I have been reading a lot of posts for a while, and noticed a similar tone amung many self-described newbies (myself included), and wondered whether other people noticed this. A lot of newbies are very defensive when they feel that they are being slighted in even the smallest way (watch the reply’s to this post). I was thinking that maybe it had to do with the fact that many people who start triathlon do it to prove to themselves and others that they can do amazing things, and they see any questioning of their ability (even if its warranted) as an attack on the spirit of their journey of self-discovery through triathlon. Its sort of the, “i can do anything i put my mind to, and no one can tell me what to do” but applied to any sort of arguement. How many times on this forum have you heard something like “I started triathlon 3 yrs ago, and I’ve done blank, blank, blank Ironman, and i’ve accomplished so much, your point is wrong, thank god there arent more people like you” and youre thinking, “I just said I dont think so-and-so is going to break 8 hrs at some IM in their first try”
My triathlon journey has been very humbling. I never did anything athletic as a child. My mother didn’t encourage it, she didn’t think it was “ladylike”. As I told my cycling coach, when I was in school and people were picking teams in p.e., if I hadn’t been kinda popular, I would of been the last chick standing, lol.
I have been fairly successful academically and career wise, so it was such a shock to realize that just because I want to swim 25 yards, wanting didn’t make it so. It takes a lot of work. I know understand my son, who play one year of JC football on why he didn’t hit that hole or make that tackle. I know understand my daughter when she says I can’t do that full somersault.
This is a long journey for me and as much as I get frustrated with myself (why can’t I swim faster, run faster, bike faster???), I realize 18 months ago if you told me I would swimm 44o m, ride 40k and then run 5k, I would have thought you had lost your mind!
I’m defensive because I wish I hadn’t waited so long to find a sport that I could participate in without having to be some pro. Now, fanatical I am! And one day I hope to meet you at an IM!!
Actually I was the other way around and was very appreciative of advice given by more experienced people, although I sometimes got conflicting advice. I did my first triathlon on a dare from my teenage daughter when she said I was “way too old” to even think about it. Showed up at my first sprint tri with an ancient 12 sp with clipped pedals, friction downtube gears and no aero bars as well as a 7mm scuba suit for the swim. Finishing 237th was a very humbling experience and made me realize that I had a lot to learn.
I asked lots of questions, researched a lot and knocked a half hour off my time the next year. Always been grateful to people who helped and to this forum since I lurked here for quite awhile before becoming a participant.
As a self-perscribed newbie myself I have found this forum to be thhe most helpful place to go for any of the questions that I have had throught my JOURNEY. I new that getting into this ventuure of a triathlon was going to be a big undertaking and I also knew that as much as this was going to be something that I was generally going to be doing all on my own, that I also knew that I didn’t have anywhere near the knowledge that I would need to do this properly. So, between friends, family, books, my lbs, and everyone here at the forum I have been able to make my JOURNEY much easier than I thought it ever would be. Not to say that his triathlon thing is easy, but I thought that with all of the knowledge out that I would be completly lost. The idea of doing a triathlon came from my father who dared my brother and I and himself to do it, and ever since I have found myself trying to revolve my entire day around training. Not because I have to… But because I want to!!! I know that most of the people here believe that last line and know it to be true… I love this sport and ain’t nobody gonna stop me!!!
David J.
ASU SUN DEVILS!!!
Actually I was the other way around and was very appreciative of advice given by more experienced people, although I sometimes got conflicting advice.<<
Sage words last night–There are many different training philosophies. You have to find out what works for you.
clm
deetsay,
I think you are right about this forum being informative. Of course different people will have different opinions about equipment, training methods etc. but it is a healthy exchange of information.
When I started to train for Ironman triathlons in 1999 there wasn’t as much information as there is now. Ironman triathlons went through a really big boom in the last several years. At that time there where relatively few people that had even done an ironman distance race. In 1999 there where email rings and forums that where very helpful as we gleaned what information we could from the more experienced and pretty much figured out together how to train and do an ironman distance race.
Most of those forums and email listserves have gone by the wayside, stumbled off topic, or ended up being a format for dysfunctional people. Saddly there will always be people hiding behind their computers to socialize with their so called “cyberfriends” or ridicule others.
So far the format here is more conducive to on topic helpful information to both the new people and the experienced as well. Hey triathlons are allot of fun and a healthy activity. Enjoy yourself.
the psychology of a triathlete (newbie through to accomplished what ever that means) would be a very interesting study if it has not already been done.
But quickly (and very generally speaking) think about being a triathlete. You are probably…
- aggressive (in a positive way - hopefully)
- quite self confident (at least on the inside)
- a bit arrogant
- risk taker
- like the lime light
- have an addictave personality (would love to know how many of us have had destructive addictions that are now pushed aside because of doing triathlons, new addiction - me included in this)
- show offs - who else would parade around in the tight clothes we workout in/race in at some of our ages and physiques
- compulsive
- anal
- demanding
could go on, but I think you get the point. I know not everyone of us are all these things, but my guess is that each of us has many of these traits. People like this, newbie or seasoned, don’t like being told what to do, especially when it comes a criticism (even positive criticism that is even handedly given). Thus the defensiveness.