Do you consider yourself a "Triathlete"? (Page 2)

So it is also wrong to describe a 13.1 mile road race a half marathon? IMO it is just a way to represent-describe the distance of the race that's all. Nothing to do with the Ironman "AURA". I plan to do an IM distance event next year to accomplish a personal goal, not to be related to the IM trade mark. By the way I am also doing a 1/4 IM and a 1/2 IM this year and I call myself a Triathlete...

Brings to mind the song: 

Oh they want me to rock them
Like their back ain't got no bone
You need a man whose gonna rock you
Like your backbone was his own

I'd let him go. What good is a 25 yr old with a bad back?

LOL!!!! Ummmm yeah, it was just a fun date. Nice guy, made me laugh, nice to get attention. Nothing long term. Uhhh thanks for the advice and theme song, tho'.

yes that's the distance and it is called "1/4 iron distance" Don't know if Tom is doing the same race (is in the same day) as I am but here is the website: http://www.timbermantri.com/mooseman.html

This question pops up about 2-3 times a year.  What does it really matter?  Does anyone go around advertising themselves as a "triathlete"?  In 99% of the cases, I would guess not.

Personally, I do this stuff for my mental and physical health, for fun, to meet others who do it, and to match my training up against others in my age group.  I don't do it so I can make myself feel important at cocktail parties.  It begins to erode the true joy out of this pursuit for me.  It makes me sound like I'm there, like I've made it.  The fact is, I have not "made it" and never will.  I will forever be one who "trains for triathlons".  Its a journey, not a destination.

All of us on this forum train for triathlons, we love to run, bike and swim (in varying degrees, of course).  This is a great community.  We're getting healthier.  We're testing our own limits.  That is enough for me.

Motivated.... Right On! Well said. I feel exactly the same!

Well, I gotta say I am lovin' the mileage I get out of saying I train 6xweek for tri. Being new to the dating scene, I notice guys want to know if I'm "fit" - euphemism for... whatever. Everybody on the online dating sight calls themselves fit or athletic, whatever. I call myself "a few pounds extra." Cuz I do. Anyhoo... when I am asked about my "fitness" I simply say I train 6xweek for tri, that I just started in February. Suddenly I'm some kind of goddess. Guys start saying "Oh, well I need to lose a few pounds blah blah blah." Whatever. As I said, it gets me mileage but what I'm most interested in hearing is what ideas come out of their mouth, not how many hours they spend in the gym. The reverse does not seem to be true. Sometimes I want to say "And I have all my teeth!" Even the 25 yr old was impressed with my tri training. He felt the need to explain that he could sprint a 5k, swim 2000 yards, etc, etc. If I'm going to be judged by my level of "fitness" and a guy wants to assume positive things because I am disciplined with my training... I'm not going to complain. Not only does it get my foot in the door (as we say in recruiting land), suddenly I've got fitness capital (to borrow from the POTUS).