WHY?

Because I really enjoy it.  There are countless ways to stay healthy that don't involve nearly as much time or financial investment.  I choose this one because it's fun.  To waste my free time and money on something I didn't enjoy would be pretty ridiculous.  

x2 Plus, it's awesome! I look at tri and think it is awesome. I am inspired by the challenge, i am inspired by the people and I love how strong and powerful it makes me feel! 

(someone once asked me why on earth i signed up for an ironman - this was from a marathoner - and all i could saw was that it was awesome)

Well, my "tri" life has mostly subsided -- you'd need to ask my 20-year-younger-self (er... okay, maybe 25) why I was training so much when I wasn't a pro... Yeah, I was "close", but not quite there.

Now, I'm a cyclist who does a tri once in a while.

So why do I ride so much and so hard? Because it's what restores me. It keeps me mentally sane, keeps me from biting heads off everyone who annoys me, makes me a bearable (barely) person to live with. It's part of me, what I do. Sure, maybe part of it is that I'm chasing a younger version of myself. My PRs are all behind me, I'm not even bike racing any more (I don't count fondos as racing, really). But I still enjoy the speed, the distance over time, the feeling of pushing myself. And as a budding bike frame builder, it's also "research and development" for my product.

LMAO - what a great answer!  Doesn't matter what others think is awesome, only that you're doing what YOU find awesome.  (same line of thinking as Jason's post, too).

I've certainly had those thoughts.  I suspect most folks that have been in and out of tri/endurance sports for a while do.  Many of us also wax and wane across different sports over time, too.  To me, it's as much about the happiness of pursuit as the pursuit of happiness - gotta like the getting there...

Matt

Because I feel the same way about going for an early morning run as my dog does.  (needless to say, he shows it more, with a lot of jumping, yipping and tail wagging)

But yeah, it's hard to get out of bed sometimes.  I've learned not to have that conversation in my head.  Just DO IT.  I've never regretted it.

Sure, we don't need to exercise 15hrs a week for 'health'.  Do it because you have a passion, a goal, and to have amazing experiences.  This is life, and challenging yourself is part of living.

but- each of us needs to find our own path.  If you've lost your passion, perhaps it's time to try something new.  Do you have a mountain bike?  How about trail running?  Paragliding?  Surfing?  Martial Arts?  Learn to play the violin.  Whatever.  Find your passion... and do it.

...because it makes me a hero to my son..

(Steve_and_Cam.jpg)

Those are great days!  Enjoy them!  Nice work.

Awesome post

Here's the problem with trying to win races, other people are busting their rears trying to win too.  I can probably be almost as fit as I am now off less effort and volume, but racing is what keeps me pushing.  I love the heat of battle in doing something that I enjoy.  If I take up a hobby, then I want to be the best I can be at it.

Great post!

Why do we do this? To quote our tri club advisor in college (she's awesome):

"When else do you get to have such an expensive toy between your legs?"

Great posts!

I often have the same desire to put my head back on the pillow.  Some days I do but most days I don't.

I keep training but overall I feel so much BETTER when I've got a goal to works towards, I am staying really fit, and I am eating healthy.  The times when I do slack for more than a few days, I get grouchy and grumpy and generally start feeling lousy.

I also LOVE race day.  On race day, I am surrounded by people of all walks of life who have the same interest as me, who have all experienced the ups and downs of training, the ups and downs of fitting training in everyday life.  Can't wait till by first of the year in April.

• Telling somebody that you do tri's just sounds cool to people.  It was definitely a point of conversation that worked to my advantage in my first real chemistry job years ago.  I've never gotten to the HIM or IM level, but even at the sprint level - the cool factor is definitely there...99.9% of the population doesn't train in three sports.  99% of the population can't swim 500 yards.
• Get's me out of the house for a little bit.
• "I don't feel like running."  Then bike.  "But I don't want to get prepped to ride today."  Then go swim.  "Swim.  THAT'S what I want to do today."  It's the choice I like.
• I've never gotten into tri's for the performance/racing part of it...it's the lifestyle/exercise balance that it brings to the body.  As opposed to a runner, you are not just 'pounding the pavement' everyday adding daily stress to the knees and ankles.  You mix it up.  Swimming is the great balancer, many people just don't get that kind of no-impact workout and it's so good for the upper body.  
• Strength training.  Always a hot topic but I feel it's a necessary 4rth discipline.  We all know the studies as we age...if I had to choose and put any person over 40 on an exercise routine, strength training would be first.  Strength training for tri's 'may' not lead to better performance, but I feel will keep you more injury free.

I've been doing this more or less for 12 years...the fact that I am still doing any aerobic activity is due to the choice I have with triathlon.  When life changes, you can easily switch up sports to at least get something in...even if you can't train in all three.