Why do you Tri? (Page 2)

I tri for a couple of reasons. First, being in the military I'm required to maintain a certain level of fitness. I get bored doing one type of training so this is really the perfect sport for me. I don't particularly like running so much but I love riding a bike and I always wanted to do more than just recreational swimming. Plus the atmosphere and commraderie at the races are similar to my military experience of a group of people participating with a common goal. Secondly, to be honest, its also about braggings rights. After watching several Ironmans on T.V and seeing the pure joy and happiness on the finishers faces it just really motivated me to do it and become one that can say they have done it! When you consider all the people in the world, its a pretty small percentage that can say they have done it. Though I haven't completed an Ironman yet I have a plan and am on my way toward that goal. Shooting for Ironman Lake Placid 2015.

I'm doing my first triathlon this year (NYC Tri).  I was really fat a couple years ago, and signed myself up for the Tough Mudder so that I would have to train (or be extra miserable for twelve miles).  Ever since, I've lost 70lbs (but still sorta fat), and went from not being able to run to my mailbox to being able to run 7-8 miles nonstop without looking like a beached whale.  I've done plenty of other running/cycling events since, and decided to train for a triathlon as a new challenge.

Daunting, but looking forward to it.

I needed something new to spend all my husband's money on.

Really, I just figured it would be a fun challenge to see if I could do a sprint.  I had just started working out at the gym, and was worried I would quit as I'd done in my past.  So signing up for a tri gave me a good reason to keep improving (I was a major couch potato).  Plus I sucked in a couple of friends, and it was a great excuse to hang out and have fun together.

After my Sister-In-Law did a full marathon we were talking and I told my wife "I'll never do a marathon, I might do a sprint tri or something".  She found one 6 weeks out and we signed up for it.  It gave me a chance to do some training with my wife, and have something else to share.

That was 2 years ago and I was training for a marathon a few months ago... That didn't happen, but it probably will within the next year or 2.

Even for a BOPer the Tri is much more intense an experience than the running events.  In the half marathons I've done while I was trying to push the time I was never hurried.  In the Tri's even the HIM, up untill I got on the run course it is always finding ways to shave minutes. 

It is a rush.  

I also need to drop some weight - and I also enjoy the times I get to train with my wife.

Thinking about his now...is a different answer then about a decade ago.  I will be hitting 40 in about another year.  My diet is a little more sloppy than it has been in the past...mainly late night snacking, etc.  This is the age where metabolism, or lack of exercise will really put the pounds on if diet is not the best.  And getting pounds off is harder the older one gets.  I am at that tipping point.  So I guess I train so I can still be lazy about my diet.

Plus I want to hang with my kids be it chase, sports, etc.  I want to be prepared, physically, to handle any emergency situation that may require some strength or the ability to run or swim really fast and my heart decide to quit at a critical moment.

It's healthy and fun!  And, running has become boring.  But also, because it's hard and not many people can do it, there's life lessons both in training and racing, and because it's nice making friends with insane people.

Origionally, almost 30 years ago, just to do it, because I was always athletic and it lookied like fun.....then it became a way of life, even though I didn't always race.  Then I raced again as an example for my kids and because I was getting close to 50.  Now I do it because it keeps me connected to my kids and involved with them.....we can all swim, bike, or run together, and we do.  Our family vacations revolve around the kid's races.

I also like the idea that it keep smy blood levels, blood pressure, etc. at a level where I don't need the medications that most of my friends seem to need. 

And......I like beer.

After 10lbs of weight gain since getting married, moving from NYC to the farm lands of upstate NY, the ying/yang of weight gain from 3 pregnencies, and post partum depression, its been a great activity to center myself.

Although I never lost the 10lbs, its been great to get back in shape and meet other active people in the area.

I got into triathlon to be schooled by the old timers.

Well, ok, that's not why I did, but it is a natural byproduct that I have come to enjoy.

When I hit 30 years old - I weighed 190 lbs. (40 lbs. more than when I was in college). I had had enough! I cut the soda - started watching what I ate, started running and doing the Insanity workout. My wife mentioned to me that I should try a 5k - I tried that and fell in love with the competition aspect of it. Up until then I thought running was pointless if there wasn't a ball involved or a way to score.

After that year of the 5k - I decided the next year was a 10k, did that then the next year was a half marathon. I did that last year. After that "what's next thought" my wife suggested a triathlon. Her brother had previously done several tri's including a few HIM & he was doing IMTX last year. So I started training - completed two triathlons last summer and became hopelessly addicted.

Last year I tore my acl and am currently rehabbing - but in a few weeks I'll get to start jogging and I can't wait. I won't have to miss any racing season, I've givin' up basketball - Triathlon, regular running races, and golf are my new sports. I hope my kids see what I'm doing at 34 years old and on when I'm older because it's a lifestyle I am not changing.

I've come to love training - but I really enjoy pushing myself just to see how far I can go. Maybe one day I'll do a HIM, then an IM. We'll see - right now I'm just lovin' my new sport!

Got tired of staring at the wall on my treadmill in the basement during the Wisconsin winters, so I looked for ways to cross-train on other sports, and it was a natural fit.  Also, easing my way out of 2 and 3 man competitive volleyball as I got older opened up the need to do something competitive.

Because all the spots on the men's Olympic curling team were taken.

Tri was my fallback choice.