When that is your job. That’s it. So for me, never. I play hockey, basketball, golf, tennis, among other sports. I would never introduce myself as a hockey player or golfer just because I enjoy those sports/hobbies. I find it weird and awkward to label myself a “triathlete”. I’m a lawyer that swims, bikes, runs, and does triathlons.

I think you are a triathlete when you swim, bike and run for exercise for no good reason other than you want to do those activities as an expression of you as a human. Racing is secondary to the act of needing and wanting to do these three sports on an ongoing basis.

If you can't swim, or can't bike or can't run for any period and find yourself saying, "man, I really want to get on my bike and feel the wind blowing through my helmet on a 40 mph downhill", or "I need to feel that anaerobic feeling finishing my last 9 strokes without breathing going full throttle on a 50 free" or, "I have not run in the woods forever and seen the deer and squirrels", then you have arrived

About 5 minutes after you finish your first race and your initial thoughts of never again turn to “I wonder if I....”

Laying all your bike stuff out on a Friday night so you can hit the roads first thing for a century...and being excited about it....

Winning your Age Group in the local sprint and realizing deep down it does matter to you even though you only had 4 guys in your Age Group.

Feeling that “flow state” when your stroke is smooth and the water rushes by, or when 7 minute miles seem effortless, or when you feel like you can do 200 watts until the cows come home.

Having a better looking body than most people half your age.

Separating your shoulder...again

Running the last 200 yards of an Ironman....especially on Ali’i Drive...

Meeting my local swim crew for a current driven 2.5 mile swim on a Jersey July day...

Eating as much pasta as I want

Owning more than 6 bikes

Throwing away 20 old, leaky goggles...

Realizing your swim or bike shorts are becoming a little x rated as they wear out.

Lose another toe nail

Notice that the t shirt you’re wearing isn’t from a race

Putting all your medals and trophies in the closet because there are just too many of them and really, should you really have that big of a trophy for beating that newbie guy in your age group in a Super Sprint?

Drop $3500 for a kickr bike because #fuckCoVid....

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Randy Christofferson(http://www.rcmioga.blogspot.com

Insert Doubt. Erase Hope. Crush Dreams.

When you embrace the "suck"
When you complete a 3 hour brick workout while not training for a race or anything for that mater and wonder if you did enough.

I have 14 bikes in the house of different sources (all my bikes, my wife's bike, a few bikes of my son).....was showing my wife the Kickr bike online and the first answer was, "how is this different from all your bikes"...then the second statement was, "well if you want one, then I am getting the kitchen renovation"....for the moment I want the Kikr bike bike less than living around a renovation but there will be no renovation for a while due to social distancing so maybe get the Kickr bike (but I am also cautious right now about spending until I get my tech company thru this crunch) !!!!

Them: Wanna sign up for a race.
Me: Maybe. What are you proposing?
Them: ______ (running race)
Me: No Swim. No Bike. Just Run? I think I'll pass

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Take a short break from ST and read my blog:
http://tri-banter.blogspot.com/

For the Win !!!

You're basically saying you are what you get paid for? What a horrible thought!
I would find that philosophy really depressing, if I believed it, but thankfully I think it's totally arbitrary and don't accept it, so everything's fine.

My job is neither the most nor the least important thing in my life. It's just one, rather time consuming, element. I'll also always consider myself an engineer regardless whether I'm still employed in that field or not. I can be more than one thing.
I reckon there are plenty people on ST who put more effort and thought into triathlon than they do their jobs (I'm not one of them, I half-ass at triathlon), they are most certainly triathletes.

When you are average at 3 sports rather than good at 1.

That's the definition of a professional triathlete. Are you saying you aren't an amateur triathlete? My bank account would like a word.

When you tell someone else that you are one.

When you tell yourself you are one.

Well sure, thats a bit more existential then I was going for, though. My intent was little more tongue in cheek...as in, "how do you know if someone is a triathlete? Don't worry, they'll tell you." :-)

I suppose I should have used pink font.

when you don't wear socks while cycling

Never claimed my job is the most important thing to me. But, yeah it’s far more important than my hobby that doesn’t support my family which is the most important thing to me, I’m clearly in the minority here but I laugh at anyone who would introduces themselves to me as a triathlete (again, unless that is there profession).

Agree to disagree. If someone says to me “I’m a hockey player.” I’m not envisioning a pick game on Thursday night Anymore than I would think someone that says “I’m a lawyer” is someone who reads legal books for fun.

for a whole lot of reasons.

I can't imagine doing that. I've had numerous occasions recently where the fact was relevant to one of the nurses, doctors, or therapists...and, I still felt "sheepish" bringing it up. Most of the time, I just said "runner".

What kind of narcissist would do that anyway? I'm not introducing myself as "CassinoNorth, I'm a Systems Administrator". If someone asks what my hobbies are, I sure as hell will mention the thing I do 10+ hours a week even if I don't get paid to be a "triathlete".


I would laugh at anyone who introduced themselves as anything. I don't define myself as any one thing. No hobby, occupation or nationality.

ummmm, that's the question posed in the thread
(at least as I was reading it)

I read your previous post as meaning that you were defined by your career, or in other words I it sounded like you considered it the most important part of your identity.
I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth. Perhaps I misunderstand what you're saying. I just don't get the "if you're paid to do it" comment.

As for introducing yourself as a triathlete - Who introduces themselves as anything?
I've never introduced myself as an engineer, project manager, triathlete, cyclist, runner, or anything else. I just give my name. Do some people take the opportunity to tell people their profession and /or sporting interests?
On the other hand if someone asks me if I am an engineer, triathlete, motorist, or something else that I consider myself to be, I'll say yes.

When you debate online about trivial things that have nothing to do with swim/bike/run.

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Not everything is as it seems -Mr. Miyagi

these are awesome. I am good for about 12 of them :)

When you insist on showing up to the group ride on your Tri Bike despite everyone else's objections.