I think time is a big factor for why people leave the sport, but I also think fatigue is a factor. After 10 years of triathlon, I've been on a break for two years (initiated by injuries) and other than having more time (and money) to do other things, I'm really enjoying not being so fatigued all the time.

I do miss it though, and may do some races next year although I think I'll stick with short course. Less training time, less fatigue, cheaper, lots of fun and I'll still have plenty of time to golf, which my girlfriend and I have gotten into this year. Part of what we've enjoyed so much about golf is that we can do it together. She bikes and runs, but our speeds are very different so it's challenging for us to do those together when I'm training.

I think time is a big factor for why people leave the sport, but I also think fatigue is a factor. After 10 years of triathlon, I've been on a break for two years (initiated by injuries) and other than having more time (and money) to do other things, I'm really enjoying not being so fatigued all the time.

I do miss it though, and may do some races next year although I think I'll stick with short course. Less training time, less fatigue, cheaper, lots of fun and I'll still have plenty of time to golf, which my girlfriend and I have gotten into this year. Part of what we've enjoyed so much about golf is that we can do it together. She bikes and runs, but our speeds are very different so it's challenging for us to do those together when I'm training.

There are plenty of people that just run, cycle or swim for fitness. But it's rare to find people that do all three just to stay in shape (and those guys are probably lurking on this very site).

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I'm one of those guys. Endurance sports have always been a part of my life, starting with my first 10K at the age of 8 (48 now). My first tri was in 2005 but don't think I've ever done more than three races in a single season. From 2007-2016, did 3 IMs and Norseman, along with a few Halfs and an odd Olympic or two... taking at least a year break between each one - mostly due to cranking on work, etc... but my intent has also been not to grind myself in the ground.

Other than 1.5 years where I had a bit of a back issue and ballooned up in weight a bit... have always just stayed consistent.

And truly love to run, ride and swim. Again, part of my strategy is to just keep doing it, year after year... stay in the game. And because I love doing it.

My goal, I hope, is to never "retire" from racing tris. Signed up for Roth next July... although may have to defer for a year. Have been pretty decent - pretty FOP - for last 10-11 years in racing. Figure as long as I keep going, keep pretty sharp, keep relatively injury free, that should continue. And if not, no worries. Can still just do it.

This is the common theme I have heard from many the past 2 years.

"I am tired of being tired".

I could completely be guessing but it seems people race more IM's in a year now than ever, they race more long course races more frequently and thus are just all getting tired.

The logistics on top of the training time make this sport very hard if you work full-time and have a family.

I think as you said above, many will return to short course racing. Hopefully good options exits at all levels for these races to really stay alive, otherwise the sport will shrink because doing IM year in and year out is not sustainable.

It's amazing what a break will do for you. I as well have taken a break. Money spent on other great adventures, grown tremendously in my career and ironically feel the healthiest, strongest, and best I have felt in years.

I personally will always do triathlons. Some years more than others, I might veer away for a few years. But I do firmly believe the amount of IM's I do again in my life will be less than the amount I have done to date (4).

I have been doing tri for about 12 years now with a break here and there. In that time I have seen so many people local and national come and go. almost none of my friends do them anymore.

Wondering why it does not having the holding power of some other activities

My wife did an ironman last October. She trained really hard for it for 9 months, had a great race and experience - and has not been on her bike or near a pool in the 12 months since then - she's run a few times and goes to the gym a couple of times a week.

It just took too much out of her and she's turned off totally from triathlon now. It's a big commitment in terms of time and money - it took over her life for the best part of a year and she grew to resent it.

It’s winter! Come summer you will be good to go again!

I read something recently that said if you run your Runner, if you swim you're a swimmer, if you bike you're a biker, but if you run, bike, and swim you are not a triathlete. Strangely that's a true perception.

Not strange at all.

If you swim-bike-run then you are triathlete. Not if you do a bit of swimming, do a bit of biking and do a bit of running.

I'm 61 and a lifelong endurance sport junkie. Although I did a couple of triathlons in 1980, I was strictly a runner until 2006 when I shifted over to triathlon full time due to injuries and the need to reduce the amount of running time. But once you pass 50, the number of long course triathletes falls by half with each new 5 year age group. By sixty years old, 98% of all IM participants are younger than you. At this age, training is much, much harder -- especially running. I have watched a number of highly competitive athletes my age throw in the towel over the past several years as running injuries became too much for them. At that point, most end up cycling only, and getting their kicks riding centuries and gran fondos. I expect that will be my future too, but for now, I'm still enjoying the grind and hoping to hang onto long course triathlon as long as I can.

Im single-ish and will probably never get married (don't see that in the cards for me)

but I do it for the fun. The three disciplines divide the monotony of one sport. It helps me with stress (stressful corporate job), and I thrive on the excitement of race week and traveling to races. I grew up traveling every weekend for sport events (bless my parents hearts haha). I love competing. The atmosphere. The energy.

I have been tired/burnt from work a few times and taken a month or so or even longer off but always come back. Plus it gives me an excuse to not fall back into my old college habits of partying/drinking - which is what many in my profession do to relieve stress (finance)

With a full time girlfriend/wife/family/other life commitments - ya - it is just too much.I have been there and done that and it was super difficult. Now I am just a selfish 30 year old do what I want A hole haha so Im all in for a while

I see lots of post about it being to expensive.

When I was a kid I raced RC cars and it was extremely expensive to the point people were stopping so they created cost controlled classes.

I wonder if such a division could work in tri?

Stock road bike (everyone must ride same brand and model)
Stock Tires
no aero wheels
no aero helmet

maybe this would be a cheaper alternative and make it more man on man instead of wallet vs wallet

Just a thought