ok, so I have noticed a reoccuring line of work for this sport.
How many of you out there are lawyers or know someone who is a lawyer in this sport. I mean, I know this is a costly sport, and lawyers make some good money…but not too many doctors
Maybe I am just making this up though?
I think lawyers and any other OCD type fields are well represented in tri. More attorneys than physicians because there are more in the population. Probably more engineers than attorneys too.
Lawyers are a dime a dozen in some locations so just by numbers, there would be lawyer/triathletes. I think it also fits in with the Type A personality.
At my firm (btw-I am NOT a lawyer, just work with them as the Professional Responsiblity Coordinator), we have +950 lawyers, depending on the day, but only have four triathletes amongst this population–one in SF, two in NYC and one in Houston, but quite a few casual runners and a couple of cyclists. Our CFO is a triathlete, as are a number of clients and the son and brother of a parther here. If we had any more, I’m sure I would have heard about it or from them since my race reports get distributed across the firm and we may do a firm team for Alcatraz next year.
clm
Ironclm -
If you don’t mind me asking - what in the world is a “Professional Responsiblity Coordinator”?
Yep. Tons of lawyers in Orlando that are triathletes. My closest training buddies are a lawyer and a doctor, who just so happens to hate all other lawyers! My firm’s recently-retired CEO - my mentor of many years - was a duathlete, triathlete and marathoner from the early '80s. His wife is also a duathlete. He’s been very supportive of my involvement in the sport. He also flies acrobatic airplanes and races boats. He’s certifiable, and at 64, one total stud of an athlete. Strong physique, lean and full of the energy of a college kid. Great to have a role model like this. It’s very motivating, both personally and professionally.
I am a lawyer - but the only one of over a hundred or so in my office who does triathlons. Here in NYC most lawyers work too much, and are under constant pressure to work more, to train, especially for IM. That is one of several reasons why I need to get out of NYC pretty soon and why I will be doing triathlons long after I stop practicing law.
any good lawyer/triathlete jokes? 
I’m also a NYC lawyer who works way too much. I’ve been able to train to complete a bunch of OD tri’s the past couple years, but have not been able to really train to perform well.
I have no idea how any NYC atty could train for IM distance, especially if he/she has a family or is in a committed relationship. That is really tough.
The salary does help with some of the significant start up costs in this sport.
Ironclm -
If you don’t mind me asking - what in the world is a “Professional Responsiblity Coordinator”?
Fancy name for the person who deals with all the internal risk management and malpractice insurance (for our lawyers) stuff. I work with the General Counsel of the firm.
clm
PR/ethics - primarily it means the sum total of a lawyer’s duty to her client(s). Very regulated. Very complex. All law firms need a formal or informal PR protocol, though those I have seen are headed by attys.
I’m not a lawyer but a law student - and I agree that both triathlon and lawyering attract people with similar personality traits (i.e. TYPE A!!)! One of the things I noticed in my first year of law school was just how many of my classmates had done marathons (compared to the general population!)!
What I don’t understand is where a lot of lawyers (esp. those at ginormous firms) find the time to TRAIN!
I am a New York lawyer—work my ass off and also compete in Ironmans–its possible—you got to wake up early
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I’m not a lawyer and triathlon is making me broke!
Jen -
Being balanced in your personal life will make you a better lawyer. Consider, too, going to a city where 2 hours of your day - i.e., prime training time - is NOT eaten up by commutes. I’ve worked in San. Fran., Miami and schooled in Atlanta. Smartest move I made was setting up permanent shop in Orlando. You make less than some of the bigger cities, but the cost of living is less. All equals out. Your partnership track is shorter. Your commute is shorter (mine is 8-10 minutes). And, the quality of cases, transactions and colleagues remain very high. You will also find a huge triathlete community. I’ve been able to train enough for IM, two last year in 11 months, and still keep strong billable hours and other personal time. I do not know how I could balance it all in NY, DC, Chicago, etc.
Best of luck.
Robert
I’ve been told of a lawyer’s roadie group in a nearby city. Really don’t get it. Why would they only want to ride with other lawyers. Last thing most of us would want to join would be a group of people who do the same job.
any good lawyer/triathlete jokes?
Maybe something like "What do they call it when three lawyers drown in the swim leg? A good start.
Thanks for the replies everyone!!
Hey RA —> I live in Orlando too…havn’t been able to find a good place to bike other than Clermont, and that is a drive. Any suggestions?
any good lawyer/triathlete jokes?
What’s the difference between a lawyer who has crashed and lying in the road, and a dead snake laying in the road.
There are skidmarks in front of the snake…
How early? How much do you train? I do all my training in AM and weekend sessions, since I never know when I’m going to get home. When I’m really into the training I’m getting up between 4:30 and 5, which isn’t that bad - unless you still have to function at a pretty high level at work up until at least 9 pm, which is not uncommon for me.
Kidding, right?
Rides everywhere in Orlando.
Drop me an email so I can pass of Hal Downing’s weekly ride emails.
I ride out of Clermont quite a bit, but most Saturdays do the Lakemont ride. That ride meets at Lakemont Elementary at 7:30. It regularly draws 100+ riders, and the group breaks up to riders of varying abilities. Wednesday nights I do the freak-fast festival at UCF, that now meets at the airport “Hell Under Lights” ride during the time change. There isn’t a day of the week where there isn’t a group ride somewhere in town.