"Just finish" as a goal (Page 4)

Interesting thread. For me, I have no problem with "Just" finishing or finishing as a goal. I think we are all driven by something different.

My attitude on racing/ participating was formed pretty early. I met some pros and retired pro's who loved this sport as amateurs and turned it into a career. The problem was their ability to pay their rent and support their family was completely determined by their finishing times and race results. They ended up quitting because it turned into a stressful grind.

On a personal level, I have had several friends who were in constant pursuit of the Kona Qualifying time. All of them loved this sport like nothing they have ever loved before and all of them have quit this sport, slightly bitter from never getting that magical Kona slot.

For my first IM, I was scared to death of the distance, but by race time, my coach had me so dialed in, I knew I would finish. But I thought I would realistically only have one chance at competing at a race of this magnitude, so the plan was to Just Finish. My race went as planned (for the most part) and I even had a good run for me. When I got to the finish line, I still had some in the tank. I know I didn't give 110% and maybe I lost some respect from some BTers for that (don't know, don't care), but I did what I needed to do get to the finish line, healthy. As I crossed the line, I remember thinking "is that it?". There was not the emotion I thought I would have finishing this race. It felt empty to me.

When I got back home, I spoke with my coach and other IM vets and they all said I should go faster next time. That didn't feel right either. After thinking about the thousands I spent and the amount of time I trained, how much faster would I need to go to make it worth it? 5 minutes? 20? 1 hour? There was no time goal that I could come up with that would make it worth my while again. But, what I did enjoy was the regimented training and the adrenaline rush that I got from fearing a distance. I am not motivated by time. My motivation comes from finishing something that I fear. So, for me, I go into every race hoping to just finish.

Again, everyone is different

Anybody ever shoot some hoop w/o really keeping score?  Earlier this week I played a game of 3 on 3 beach vollyball and, while both teams were trying to win, it really wasn't about the W or L....it was about the fun and the participation.

I got a package this week in the mail.  It was an IMKY BT shirt sent to me from my friends here at BT who are doing IMKY this year.  I was to do the race this year and for 6 months, until I got injurred, we exchanged ispires and posted encouragements on BT to on another.  What I'm saying is, many of us participate in this sport for love of the game and for the participation in an event with kindred spirits. 

I think the coolest thing about triathlons is that it allows me - a total non-athlete - to be on the same playing field with some of the finest athletes in the world!  Think about that...here I am a middle-age fat guy who can barely hit a slow-pitch softball and can barely dribble a basketball and I'm out particpating in the same event as professional, world class athletes!! 

I think "just finish" is a perfect goal for the first time IM....especially for BOPers like me!  I do think "just finish" is kinda lame for one's second IM as I think we all ought to contrinually try to improve....so I think "PR" is a better 2nd and subsequent goal.  On the other hand, if someone is coming off an injury or some other life obstacle, "just finish" might still be appropiate for whatever IM number one is doing.

~Mike

IMAZ last April I went into it with a goal of sub 14hrs. Before starting my IM training the furthest I'd ever biked was 80 miles once. The furthest I'd ever ran was 13.1 miles. The furthest I'd ever swam was 1.2 miles. So, I figured 14hrs wasn't too shabby.

My main goal though was to finish. As the day turned out extremely hot and I ended up with serious stomach issues I turned into survival mode. I still managed to run some but walked a lot. I HAD to finish and would have walked, crawled, whatever I needed to cross that line.

Next time I do an IM I'll be more willing to take a "risk" to finish with a better time.

With regards to the conflict between FOP and BOP, it's obviously not everyone but it does exist. Actually, it's probably more the race directors. They start awards before everyone's finished. The choices of food is limited because they run out of something. The choices at the aid stations are limited because they run out. At some small races even the crowd is mostly gone.  I'm sure there are tons of legisitcs involved with the race getting the area cleared and so forth but it's kind of depressing to finish a race (my first HIM) and all the tents are packed up.

I do want to say thank you to the volunteers that stayed out on the course for me and the handful behind me!!!

I also think it depends on where you are coming from...some of us consider this (any tri) our own personal marathon, Ironman...whatever you want to call it. I certainly don't think that the first time out it is unreasonable to "just want to finish". Many of us don't come from any kind of racing background other than a race to the fridge for the last ho ho. My own personal goal is to finish without stopping, walking, etc. I would hate for someone's personal goals/opinions to discourage anyone from getting involved in a sport. My hubby is also ultra-competitive and just doesn't get the idea that for some of us, finishing is enough.

I responded to Socks' post a lot earlier in the thread, but I'll reiterate here.  If you re-read my original post, did I ever suggest someone not sign up for a race?  Did I ever suggest that their goals were not worthy?  No and No.  What I did suggest was that IF they were unsatisfied after "just finishing" there is probably some other goal that they failed to recognize.  What I did suggest was that there were other ways of achieving that "just finish" goal if that were what was important to them. I used Ironman as an example (because the thread that prompted this was Ironman-based) but it's applicable to any race and almost any life-situation where you have goals. 

If you look at the history of "Can I?" threads on BT, there are a lot of people, some who've taken me to task in this thread, responding with "You should wait until you're better trained." or "Why rush to complete an ironman in your first or second year (if it's about doing an IM in the first or second year)."  There are some valid concerns about getting injured or suffering through the race or rushing.  By contrast, I'm usually the one saying "Yes, you can!  And here's a strategy that should work for you."  That strategy is to wait a few seconds at the start of the swim to calm yourself.  Go easy (what seems like rediculously easy) on the bike and run.  Smile a lot, thank the volunteers, and encourage other participants.  Don't worry if you're last, you finished and you've done something a lot of people won't even attempt!   

It's your goal, come up with a plan that gives you the best chance at meeting that goal.  It doesn't matter if your FOP/MOP/BOP, a rookie or a veteran, couch-to-5K or an Ironman, looking to lose 20 pounds or whatever.  The very first step is discovering within yourself what exactly that goal is and that's why I started this thread. 

Thank you for responding.  I understand what you are saying and I think you have done so in a kinder way than your original post.  I came to this sight because I am a true beginner and I love the sport.  I have gained so much by reading the forums. There have been times that I believe some of the more experienced triathletes forget that this is a "begginertriathlete" website.  

That's all, thanks again for taking the time to give your point.  And believe me I do get it.  I did my first Sprint with the intent to 'just finish" however I was very surprised to see the competitiveness in me come out on race day, and I did more than just finish.  You learn a lot about yourself by stepping up to the starting line and even more by crossing the finish line. 

Thanks again for a good discussion!

Thanks Pamiejane and congratulations on both finishes.  I knew the population of people entering with a "just finish" goal and then happily finishing was greater than zero. 

Interesting thread.

I choose my distance based upon how much time I am willing to put into training. I have no desire to do the kind of training necessary for an IM, therefore, I see no IM on my horizon. I know what kind of training I have to do to race an Olympic, and I'm willing to put in the time and effort. So, for me, finishing is never a question. Being willing to consistently put in the training effort and hours is the question.

Just as I am detached from the others' opinions on my pink Crocs, I am likewise detached from their opinion of my effort, training or race results. I don't do this for the good opinion of others. I do this because I have too much time on my hands,  the training is beneficial to my physical and mental well-being, and I have fun. When it stops being fun and becomes work, I stop participating. Choosing a race is simply a means of backing into creating a structured training plan.

Do I have time goals? Of course. Those are based upon my perception of what my training effort and time should be yielding in terms of gains in endurance and speed.

Everybody's different. Ain't it cool?