As i am sitting here behind my desk at my office… gazing outside see the sun shining, I am realizing that I am wasting a perfect long ride opportunity behind a PC… then it dawned on me… what would prevent me from turning Pro? As I am browsing the web, I notice that there are not much real life stories about life as a full time triathlete out there… at least not that I could find.
Time to hit the sound boards… I wonder if any of you have any thoughts/ideas/insights surrounding this life style. Of course there are the financial impacts and the fact that you literally have to bust your butt everyday as your training now become your job…not to mention the pressure of performing… but for somebody who is single, is in the sport for about 3 years now and does reasonably well (~ consistently places in top 5 at races, was able to qualify for kona during first Ironman) i get told by those around me that I should consider taking the next step and crank up my training a few notches…i am in my late mid twenties and train 12 hours a week
But I am curious for any reading materials/advice from anybody out there so I put down the crack pipe and wake up out of my dream bubble and finish my report or decide to quit my job and go for my bike ride
Required reading is Brad Kearns’ old book. Also, do a forum search as this has been covered many times. Bottom line is that only a handfull of folks are making a living as “professional triathletes”.
Well, when I started triathlons and fitness in general, I really sucked. After years of training, including some training years with 20+ hour training weeks for IM, I now only suck less than I did.
I have never won and race of any type or distance. I have never podiumed in a race with more than 3 people in my AG.
I saw the writing on the wall and in my genetics and decided it would be more prudent to pursue something else professionally.
Back in the day (late '80s-early '90s)… I had a lot of good results, enough so that I was on the cusp of turning pro. But I knew that in order to make the jump required, I’d have to give up the full-time job and take something part-time. But that meant also giving up a very good (at the time) income for something small and another “possible” income. I chose the conservative route and did not go pro.
Do I regret that decision? Not really. It would have been interesting to see just how fast I really was… But that’s all water under the bridge.
well I’ve had similiar thoughts but not really with the goal of being a pro…essentially I just want to ride my bike so it would be more a biker bum lifestyle for me. To make it easier $$$ wise, I recruit some friends and shack up in house. It would be like a crack house but full of bikers/tri geeks. Instead of used syringes and graffix 6ft’ers the house would be littered with empty Gu packets and used mach-3 razors or something.
haven’t found anyone that’s down though…all my friends are getting married and tying themselves down withexpenses.
I turn 28 next week…jobs and money will come and go but ur age doesn’t. I doubt I’d regret the time I spent being a biker bum when I’m old.
I trained full time for almost three years. I could only muster a 1:54:12 olympic distance PR. That was about 2 min too slow back int he mid 90’s and now you need a 1:49 or so to have a shot a earning decent money on the ITU circuit. Not much money in the states for non drafting oly’s either.
I was a great lifestyle that put me in debt and gave me memories I’ll never forget.
I’d do it all over again, hopefully with better genetics.
thanks all for your comments / thoughts/ I will be picking up Brad’s book. …
When searching across some of the older thread I noticed that somebody posted the thought of doing Pro training with a university course on the side… some type of continued education just to keep that other career going too. I really like that idea.
Furthermore, I guess I need to get some experience as to what it would take to train 5 - 10 days full time without a job as a distraction
As far as injuries, so far I have been lucky and have seen few… but then again, my training volume is not as high as the pros who are doing their 20 / 30 + hr weeks.
THanks all for your postings…
Gosh … I really have some sorting out to do, but yeah I really hope to make the right choice and not think back way later in life, sitting on the couch doing cross word puzzles or baking pies …scratching my head thinking … 'what if"
I was professional skier for a number of years. I refer to them as “the skinny years”. I might have been “pro” but never made any real money out of it until I started teaching and coaching.
I thought of turning pro triathlete…until my first race and found out had bad I suck!
A couple of seasons later I thought about it again, just for a laugh, but my wife talked me out of it. She didn’t want to look ridiculous around my much better amateur friends.
The thought still brings a smile to my face from time to time. Hey, if Gordo can do it, why can’t the rest of us?
if you are good enough, you can be at least moderately competitive as a pro without sacrificing your job, school, etc. this is assuming a regular 40-50 hour a week job or whatever. once you’ve missed out on prize money, then it might be time to make the move from age group to pro.
if you train and race pro like this for a few years, you will know if you can really make a go of it and make a living. there are very few people really making a living racing triathlon. most “pros” are coaching or working at least part time or maybe they have a nice trust fund.
how marketable are you? refer to the jessi stensland thread if you like.
realize that it’s a huge jump. i was 12th overall in my first ironman, was top age grouper at a number of the biggest half ironman races and didn’t think about even racing pro for a few years. the level of competition is at a whole different level. i don’t know if i’ve ever really considered trying to make a living at it. work, and now school, has always been a much higher priority.
I don’t know of any books but I know a lot of the pro websites have blurbs about their experiences (check Chris McCormack’s webpage, Peter Reid etc.). Not that I really know what I’m talking about but my two cents would be:
$$$$…it’s hard work and low pay (unless you are truly exceptional)
What’s your potential? i.e. do you have a VO2Max of 83 ml/kg/min like Lance? How much do you train now and what’s the quality like? Realistically how much do you think you could improve if you improved training, gear, got more rest, ate better and so on? Check some of the research out there…
Lifestyle: yes, you could be out riding instead of sitting at your desk but I think many pros talk about it being a lonely (perhaps the wrong word) lifestyle too. i.e. bed by 9 p.m., no major social schmoozing or cocktails, eating healthy…personally I love these aspects but something to think about!
Part-time jobs - already suggested, but I’d explore part-time careers that would tie-in to your pro-career. Training, coaching, nutrition, writing for magazines, tying in with bike/other vendors, stuff that will increase your knowledge as a pro…yet hopefully let you earn a few dollars…
Marketing - repeating this point…but it’s important for sponsorship! Look at smiling Natascha Badmann, spunky Macca, Karen Smyers…there are definitely athletes that are more appealing to sponsors…how does that fit in with your plan…
On the other hand I know an IMH winner who could not breeak 38:00 in a olympic tri his first year with a pro card. Now he runs as fast in IMH as he did that year in olympic distance tris.
These days, your “job” as a Pro athlete is to help your sponsors sell a lot of their products by generating a lot of positive press and being recognizable in their advertisements. That means you have to develop yourself into a brand that sponsors want to be associated with. Top results in races are only one aspect of your brand. If you’re very good, you’ll have to fit your training in between your obligations to sponsors and your interviews and press appearances, and managing your staff of coaches, PR & marketing agents, and consultants. If you’re not very good, you’ll have lots of time to train.
Do you really want that job?
Lee Silverman
JackRabbit Sports
Park Slope, Brooklyn
“I have never podiumed in a race with more than 3 people in my AG”.
lol!!! that is just funny!
I remember one 5K I did, which was sort of my “goodbye” to real running. My knee had become pretty hurt and I realized that I wasn’t going to be able to do the half marathon that I had trained for. So, I did this random 5K on a whim–it was bloody hot and I was emotionally drained from this injury. but, i did it anyway and did not run well at all. while standing around at the awards, I got 3rd place in my age group…out of the 3 people in my age group. when the guy called my name he kind of stumbled because of my horrible time. lol!
