Reasons why Beginnertriathlete is the best site

I love that thread, had me in stitches reading through it, I particularly enjoy when they seem to be turning on each other, then ultra marathoners, then making nasty comments about each other perhaps not being smart, telling each other to go learn some history, said with some real venom i think.

I will for sure go back there when work starts to suck and I can't think of a way to get out and train, that's my new release....reading letsrun.com threads for a laugh.

While there's no doubt that having enough money for good gear helps and it's an expensive sport, I think the runners there are a bit too high and mighty as well.  While certainly there are very good runners and elite events like the Boston Marathon, there are plenty of people participating in runnning events who are not doing much more than showing off how they've been working out (as one commenter said about tris).  Honestly if I can enter a running race and finish middle of the pack, which I usually do (from 5ks to half marathons, anyway) there are a LOT of people who are out there doing nothing more than jogging and doing it for the fun of the event and to finish.  In fact, just looking at finish times I am a better runner than a triathlete.  Which isn't saying a lot.

Regarding the whole idea that money can buy you speed, which is totally true and I don't deny it, I'd like to point out this can happen in running as well.  It's not obvious in the gear used to complete the race, but in the training.  Have you seen Spirit of the Marathon?  How much money do you think Deena Kastor spends training each year?  I doubt the trips to PT are a bargain and certainly she has a coach and other people on her "team."

Anyway, the best single comment on that thread:

"youre a premature ejaculator!"

Facinating thread that just drips with jealousy. 

I can't tell you the number of runners that I've suggested they try a triathlon who say "I would love to do a triathlon but I can't swim very (very well)".

Personally, I don't see a whole lot of differnce in runners and triathletes.  You have extremes and goofy people in both sports....but it always psses me off when I see everyone dumped into the bucket.

I say we go over there and kick their wimpyasses!

~Mike

Yeah I saw that too.  I loved this one:  "Soooo, your folks called you Peg because you have one leg? "

From now Iwill (affectionately) call all all my runner friends "Peg" because they only do one leg.  :-)

~Mike

These are probably the same people that are acting supportive and giving you a high five when you tell them about the tri you did last weekend.  It's real easy to run your mouth when you're hiding behind a keyboard and a pseudonym.

x3. The runner-only folks that I know are all very cool and humble. But that thread is sort of right - the runners I know never talk about running, unless they're talking to another runner, and even then, they don't ALWAYS talk about running. Unlike many triathletes, esp. the higher-performing ones, who will talk to anyone who will listen, or not. Not to say that there aren't exceptions on both sides, because there are. But in general, that is what I've observed.