Seriously?

I enjoy all three. 

I think it's more accurate to say that most triathletes have one discipline that is more difficult.  I can understand how someone who isn't that good at running may not enjoy it all the time (ummm.  me?)  If running (or swimming, whatever) is painful or difficult, it isn't a leap to not enjoying it. 

But I think that triathletes, as a whole, are driven people, and they strive to overcome the difficulties to a point where they might even find that they enjoy the discipline.

I hated running when I started becuase I sucked so badly at it.  Plus, I suffered through shin splints.  Easy not to like.  But I stuck with it.  why?  I wanted to do a triathlon.  I wanted to enjoy running.  I still suck at running, just not as badly, and more often than not I really love a good run.  

The only one I truly love is bike riding.  I love swimming for fun, but attempting to learn to freestyle properly has been frustrating to the point where I want to cry sometimes.  Scratch that- I have cried.  Running, I can take or leave.  I kinda like it when I'm doing good and not cramping, but when I get a cramp I sorta hate it (at least momentarily).

As for the why- I like the challenge.  I want to prove to myself that I can do this, and eventually do it well.  I like to be fit and active, and this is something I got my husband to do with me, so we can be fit and active together.  I hope one day (hopefully soon) to be strong enough and comfortable enough with the running and swimming to be able to say I love them as much as I do the biking.

Some times I love all of the sports, other times I struggle with one, two or all. I don't dislike any given sport, but each present certain challenges to me and depending on my strength, coordination, fitness, and mood on a given day can alter my experience.

What I love about any sport and even those outside of triathlon, is that free as a bird feeling, that giddy kid feeling I get when I'm soaring along without a worry about my form, speed or time. The trick is to channel that feeling into races after lots of training.

When I started I didn't like running or swimming.

Now I love cycling really can't get enough of it. I love running but not quite as much as cycling. I like swimming. I just don't like swimming slow like I am. If I didn't race swimming in tris I wouldn't be as frustrated with the swim thing.

I have thought back and wondered why I do tris as I wasn't a swimmer, biker or runner before I started, didn't enjoy my first tri, but kept at it and last year really started enjoying running. I think the way my body feels and the challenge of it kept me at it..now really it is just part of who I am.

I get in a special place while riding and a different special place while running..... 

I go through phases with this....when I first started many years ago, I came from a running background so naturally I loved running the most and I enjoyed swimming because I was seeing such a large improvement in a short amount of time. Cycling on the other hand was a struggle, I had never ridden except the obligatory bike that every kid has and so it was completely new to me. I struggled at it and was regularly smoked at every race that I did by just about everyone in my AG. Needless to say I was frustrated!

Fast forward to now and I can hang with just about anyone on the bike, my running has suffered as a result so I don't enjoy it quite as much. And now the sport that I don't "love" as much is swimming. That is more of a logistical issue than an actual not enjoying the act. Cycling for 4-5-6hrs at a time can get rather boring also when you are alone.

I actually enjoy all three disciplines.  I'm a mediocre in swimmer and biker and a very slow runner, but I like them all the same. 

I'm a realist, knowing that I'm never going to be competing for any podiums, but I still enjoy the challenge of pushing myself to improve.

Mark   

I think most of us have at least one discipline that we enjoy having done more than we enjoy actually doing...

Mine would still be swimming.

what's so hard to believe? sometimes we do things cuz they are challenging even though at first we don't really enjoy it. When I began Tri-ing I hated swimming, but it was so tough and challenging it appeal to me to try over and over, now I like it. Running more than 20 minutes was so booooring I had a hard time heading out of the door, now I love it. as the training season progresses I go through up and downs will all 3 sports.

So believe it or not, it does happen. We all have different reasons and goals for tri-ing and as long as we are doing it, that's all that should matter no?

I enjoy all three of the sports, but the bigger question is:

Why do you race if you aren't going to win?
Glad to see you are still around