE: When do you become a triathlete? I don't really call myself a triathlete, but someone who trains for triathlons. However, here's a puzzling thought... A person who runs regularly can be called a runner. A person who swims regularly can be called a swimmer. Same thing for bike riders... you're a biker or cyclist. So if we do all three regularly, why are we not called triathletes. Or do we call ourselves swimmer- biker- runners? How about triathlon-er? Triathloner! That sounds about right. Edited by kepola 2005-09-08 10:34 PM |
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