Do you do triathlons to win or do you do them for fun? (Page 2)

I race to win. If I'm not in a spot to win I'll just drop out. Still currently waiting to finish a race. 

LOL

Added for clarity.

There is no either/or about it. Yes, I race to win. "Win" can be defined in many different ways. For me, it's about AG ranking or relative to how I've done on the same course in years past (time-wise). Since my placing isn't always in my control (depends on who else shows up that day), I've never considered any race a failure because I didn't win. And it's still fun. Heck, if it wasn't any fun, I wouldn't do it at all.

For me it's a mixture of fun, trying to compete against others, and trying to compete against myself.  

I musta missed the "so I can eat ice cream" choice.......

this right here. i even wax my bike the night before a race for extra effect. 

I thought it was more like drinking salty tears, smashing flowers, and banishing rainbows???

I was so upset when Craig Alexander showed up for 2011 IM CDA and took away my hope of winning.

  I was only 10 minutes behind him, too.  After the first 1.2 Miles of the swim.

Come on, there is only one IM each year.  The winner of Kona.  The only true Ironman.  Everyone else is just finishing.

Back when I was swimming, my time was the only thing that mattered except for three events - Long and Short Course National Championships and the Olympic Games.  At those events, the only thing that mattered was a podium finish.

Now, I suppose it isn't really that much different.  Day to day, event to event, my race is with myself and the clock.  If I set a PR, then I have won.  If I happen to podium, then so much the better.  However, there are still a couple races a year when there is an opportunity to qualify for Kona where my time doesn't matter so much - in those races is it all about AG position and earning that KQ spot.  Even at those races though, if I have left everything on the course, then I have won.

I suppose at the end of the day, it comes down to how you define "Win."

"Win" really only has one definition in a race......and I know you know that.  As a society we have, at some point, decided that we can all be winners....but that's not really true in the context of a race.  There is only one.

I know the definition is generational now......but I prefer the definition we use in my generation.  You can be successful and measure your success in your own way.......but only one person wins a race, that's the deal.

I race for fun and if I happen to podium then it's even more fun - like a surprise party!

I, like so many others, have work and family that comes before training, so clearly I'm not in it to win.  It's more about giving me a drive to workout, eat healthy, and stay off the couch and out of the Dr's office.  Of course I certainly still compare how I did to everyone else, as I don't want to be the back of the pack.  But if I were  BOP it would just give me more drive to try and not skip my workouts, which I notoriously do - that snooze alarm is just too easy.

I thought it was scientifically proven a dirty bike is faster than a clean and waxed bike.