I get the "Better you than me" look or comment. Sort of the "Good luck to you, but don't ask me to come along" thing. And I have a coworker that has done a tri [on a whim!] and one that is the cross-country coach that does marathons.
Folks are too impressed by the short distances. When folks ask what races I'm going to do (surprisingly they do ask) and I get to the long course ... then they're impressed, and they should be ... that's a tough day.
There was a hilarious comment over at TNO comparing the reaction of an "outsider" to a person that finishes an IM in 8 hours vs. someone that finishes an IM in 16 hours, they're more impressed with the latter. I believe the situation was hypothetical, but easily imagineable. [I'd repost it here, but we all know where that leads. Ha Ha.] Folks would be more impressed with someone that did a 1/2 IM in 10 hours than someone that did an olympic in 2. I guess for most of us, it's a *good thing* they don't know any better. ;)
Triathlons get me more respect than they should around here. The training should get me respect. Doing it day after day, in all sorts of weather, is more admirable than the actual race. Anyone can play in the game, few are willing to sweat like hell in practice.
I don't know many that know the distances, or know what a respectable time is, but they recognize committment, effort, and consistency, and they respect that. I appreciate it.
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-- Every morning brings opportunity;
Each evening offers judgement. --
Folks are too impressed by the short distances. When folks ask what races I'm going to do (surprisingly they do ask) and I get to the long course ... then they're impressed, and they should be ... that's a tough day.
There was a hilarious comment over at TNO comparing the reaction of an "outsider" to a person that finishes an IM in 8 hours vs. someone that finishes an IM in 16 hours, they're more impressed with the latter. I believe the situation was hypothetical, but easily imagineable. [I'd repost it here, but we all know where that leads. Ha Ha.] Folks would be more impressed with someone that did a 1/2 IM in 10 hours than someone that did an olympic in 2. I guess for most of us, it's a *good thing* they don't know any better. ;)
Triathlons get me more respect than they should around here. The training should get me respect. Doing it day after day, in all sorts of weather, is more admirable than the actual race. Anyone can play in the game, few are willing to sweat like hell in practice.
I don't know many that know the distances, or know what a respectable time is, but they recognize committment, effort, and consistency, and they respect that. I appreciate it.
=======================
-- Every morning brings opportunity;
Each evening offers judgement. --