I’ve raced dozens and dozens of races in my triathlon career and none of them have been “fun”. I always race at my limit for the given distance and it’s always very painful. I thoroughly enjoy the training and the triathlon lifestyle, and the high you get after a well-executed race is absolutley unbeatable, but the actual race is very uncomforable. Every time I toe the line I’m always apprehensive because I know, “this is gonna hurt”. Is anyone else like this?
eric
I’ve raced dozens and dozens of races in my triathlon career and none of them have been “fun”. I always race at my limit for the given distance and it’s always very painful. I thoroughly enjoy the training and the triathlon lifestyle, and the high you get after a well-executed race is absolutley unbeatable, but the actual race is very uncomforable. Every time I toe the line I’m always apprehensive because I know, “this is gonna hurt”. Is anyone else like this?
eric
Mostly yes, but haven’t you ever had that “damn, I’m flying!” feeling in the water or on the bike?
For me there is an inverse relationship between race distance and intensity of the pain. Sprint is redline for a short period, Ironman is general discomfort for an extended period. But until the end they are all painful.
But its the hurting that makes it fun.
well the swim and bike can be great - I love it most all the time - but the run almost always sucks for me
but the end if great
.
The pain is my favourite part.
-C
Why race if it is not fun? I don’t get paid to race, I pay to race. I don’t get paid to train, I spend my personal time training. Sure some races suck for one reason or another, but racing, as a whole is fun. At least for me.
Mostly yes, but haven’t you ever had that “damn, I’m flying!” feeling in the water or on the bike?
ding ding ding ding!
Racing was not fun for me so I quit a couple of years ago. I hated the buildup to the race, making sure my training was correct, my taper was timed properly, my nutrition was spot on. Always slept lousy the night before. Always praying that I didn’t get injured or sick right before a race. Trying to remember to bring all the tri-crap. Always forgetting something. Got really tired of paying $$$ so I could get up well before the sun comes up and jump into freezing cold water. All I do is train now. Much less stressful.
You must be having some fun or you wouldn’t be coming back . . .
At least in terms of perceived pain, with limited exceptions, my races never hurt anywhere near as bad nor am I as uncomfortable as during the worst of my training. Actually, races are much more painful but it is much much easier for me to endure pain and discomfort during a race than it is to endure a bad training day. If I can endure X in training, I know I can endure 2X in a race. Its all in your head.
Challenging yourself, pushing yourself to improve, and working hard = fun, with a bit of pain in there. But when you push yourself so hard that pain eclipses fun, something is wrong! My goal for racing is to do the best I can within those parameters.
I think everyone has has told pretty well why racing is fun, but to add one more thing:
Which is more fun a long brick by yourself or racing with hundreds of other people?
I think the racing for me. It’s a kick having a few people cheering you on. Misery loves company, right?
Yup.
The alternatives are The PantyMan and the Ice-Cream Man (as prescribed in another thread).
Anyone not craving some sort of discomfort/pain, should just avoid signing up for a race and continue the training/lifestyle, if that is the part they enjoy.
You’re gonna pay money for something you don’t enjoy?
Within limits, I enjoy hurting. I really enjoy trying to catch the people ahead, especially if they are in my AG.
The ‘time trial’ that Thierry took me on, from La Canada to Mt Wilson may have exceeded that limit. Whoa! I was a hurtin’ cowboy. He whipped my rear–big time.
nope. Sometimes I think I race just to get people off my back. But I have to admit, sometimes, you get a PB, or you push that edge just a little bit further to beat someone and it feels oh so good. (days later)
i couldn’t have said it any better than you! i’ve only done only one tri but found myself asking “wtf am i doing here” at the start. same thing with standalone running races. with all the pain involved, i wonder wtf i’m doing there, before and during. it’s only afterwards when i forget about the pain that i’m maniacally filling out another race application and sending in the check.
you think this is some form of sadomasochism? 
yes I feel that way (apprehensive) but its always fun. Maybe the apprehension is the root of your problem, it causes you stress. I know a few people like you and often times its better they dont race as they dont enjoy the stress part racing. They are a complete wreck for weeks before an A race, I know one person who needs booze to calm themselves down inorder to get to the start line the next morning. Never figure out why they put themselves through it.
Oh man, I’ve had a lot of painful races but I love to race. I love the pain. I am not apprehensive, I look forward to the pain.
Yes I am a sick chick.
Affirmations of life are not always “fun” in that you’ve got this sh!t-eating grin on your face the whole time. Sometimes it’s about getting THROUGH something to have the feeling when it’s all done. The accomplishment, the striving to do better (whether “better” to you is longer or faster, or just getting back on the horse).
And yes, even the pain, to me, is “fun”.