A "Triathlons and Marathons are bad for you!" story... (Page 2)

I'm a vegan, so I feel your pain and I hear the same junk you do.

I don't run super long distances, but I get this at work all the time. Guys standing there smoking with their big gut hanging over their belt telling me of so-and-so they knew who dropped dead while running. GRRR..I did have the nerve the other day to tell them that their belly fat was going to kill them faster than running ever would!

Oh, and the FIL telling us (me and hubby) that we should stop running NOW! because we are destroying our knees.

Ha!  I started to pull my calculator out to do this....and had to stop myself as I though "what crazy person would post this."   Nice to see I'm not alone.

Since this is the 'beginner' triathlete forum, I think this might be worth adding. There is another way to approach this, it's not always "us vs. them".

In general, I try not to bring up the topic of endurance sport, especially if I think it's just gonna be an uphill slog conversationally. And I never bring up my athletic accomplishments or how long I ride, run, swim, or stand on my head. This is a conversation, not an interview for the US olympic team.

All that said, many of these sedentary folks, even those "with their bellies hanging out", probably want a better life. (Maybe, long ago, there were even a few BTers among them.) And even though they may appear to have a bit of a negative mindset, I think part of them is searching, searching for how to get out of the trap of their current lifestyle and poor health. They may look at you as an oddity, but they may also look at you as a solution, a way out.

So I think of myself as an "evangelist", I feel it is my duty to spread the word. When I asked, I enthusiastically explain how easy and doable short triathlons are, how triathlon is not just about 'ironman', how working out in 3 sports is actually easier and a lot more fun than working out in just 1, how grandmothers and overweight folks do triathlons all of time, how fun it is to learn new skills (for many, that's biking or swimming or both), how great exercise (if approached sanely) can make you feel, how they probably already own everything they'd need to complete their first triathlon, the list goes on.

Most of the time, I never know if the seed I plant will grow and blossom. But they may run across others that further inspire them. And then, they decide to give it a shot. And then they become happier, healthlier, a better parent, a better spouse, a better employee or boss, and so on. And the world becomes a better place, one person at a time.

"The arrow that hits the bullseye is the result of the previous 100 misses."

Greg @ dsw

Excellently said DSW!!  I totally concur.

On the other hand, it's much easier to find an excuse than to get off your arse.

Mostly when people say this kind of things it is either because the really don't know how to carry on the conversation because to them "you're from a different planet", or because they somehow try to justify their own lack of exercise.

I have one friend who numerous times tells me you age faster because exercise releases free radicals. But, she smokes and insists that running must be borring. The free radicals theory just fits into her justification for not doing any exercise, and she completely ignore all facts about exercise as well as all the benefits.

It's really a defence mechanism.

I started this process when I could no longer justify/live with/ignore the shape I had allowed myself to get in, and the amount of time I spent in the evenings watching TV.  At the age of 44, I couldn't run 1 lap around the track without sucking wind and my HR going nuts. 

My medical stats were still ok, but my family history is horrendous-diabetes (Type 2), obesity, heart problems, cancers, etc...  I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself, stop making excuses, and just start doing something.  So, I set a goal on August 25, 2012 - run a 5k race I had found the Saturday after Thanksgiving, in Memphis, TN.  And, I started telling friends and family I was going to do it for accountablility reasons.  As the date grew closer, and I stuck with my c25k program, I realized 4 weeks out that I would be ready.  So much so that I mentioned it to my sister-in-law who's in decent shape, works out 3-4 times/week, but wasn't a serious runner.  "We" decided to enter a 4-mile Turkey Trot.  The rest of the family thought we were nuts.  By the day of the race, my other sister-in-law, and my wife decided to enter and walk it, pushing our new nephew in his stroller.  We had a blast!  What a sense of accomplishment!  My 1st runner's high, too!  Sister-in-law #1 7 I ran 100% of the 4 miles,  in 39:33, and didn't get hurt.  Next year, sister-in-law #2, brother-in-law, and the in-laws are planning on doing it with us!  Oh, and I did the 5k on Saturday, too!

So, I like to think that, at least in part because I drew a line in the sand and got of my butt, at least 3 other people in my immediate family stepped out of their comfort zones last year, and 3 more plan to this year.  We've all lost weight, and gotten healthier. 

There are still negative types that try to kill my buzz from time to time, but if I think they are really just curioos about how I did it, I explain the process, and how slowly you have to take it to avoid injury, and a few have said, "I think I can do that."  Bingo!  That's all you need to begin a c25k program.  100%  mental acceptance, 0% physical fitness.  You're qualified!  Now get out there and start.  It really is just that easy.  Along the way, take every chance to explain what you are doing to any willing ears.  You never know who might be inspired to change their own life!

One of the hardest lesson in life for anyone to learn is that no matter how hard you try, you cannot change someone else.  You can only change yourself.  If they see you changing for the better, they just might decide change, too.

Exactly.  

Some people can just avoid talking about their passions and stay tight lipped in the midst of people who may not "get it", but we're not all programmed that way.

You have a smart phone, right?  Arm yourself with some good data like this tidbit from Tony and whip it out when challenged.

I haven't gotten this sort of thing to my face, but a few people have told my husband that they were concerned about me getting "athlete's heart" or having problems with mobility late in life. I think I would have more mobility problems if I were sedentary. I doubt it's a bunch of endurance athletes that are keeping The Scooter Store afloat

Right there with you. The people I work with always tell me...

..."Just wait until you're 50...you won't be able to walk."

My dad didn't believe that I did triathlons until he was in town to watch...then he told me that "thins kinda stuff will kill you."

It's hard to get motivated by a bunch of "non-athlete types" telling me what I'm doing is unhealthy when I couldn't imagine living their lifestyle. To each their own I suppose.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1948208,00.html

DannyII, I have the same story. My accountability turkey trot has become an annual family event with every person participating now (a few walk).

For the most part when someone asks me "what's next" they are very supportive and interested. At the same time, I encourage them to just start small and go. As for the silly comments, my favorite is from my neighbor who reminds me of this fact every few months. She was a PE teacher. She says "In school I learned that running causes your insides to age 10 years faster. All that jostling around causes them to age and breakdown. So a runner's body may look good on the outside, but on the inside it's 10 yrs older. Scientists proved it in autopsies." She is absolutely serious. And I do my best not to giggle.

If I keep running, I guess that means I hate my guts

I've been running for over 32 years and just turned 59. I have heard all of the lines, including the one about it being bad for your knees. In fact people still tell me that.  I have never once had a knee problem. Do I have aches and pains now and then, and have I had other overuse injuries, yes, but they pass and I feel great, weigh the same as I did in HS, and always amaze my doctor at my annual checkup with my blood chemistry, etc.

I have no idea when my time will be up, but I want to feel my absolute best until that day comes. Training for Tri's and running, including marathons, makes me happier and healthier than I would be if I wasn't doing this. All I have to do is look at my sedentary sister who calls me crazy and then tells me about all of her medical problems. Hmmmm

Bold part made me snort my drink. 

Triathlons and Marathons might be bad for you.

People might start to feel inadequate and insecure about their lack of exercise and social parity of what is the norm in their immediate circle (aka universe).

They might try to belittle you.

...

Give them a cupcake.