so who were you pre-triathlon life?

Interesting question....

Before all this triathlon madness started, I probably would have defined myself as a softball player.  It's what I loved doing, it's what I did well.  After breaking my arm couple of years ago, I kind of struggled for a new identity of sorts.... started with the running, that eventually morphed into triathlons (especially after -- FINALLY -- this year being able to get through an OW swim without panicking).

While I'm back to doing all the sports I did pre arm break, I'm finding that I enjoy them, but the passion for them has kind of moved into triathlons.  I like the challenge of being able to get better and being able to compete against myself.

I guess, but default, I'm an "other athlete." Over a year ago, I was active and had been regularly for years.  I really loved walking most, but I did aerobics, kickboxing, rollerblading...  My dog and I could challenge some slow joggers on our walks and it was great.  I still love a invigorating walk. Then, my friend got me into cycling.  I rode across Iowa last year in RAGBRAI (and will do it again starting next Sunday!).  Come fall, I started a master's swim class that my coworkers did, simply because I used to swim back in the day and like it.  A coworker mentioned a triathlon. So, all that was left was a little running and voila- here I am. 

Altho I completed a triathlon, I don't really consider myself a triathlete.  I participate in triathlons. I'm not a cyclist, a swimmer or a runner. I am a person who likes to do these sports. I think I think this way because I have no natural ability, I don't push myself like an elite athlete and I won't likely be on a podium any time soon. That's ok tho, no matter what sport I'm doing, I'm having a great time.

Back in the high school days, it was standard fare of baseball, basketball, football, track, wrestling...after high school, played way too much summer softball, when we moved to Chicago in 1995 I became enamoured with ice hockey and taught myself how to play...During this time my source of income was working as an assistant golf professional...some more softball after the golf, and then the sport of kart racing....still the most physical upper body workout I've discovered....

So a little of everything

Probably too much here, but I consider myself a nonathlete:

1. High School: all of the sports (football, basketball, baseball) on a casual basis, only organized sport was track, very undisciplined in training, ran mile, two mile, and cross country, worked hard enough to make the travel squad but not any harder than needed to.
2. Next thirty years spent as a professional beer drinker, chain smoker, pizza scarffer, ice cream connoiseur. Ballooned up to 240 pounds.
3. After both parents died within five years, quit smoking, then dirnking, then started walking (1998) and dieting. Lost 65 pounds.
4. Bored with walking, started running , ran first race (10K) on 44th birthday (1999).
5. After a couple more 10Ks, got a mailing from Team In Training, trained for and ran my first marathon with them in January 2001. Ran three more marathons that year, ended up with a bad case of plantar fasciitis.
6. PF doesn't respond to treatment, take six months off running on doctor's advice, buy a road bike and train with TNT to do first century (AMBBR in Tahoe, June 2002).
7. Do many more marathons (11 so far) and centuries (dozens). Cycling buddies discover triathlons, after several false starts they goad me into swimming  and entering 2004 CajunMan (biggest local triathlon).