Mostly yes, but haven’t you ever had that “damn, I’m flying!” feeling in the water or on the bike?
In the water? NEVER! I can only hope…
Races hurt if you are pushing your personal envelope, which I always am…the fun, for me is in the training, the pre- and post-race experience, the people…all of that is the fun part.
And the pain…the nearly exquisite pain of pushing my body further than I thought possible…making it do things I thought were beyond me…getting as close to “the line” as I can stand…that pain, and how it makes me feel, is better than all the FUN in the world.
Does that make me a sicko trichick? Probably so, but it’s the way it is…
I feel your pain, brother. Anticipating the effort creates anxiety too. And I usually go into a race saying “just doing this for fun…so no need to kill yourself” That may last halfway through the swim, but once on the bike it starts to get fun and I push (and love it). It’s the death march on the run that kills,regardless if I go easy or hard on the bike. I’ve been told I look awful after a race…I mean really bad. So I train to race, but the urge to race only hits me about once a year.
I use this same strategy/trick on myself – tell myself at the beginning “I don’t have to go all out,” and then once the pressure is off and I’ve convinced myself I don’t HAVE to do it, I actually WANT to go all out.
I always get this feeling of dread before running races but only to a lesser extent in triathlons because the swim and the bike are never as painful as the run. The only “fun” comes when it’s over, I’ve done well, and I’m waiting around for an age group award.
First race: Sprint triathlon. Tons of fun. I was in the last swim wave and sixth from last out of the water so basically the entire race was people in front of me. The whole race I did nothing but set my sights on the person in front of me, over take them and move on to the next person in front of me. I did not get passed until the last 200 meters. The pain made it even better because I felt like I was beating the pain better than the other racers.
Second race: Off road Duathlon. The field was much smaller, and racers much more fit and experienced. I didn’t pass anyone after the first 1/2 mile or so, and got passed three times on the bike. It was one of the most painful things I have ever endured over an extended period of time . Still tons of fun. I pushed harder than I new I could. explored my physical limit for that distance at my current level of fitness, and took many valuable lessons home with me for my next race. If I didn’t think it was fun I could never put myself though it.
Sometimes it’s fun during and sometimes it’s not. This weekend I did my first ever cyclocross race(race report is still in the works). That was the most excruciating 10 mile bike race I have ever done, but you know what…I distinctly remember, during the race, thinking “This is a blast!”, it hurt like hell, but it was fun. Maybe because it was something new, I don’t know, I’ll let you know after I get a few more races under my belt.
Bottom line, for me, it’s almost always a lot more fun in retrospect. During a race, especially triathlon or marathon, it seems like work. There are fun moments, but the painful and doubting moments far outweight the “fun” moments. I can say for a fact that I have never finished a race and regretted doing it, and probably always have thought “I think I could probably go harder next time.” I especially enjoy the sense of accomplishment and the camaraderie after a race, especially the more gruelling ones.
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.
Much like AndyPants, I too love to race. If it wasn’t for racing, I probably wouldn’t do nearly as much training/working out. I don’t, however, love the pain. I understand that to have a good race, pain is necessary, but I don’t relish it. Afterward, I am proud that while enduring such pain, I could continue to push the pace and RACE!
I do them 'cuz I can’t run hardly at all since I got creamed by a teenage driver a couple years back. But I can still ride, and pretty well.
In relays, there’s little pressure and it’s an absolute blast to fly by all the folks who are saving themselves for later. (I’ve taken to yelling out “I’m relay” as I pass people on the bike. Hopefully it takes away any discouragement factor. I know how it makes me feel when I get passed.)
You spend less money, you have less pressure and maybe more fun and you still get to be in that fun environment with all those interesting people.
I think the folks who swim in relays have lots of fun. I know I do on the bike. I’m not sure how much fun the runners have. It seems they’re under a little pressure for the team to either a) maintain any lead they may have been given, or b) get the team to the podium or the victory.
I got into triathlons from a biking background. I loved to bike, was at the time really strong but I hated bike racing. Too cutthroat for my tastes.
Got into triathlon after moving back to New England and started running with a co-worker. When summer came I didn’t want to loose the running fitness and somehow decided to try triathlons. I loved the race. After bike racing the experience at a triathlon race was awsome. Everyone was so supportive. People you pass yell to go get 'em. When you get passed they are encouraging you. Just a really great feeling. The support people and the spectators cheering for us mid to back packer like we were winners. That’s what I love about racing.
Granted I’m a middle packer and I don’t have it in me to push myself to the point I can’t feel anything but pain. I set goals for my races based on my training and then enjoy myself and the event. That’s the fun we train for.
A good thread. Warning, philosophical post. I have been experiencing more not-fun racing this year than any of the previous 12. A bit odd given that the racing has improved. Continuing your sig. line. I think if we race from what the Buddhist call ego, not-fun is our lot. The ego, as defined, can’t know joy or happiness, temporary pleasure for sure. How long are excellent races enjoyed before we are planning a bigger accomplishment? Keep that cylce up and burn-out is sure to come.
At the last triathlon this year I was wishing the race was over even before it started. Yet I had a really good year of racing but I was ready to quit. I’ve spent some time reflecting and decided I would race more soulfully the next outing. Did a 1/2 mary last Sunday and it was a fun experience. One of the differences was the living in the current moment vs hard charging for the future moment of crossing the finish line. The joy came from racing from who I was instead of who I hoped to be. It was fine effort on a beautiful day and that’s what I’ve remembered. That wonderful statement of Eric Liddle’s in Chariots of Fire says it better than I can, “God made me fast, and when I run, I can feel his pleasure.” I don’t think the fast part is all that crucial. He knew himself, the true self as Merton defined it, and out of that he lived and found joy. Hope to stay there awhile, but ego is not so quickly defeated :)!
Hurts so much…feels so good!