I got a good one the other day from the new girl “situation.” The first time she saw my legs her eyes popped and she said, “Oh wow! Your legs look like frog legs!” I took it as a compliment and its been cracking me up ever since. I also enjoy every “you’re nuts/crazy/insane…” comment from people outside the sport, warms my soul and validates my efforts every time. Wondering what others have heard.
I like it when people tell me I have nice shoulders.
At the end of the day, compliments or insults dont mean anything. Validation comes from within 
As much as you swim, I’m sure you do. 
I like it when people tell me I have nice shoulders.
The best compliment is when they say your how old? I thought you were in your late twenties.
At the end of the day, compliments or insults dont mean anything. Validation comes from within
^ I’ll 2nd that 1 ^
But, as I was reading this thread I had a visitor in my office. I’ve worked with this guy for over 5 years. He was sitting here with a vending machine bear claw pastry and a coke. He sets them down on the floor to tie his shoe…lets out a big grunt…another big grunt when he sits back up…then when he stands to leave another big grunt. “Damn man…You ever consider a little stretching routine” I said.
“This is what YOU have to look forward to when you hit 40 like me”…he said
“Ahh, Mike…I’m 42” I said
“Really…No Way…I had you pegged for 35 tops”
So, for a split 2nd I was feelin pretty good until I heard…“Must be genetics” as he’s walking out the door. LOL
I keep a pic of myself at a wedding in a tux - I’m 235# in the pic. It was 5 years ago. I’m now 40 yrs old, 155#, and keep a pic of me at the 5k finish where I PR’d at 19 mins and change last September. Egotistically I love the pic - it was taken right as my leg hit the pavement, and you can see the muscle formations and definition. The pics are side by side, and everyone asks if the guy in the tux is my older brother. That’s my favorite compliment.
Kinda sad that he didn’t see the connection, huh?
I have people ask me how to improve their run from time to time (2 mile run for physical fitness test). I tell them to just be consistent, run at least 3 and up to 5 times a week, keep it easy, and the time will just melt away. Typical response: “that’s easy for you to say, you’re a runner.” LOL. They never believe that I took 15+ minutes to run 2 miles 8-9 years ago. I might get a believer or 2 yet, who knows?
My mom once told me I was the coolest kid in the world.
Sorry, but you guys will have to duke it out for 2nd place.
Wasn’t a tri-specific compliment, but that’s all I’ve got.
You’re like half the size you used to be!
My wife tells me “I can’t believe how fat you are as much as you work out”. Thanks babe.
So, I have a few tattoos, including a fairly large one on my left shoulder/arm. This has been much to the angst of my mother, who just doesn’t “get it.” Mind you, I live in the Milwaukee metro area, home of Harley Davidson.
So, mom (a teacher) talks about me often and has told her friends about her son “with all those tattoos” (grossly exaggerated). At her request, sent her one of my finisher pictures from IMMoo 2007, which she has proudly displayed on her desk at school.
Her teaching friends came in saw it, and exclaimed, “holy shit, that’s your son??? You said he was a ‘biker’ with a bunch of tattoos! I thought he was one of those ‘Harley’ guys with a big gut! He’s ripped!” One of her female high school students even said, “wow, he’s hot.” Of course the picture wasn’t exactly a close-up … and I was wearing a hat … and Oakley’s covering most of my face … and there was a shadow covering the exposed portion of my face … but HEY, I’ll take it when I can get it!
“Demerly! Holy Shit! I heard you were dead… again.”
Couple years ago, I had Friday off so I was off on a solo 60 mile ride but my heart just wasn’t into it. Sun was out, early season cool/warm morning but I just couldn’t get in the groove. About 10 miles from home, I’m stopped at a light up near the WI border and considering just turning around and writing the day off. A woman in a pickup truck pulls up at the light and through the open passenger side window says “nice legs ya’ got there”. As a former 250# big’un, this is my first unsolicited, random compliment on any aspect of my physique. I figure, well, this is how they got that way so let’s get on with it.
Had a great ride.
Mike
A couple of years ago, I was doing a very early spring mountain bike race, when a very attractive women walked up to warm herself by the fire. She looked at my calves and said, “Holy cow, you’ve got great calves. Do you lift a lot of weights?” I replied, “I just ride my bike.”
After the race, my buddy picked on me for being hit on by the cute blonde. He thought that I was a bit cold to her, but the Mrs. at home would not have approved of anything more. It was a pretty good ego stroke though.
“Your supposed to be dead I thought?” and then later that same ride “Damn, your pretty fast for a guy that is supposed to be dead”
.
From local cycling/swim/tri coach, “you could be a Hawaii qualifier”. I took it as a complement.
Your legs look like frog legs!"
That’s a compliment?
Your legs look like frog legs!"
That’s a compliment?
Thats what I was thinking! hahaha… I guess its better than “chicken legs” , but who cares… frog tastes like Chicken anyway.
“that’s easy for you to say, you’re a runner.” LOL.
This one just kills me, too, since I get a lot of people asking how to run faster on their 3-mile Physical Fitness Test. Run every day, 3-4 miles and then run a little bit faster a couple of days a week in the month before the pft. I try to keep it simple for them.
Two races ago, a good friend of mine looked at me and said, “Man, you are really, really skinny.” Of course, looking at a couple of pics from the OC Duathlon I would have a hard time arguing with him. Comparisons with hungry Africans come to mind.
Triathletes who continue to train into their later years are going to look better and better compared to their peers. I was pretty old when I entered the Marine Corps and many people are surprised when I tell them I’m closing in on 38. My favorite comment is from out of shape majors who say “when you get to be my age you won’t be able to do all that stuff” and then are surprised when I tell them I am their age.
Chad