Seriously? (Page 2)

jszat - 2007-05-29 8:14 PM If I didnt have the goal to do an Ironman and start the journey to get there, I likely would have never bothered to learn how to functionally swim. I have had many phases with swimming and rarely ever am giddy about a swim. It is coming around but I wouldnt say I am close to liking it as much as the other two. Perhaps some day and I will keep plugging away and trying to improve. So why do it? Why not? Just because something takes some work to get accustomed to, its a step at self improvement, learning a skill. I can definitely tell you I enjoy it more now than two years ago

took the words right out of my mouth (or off my fingertips as the case maybe)

Strange thing is, I can see myself swimming for exercise and enjoying it when I am 80, running and cycling, probably not. 

I'm not wild about swimming, although I have days when I enjoy it most of the time I'm counting minutes until I can get out of the pool. I enjoy OW swimming much more.   OTOH, I love biking and running-I think I love biking a little more than running because I am better at it and it doesn't hurt my knees.

 Thing is, I LOVE triathlon. There is something about putting all three sports together that is greater than the sum of it's parts. 

I dislike running, but  I enjoy triathlons

I dislike digging a holes in the dirt, but I enjoy planting a tree.

OK guys the quote was fom me and inh one of my later posts I also explained why I do not like biking too much right now (cold, wind and stuff)! But it seems the original poster did not really see that. I enjoy biking in the group and I enjoy it during a race but on my recent bike TT I discovered I do not like it as a stand-alone sport.

I am also sure glad that there are more people out there that are not in love with all 3 disciplines and still do triahlons 

I echo what a lot of others have said about their sport that they like the least.  For me it's swimming.  So why do I do it?  My theory is that I don't like it because it is hard for me.  Not only hard to perform, but also I am very limited by having only one pool in my county that is 15 miles away and has crappy hours.  I actually like OWS MUCH more, but because of being up north, I am limited by being able to swim outside only a small fraction of the year.  But I am stubborn.  I have this thought in my head that if I learn to swim better that I will learn to like it.  Time will tell.  Winter time is my swim focus time (when I can't bike outside).  Right now I love biking too much so swimming will take a back seat for awhile.  Like someone else said, I think swimming is a good skill to have because it will be a great exercise when I'm 80.

I also echo what has been said about putting it all together.  There is something about the actual race that is electrifying.  Swim, bike, run.  It's a totally awesome experience.  There may be a time when I give up on swimming, but I'm not there yet.  So for the moment I love biking and running and I don't like swimming.  I'm hoping to change that.

I didn't see the original quote so I don't if the OP in this thread was accurate, but this comment seems WAY different than the comment that started this thread. 

If you had used that the first time it probably would not have even sparked this thread.  Generally, people don't like to be included in generalizations.  Generally.

But I always see on this site that if you finish your a triathlete.  Most people I know did one to "Get that feather", but then become hooked.  I did my first one for fun, figuring I'd be back just riding metric centuries in the long run.  I didn't know I'd love to race.  There are lots of things I'd like to do once and then move on to just cross it off my list.  If I ever do an Ironman or marathon, it is to cross it off the list, not to make a hobby out of it.

Ok while I was flying this morning I thought about it again.

First of all this was my orginal quote:

Please bear with me as english is not my mother language and I don´t speak or write it as well as all of you do !!

so maybe it was misunderstood a little as I rather meant "most triathlete have one discipline that they don´t enjoy as much as others" which according to many of you here is true.

What I don´t really like is the fact that someone questions my intentions for doing TRI´s! I love triathlons and I love training for them and I mostly due them to help me with my weight-loss.  Do I enjoy every single workout and every single discipline equally: NO I DON´T but that is due to many factors !!

I can honestly say that I hate swimming, but I love triathlon. 

I hate swimming because it is my limiter in this sport.  I hate swimming because it is more technical than physical.  I hate swimming because I have 'freak out episodes' in races.  I hate swimming because I find it boring.  And most importantly, I hate swimming because the fear of not completing the IM swim at CdA is one of my single biggest fears at this point in my life.

I love triathlon because I love competition.  I love triathlon because the thought of becoming an IronMan at CdA is overwhelming.  I love triathlon because completing the IronMan swim is a huge challenge for me.  I love triathlon because the swim and the bike lead to my favorite sport - running.  I love triathlon because I love the feeling of anticipation, nervousness, and anxiety on race morning.  I love triathlon because I love the triathlon community.  I love triathlon because 3+ years ago I was 70 pounds heavier and couldn't move for more than 15 minutes at a time.  And finally, I love triathlon because anyone can do it if they want to. 

Triathlon is such a great sport, even if I don't enjoy swimming too much.  Duathlons just don't provide the same internal challenges that I need.  Pushing myself to do something that is a challenge to me is partially what this is all. 

I hope this answers your question as to why this particular triathlete does all 3 sports. 

Wow!  Ditto those thoughts.  I don't necessarily HATE swimming.  I enjoy it, but am FRUSTRATED with it.  I can average sub 2s on a 1000 yds in the POOL, but get me out in open water, and sometimes I have 'freak-out' issues.  Must be the fact that I didn't learn to swim until college.  Swimming to me isn't boring.  I like the challenge, and there's usually other triathletes there training alongside of me.  And yes, like captantony, I want to someday complete an IM.  It's probably quite a ways out...let's say like 8 yrs or so ...but I stress about not being able to complete the distance.

The main reason I love triathlons.  Triathletes are made from a different mold.  The tri community is one of the most friendly and supportive groups that I've ever met (at least here at BT).  My wife agrees (she'll be doing her 1st tri this year).  She could never understand that I had 'cyber-buddies.'  She thought it was a little creepy.  Her opinion's different after having met many in the MN BT group.  She mentioned Monday that's she's glad to live in a place with so many active, friendly, upbeat people (talking mostly about the MN BTers)...

Usually the "hate" word is used for the activity that is the hardest for that person.  It should really be called one's "limiter" and not something they hate.  I think if they truly hated it, then why do it?  So I'm surmising that the word is being used out of context.

I am not a good swimmer, I know that.  But I also know that by working on it I can get marginally better and be more comfortable and faster.  So while I do not necessarily look forward to the swim in a race, I know that it is the one place where my race can be made or ruined and I concentrate on getting through it smoothly and efficiently.  Then I can take advantage of my strengths.

I love cycling but can't get out enough to really get the speed and endurance I used to have at it from road racing for years, and running ain't so bad either (I just happen to be lucky enough to be pretty good at it as well).

Most of all I love competing and racing to my limits.  And I like to place ....... as much as possible ....

I love biking.  I like running.  Swimming I could do without at times - I like the swimming part but I sometimes hate having to go to a pool and get in the water - especially when it is cold out.  I do it, however, because otherwise I would not be getting any upper body workouts all summer.  Also, I agree with others that there is something about triathlon that is fun and appealing to me.  The thought of doing a du just doesn't appeal to me as much.

D 

If this is aimed at my response - I meant to use the word 'hate' and it wasn't taken out of context.  I know it's a strong word, but I have strong feelings for swimming.  I've almost quit the sport on numerous occasions because of my feelings towards swimming.  BUT, I think I answered the question as to why I still do it anyway - it's a challenge.