What's your motivation? I think I'm out. (Page 2): Triathlon Forum: Slowtwitch Forums

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What's your motivation? I think I'm out.

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BrianB

Jul 18, 12 11:28

Post #26 of 36 (665 views)

Re: What's your motivation? I think I'm out. [AwesomePossum] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

AwesomePossum wrote:

come raceday, I couldn't care less about triathlons or competing (against myself or others).

On the plus side, at least you know that the saying goes "couldn't care less" and NOT "could care less"

Damanwithaplan

Jul 18, 12 11:29

Post #27 of 36 (661 views)

Re: What's your motivation? I think I'm out. [mslee] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

http://runningtimes.com/...aspx?ArticleID=26396

JenSw

Jul 18, 12 11:29

Post #28 of 36 (661 views)

Re: What's your motivation? I think I'm out. [tigerpaws] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

tigerpaws wrote:

Maybe you will get to the point some of us have already been. In it for fitness, camaraderie of race weekends and an excuse to eat like a garbage disposal!

Racing stopped meaning anything to me after about 10 years. Now it's more about sharing time with people who love sport as much as I do.

This.

Maybe don't race and just train.

I had a coach once say to me that a race is a reward for all my training. I choose enjoy my reward however I see fit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jen - @ultragrrl

"In order to keep a true perspective on one's importance, everyone should have a dog that worships him and a cat that will ignore him." - Dereke Bruce

Rambler

Jul 18, 12 11:30

Post #29 of 36 (656 views)

Re: What's your motivation? I think I'm out. [mslee] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

If you are like most former HS swimmers you probably started competing way before high school. Maybe you just need some time off. Keep training and things will come around.

ether

Jul 18, 12 12:04

Post #30 of 36 (617 views)

Re: What's your motivation? I think I'm out. [mslee] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

If you don't like to race, don't. As others mentioned, it will save you lots of money. And you're right, the results don't matter. At all. To paraphrase, over a long enough timeline, the survival rate of everyone drops to 0. Given that, when you are dead, no one will care about your tri results. If you WANT to care, what motivated you when you were a swimmer?

El Jefe

Jul 18, 12 12:09

Post #31 of 36 (609 views)

Re: What's your motivation? I think I'm out. [mslee] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

juha-pdx

Jul 18, 12 12:37

Post #32 of 36 (584 views)

Re: What's your motivation? I think I'm out. [mslee] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Motivation to race is pretty cyclical and dependent a slew of things.

There are lots of folks who've been where you are at, me included and usually you'll find something in sport that will light your fire again.

I competed hard as a runner through my mid/late 20s having grown up in Eugene running road races as a pre-tween so by then I was done. Watched reality TV, drank beer and workout with then slovenly GF.

Got annoyed that'd I gained ten pounds and figured I finally give Tri in my early thirties. Ten years later and now I'm just doing TTs. Still run & swim because it's good for me, I like both and in smaller doses, helps my bike vs. hurt.

You have to find inspiration in something racing related or sometimes, find a sport where just going from point A to point B is a blast and the experience is what counts- hard to live with as a competitive athlete but it can be done.. For example find a sport you struggle in but like and give it a whirl.. For me, it's Mtb- I have no tech skills but just love it and do it with boys who are now old enough to go for rides on novice trails.

Will I come back to Tri? Probably. Most of us have un-finished business with the sport, I sure do.. and that's one more thing to keep your fire lit. :)
http://twitter.com/#!/joetysoe

htimst

Jul 18, 12 12:58

Post #33 of 36 (563 views)

Re: What's your motivation? I think I'm out. [mslee] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I often get into a race and just don't feel up to hurting to gain a few minutes. It's purely mental and it's not a great trait. I used to be a competitor, now I'm a participant. I was racing a 70.3, two weeks ago and in the last half of the run, I saw familiar face that should have been a half hour behind me. I quickly calculated that he was about 3 minutes behind me. I immediately realized that the happiness he would have by beating me by a half second, would be much greater than the happiness I would have by beating him by 3 minutes. I slumped my head, hardened the f*** up and buried myself to beat him by 15. Screw participating, this is a race! My point is, one never knows where motivation will come from.

Good luck!

BCDon

Jul 18, 12 13:46

Post #34 of 36 (514 views)

Re: What's your motivation? I think I'm out. [mslee] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

To the OP (and second poster), I'm one of those guys who goes through activities. I get completely engaged in them, then in about 5 years I'm done. I guess it started with cycling, that turned into touring by bike cause I didn't have any money for any other kind of holiday. That turned into working 2 jobs to get money and raise a family with no time for much outside. I lived in an area where there was lots of snow so I started doing a lot of cross country skiing, including 50+Km marathons. I was involved in hockey for a number of years (playing, coaching, reffing). A number of years of backpacking including multi day tours. Then motorcycles, everything from long distance touring to the track to offload. Then RC controlled planes, helis and cars. The list goes on. Currently I am getting into Triathlons. I have no idea how long it will last.

What I will suggest though, it whatever activity you are engaged in, continue to do something on a regular basis to keep your fitness and health up. Run, bike, swim etc. I stopped exercising when I got into some of my activities and my fitness dropped a ton and as you age it is a real bitch to work your way back up and drop the extra pounds.

The second thing I'd suggest is to find things that the rest of the family like to do, your wife, kids, siblings etc. it is more fun doing these things with others.

But, if you are getting burnt out or bored, take some time off, re-evaluate and set new life goals which may or may not include your current activities.
BC Don
There's a difference between skiing and just getting down a mountain.

squid

Jul 18, 12 17:29

Post #35 of 36 (463 views)

Re: What's your motivation? I think I'm out. [mslee] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I can't ever rationalize to myself why achieving fast times is important to me

You've broken though and are well on your way to enlightenment! You are fortunate.

cyclops

Jul 18, 12 18:17

Post #36 of 36 (429 views)

Re: What's your motivation? I think I'm out. [mslee] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

mslee wrote:

Hello all,

I'm a collegiate triathlete and former high school swimmer. Back when I was swimming, I would be incredibly nervous before races. I recall very few (if any) times where I didn't go 100%.

Fast forward to today, and I feel very differently about triathlons (vs swimming). I train hard, and enjoy that aspect of the sport. The issue is during races. The night before and even on race day I don't feel nervous at all. In all parts of the race, I struggle to find the drive to push myself. People I train with who shouldn't be anywhere near me frequently beat me.

I realize so much of racing is mental, and I just don't have it right now. Part of the problem is that I can't ever rationalize to myself why achieving fast times is important to me (I've raced on big stages like USAT Collegiate Nats). So, my question to you all is, what's your motivation to push yourself in a race and improve your times?

hmmm, I know the feeling. But I've always got better times when unmotivated days leading up to a race and on race morning, I think it is due to being motivated to get it over with and drive home farting, drinking coffee and listening to Pandora.

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