Fat triathlete??? (Page 8)

I finished my first Tri on Sunday, It was unbelivably awesome!!! Im an addict for sure.

For all those worried about it an dwanting to do there first...go for it. Ive been trainning since Aug 07 but i finished at 275lbs...6ft.....and i was not last...but def the biggest guy there.

 Did it on my mountain bike too.

I am so happy I found this thread!!  It has been motivational to read all of your thoughts.  I absolutely love a few of the quotes I found on here.  DFL>DNF>DNS is an awesome mantra.  My current mantra is JFDI (Just Focus and Do It, Just F'ng Do It, or Just Freaking Do It, take your pick!!)I am going to compete in my first Sprint Tri on Saturday, 6/21/08.  We had the course preview this morning.  The lake is ice cold.  I didn't have my wetsuit available this morning, but will next week.  I still got in and swam with everyone else.  I think some of the others were surprised that I even tried it.  Many were complaining the whole time.  It has been years since I did any open water swimming.  We swam about 400m.  We did 20k on the bike.  Then we ran the 5k course.  It has a hill in the first mile.  It nearly made me want to rethink this whole deal.  I've been training on a flat course.  I did it!  I was DFL, but I Just Fricking Did It!!!!So often in my life I have been among the DNS crowd.  Never again!!!

If I can do this, anyone can!!!!!  I am done T - R - Y - ing!  Now I'm T - R - I - ing!!!

Chris

kappie, I just did the race with the clothes I had. (I still don't own a Tri Suit.) It's on the list, but so are a lot of other things.

Keep in mind, too, that a body in motion - regardless of size - is a beautiful thing. We all deserve to feel happy, healthy, and good, regardless of size.

And everyone I've met in the tri community has been incredibly awesome. Non-triathletes raise eyebrows when they hear me say I train for tris. By contrast, I've gotten to know one of the best triathletes in my state through my volunteer work and she is amazing - she actually asks me when my next race is and how my training is going.

Moving > not moving. Racing now > waiting (unless there are legitimate injury concerns.)

People at your race are not going to be worried about you - and if they are, that's their insecurity and their problem, not yours. I've been teased about my weight, but it never comes from someone dedicated to their own fitness pursuits. I really don't think you have anything to worry about with the tri community.

congrats to those of you who just finished you first tri. any words of advice for those who are nervously waiting for race day????

enell.com

You WILL finish it, you have it in you to do so.  You are an amazing role model already for setting a goal like this, and when you finish, that's gonna rock!  I think the nerves are just showing you that this is important to you. 

For me, crossing the finish line, even if I am the last one, is a personal victory, and sometimes a little bit more...

Last Sunday, I did my second tri...my parents, hubby and kids were there, and frankly my second event was even more amazing than the first.  Why??  The most amazing sappy thing happened at the end of the race, my grumpy, hormone filled teenage boys, told me they were PROUD OF ME...unprompted, unsolicited.  Talk about validation.  It really brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.  Never, ever before have they said anything like that to me.  I may just have to start wearing my tri outfit 24/7, although they may not be so proud if I do that

I second the Enell!