Have been contemplating the amount of time and money I spend on triathlon lately. Im worried there will come a day that I look back and wish I had spent more time with family, more money on travel, more time pursuing other ventures. Is this a fear that anyone else has? How does one go from focusing 365 days a year on an Ironman, year after year, something that is this addiciting, to living a more “normal” life, where exercise is just for the health of it. When you get a little older, does the perspective come back?
Focusing “365 days a year on an Ironman, year after year”, even for a pro, is not a sign of being commited to the sport, is a sign of an obsessive/compulsive disorder. So one word to keep in mind always: balance…
Paulo
First realize that tri doesn’t pay the bills. Second realize that family is far more important. Third realize that interests do change. Fourth realize that you can find balance and still enjoy tri if you work at it.
And fifth, realize that there are some people such as myself who didn’t realize these first four things. It was at a time in another life when I was involved in automobile/go-cart racing. These people are called divorced. Unfortunately, I became one of them.
I’m actually grateful not to have discovered tri until later in life when it’s easy to accept that MOP AG is as good as it gets. Tri might have been very obsessive if I had started young.
Sounds like you need a reality check and a good self analysis.
One thing that has surprised me in life are the amount of folks that make “elite level” sacrifices, but are nowhere near “elite”.
I’m not justifying placing your family second, and that’s likely something I would never do … but, it certainly is a different story training for a Top 5 Kona finish (even in your age group) vs. finishing Top 5 at the Northeast Corner Vermont Twin Lakes Mini-Duathlon.
If I ever showed some promise in the sport in terms of some high race finishes, would have no problem with taking a year leave form teaching to pursue a legit shot at a good Kona (or National finish) finish.
There is a difference between putting triathlon in its place, and letting everything else hold you back. The importance of triathloning in your life can be flexible. For some weeks it may be necessary for it to be more important tha other things, and less important at other times.
You don’t have to be bipolar with the importance of triathloning.
There is no question that if you are going to take this sport semi-seriously that it is going to take up time and money. As time goes on, you are right to ask, would this time and money be better spent else where.
I feel for people that are getting into the sport now or in the last few years and are now REALLY into it. I competed and trained at a very high level in running and then triathlon for 20 years from my mid teens. In 1997, shortly after my son was born and I finished my 9th IM I said that was it. I would continue to stay fit, have fun and do what ever I can when I can, but that it would never be on anyone elses time.
Now I get great joy out of group bike rides with old tri-friends or the odd run in the woods where I will crank it up and push the red-line a little bit. That’s it for me. I still MAY come back. I still MAY do another IM to complete a suite of 10, but if I don’t, It won’t matter to me one way or another.
I think, as others have pointed out - balance is key.
That guilt thing can be a big bitter pill in a few years. When my 1st was born I was too self absorbed and now I regret many times I should have been home. I had to cut back after 2 and 3 were born, and it was hard sometimes as I missed being ultra-fit. After a while that wore off and a feeling of being just plain stupid with my time replaced the guilt. I can temper that with the fact that I can see my toes, look young and have energy to play with the kids. So not is all bad and it can add alot to your life. As my kids are a little older now and are more into their own things, I’m spending more time at training again. I get up early to ride my miles, run after they are in bed and take them to events and do something fun after the event. I have good memories and there are alot of possitives, but everytime I think of the hours and money just to be mediocre, I cut a few miles here and a little time there to be with family. I seem never to regret that and it is worth it in the end. Time will come when they are gone and I can do the selfish thing again. Besides if you do it all and burn out what are you gonna do in your 50’s 60’s and 70’s for fun–oh yah grandkids.