Triathlon isn't sexy (alas)

Triathlon Forum
1

damnit. i work so hard to be fast. and i’m getting there. the workouts, the results, the sport itself are not my complaints.

my complaint is my physical appearance. every triathlete’s physical appearances, to some degree or other, have the same “problem”. of course we’re healthy, and of course we’re about as toned as anyone can be. but our muscles aren’t sexy, at least not in day to day life.

i have a six-pack, i have quads that a year ago i would’ve thought were monstrous. but none of this shows up when i’m in street clothes. sure, in a tri-kit i look as good as the next triathlete. but at, for example, a party, or at class, or whatever, i look like any other scrawny kid.

i know that there are people who would kill to have lean bodies like we do. but i’ve always been skinny, and while i’ve gained about 7 pounds (all muscle) in 3 years, none of it is apparent when i’m wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.

every morning i do core-work, as prescribed by his majesty, gordo (seriously, i love the workouts at his webpage, you should check them out) and one-legged squats (thanks, maylene). my six-pack is enviable, and my legs, like those of any cyclist, are unbelievable. i never imagined my lower back would be so strong.

BUT WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD SOMEONE SAY “check out the lower back on that one!”

i’m not an unattractive guy (or so i’d like to think). pictures available upon request. and i don’t need compliments from the ladies to feel good about myself. still, it’s frustrating that the guys who live in the weight room get the good reviews, while i still look like i did in junior high.

this rant is over. thanks for reading.

2

You need to start going to parties top-less.

3

Dude if you just want to look good triathlon ain’t your sport. You need to take a look at bodybuilding. Personally, I don’t care so much. I gave up bodybuilding years ago. Looking pumped in street clothes ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Mike P.

4

I’d much rather look like Dave Scott then Hulk Hogan, if you want people to see that you are in shape wear tight t-shirts or shorts instead of baggy pants. As far as I know girls can like ripped legs too, and they’ll notice if you are toned even if you aren’t huge.

5

Balance is the key, if you’re doing this for the sake of appearance. More upper body muscle seems healthier to me. That doesn’t mean you have to go to the extreme of “body building”. If you get to the point you are “fast enough”, for whatever your definition of fast is, lift weights more and see if you like the compromise. That’s exactly what I’m doing, not so much for appearance, but, for better overall balance. My wife and I used to do some theatre arts dance together, but, with all the triathloning I’ve been doing the past few years, I couldn’t safely pick her up over my head any more. I’ll be hitting the gym this off-season, for non-triathlon-related muscle training.

6

Vid,

Sounds like you need some fashion advice. You need to dress to show of your “advantages” not hide them. This is going to sound sexist as hell, but here’s what I’d do: go into your local Armani retailer and find the salesperson who looks like they spend the most time on their appearance/clothing/etc. Tell them your deal and let them pick out some outfits for you. Try them all on in the dressing room to get a feel for how you should look. Buy at least one. Then, if you like the way you look but can’t afford Armani all the time, start buying clothes that look like the ones you tried on. Presto, you’re a sex machine.

Lee

7

Hey there vidaeboa,

Well, I am going to disagree Sir. I will conceed that triathlons tend to reek havoc on the female form. On girls they seem to diminish curves and harden soft parts. That doesn’t appeal to me personally. I like girls built for comfort, not speed. But that’s just me…

However, as for men, well, don’t interpret my comments as being a memeber of an alternative lifestyle (not that there is anything wrong with that mind you), but you cannot deny that Tom Hellriegel is anything short of utterly resplendid in this photo. He certainly cuts a dashing figure in my opinion, and his physique is forged in the iron cauldron of triathlon. What an impressive adaptation:

http://www.jimthijs.com/images/foto/big/1097662268.jpg

8

“you cannot deny that Tom Hellriegel is anything short of utterly resplendid in this photo. He certainly cuts a dashing figure in my opinion, and his physique is forged in the iron cauldron of triathlon.”

brother demerly, you seem to have missed my point entirely. of course i agree with you that this is one ripped dude. but, as i said in my original post, many of us look as good (or close to it) when in a speedo. throw a t-shirt on hell-on-wheels, and he looks as buff as your average stereotypical geek (think “napoleon dynamite”)

9

I would rather be thin and toned rather than bulky body builder anyway.

Best compliment I have ever got was this past year. Over 2003 2004, I focused on bike, did tonnes of spinning classes and running in the off season. I play baseball in a co-ed league, and while walking to the first game this year in the spring, it was warm and I was wearing shorts. This girl that I hadn’t seen all winter took one look at me and said “holy calves” I knew right there that it was worth it.

Besides, what do you think happens to the body builders that stop working out as they get older?? Lots of flabby skin and bodies.

Mark

10

Hmm, yes, good point.

If it is of any comfort to you, I personally prefer to spend at least part of the day partially clad. My cats, however, are utterly indifferent to it.

11

Lee, the guy is in college - Armani? Come on, unless he has a hefty trust fund.

What vidaeboa needs to do is have his frat host a “Beach Night” party where every one wears a swimsuit and drinks tropical cocktails. Guaranteed success.

Or do some extra bicep curls 3X a week, knowing that they won’t help tri performance, but will help him look muscular even with clothes on, without the time/recovery cost of doing lots of weights.

12

I fail to see how that is even remotely sexist, but I do agree that the kid needs to learn how to dress. Perhaps not Armani (budget restrictions), but one can dress well if one has the knowlege (or an assistant).

Failing that, go out for Hallowe’en as an ITU triathlete. The girls will remember seeing you in a bro & speedo! :wink:

13

Training makes me feel great, but I also feel scrawny, and I swim and even lift a bit … For better or worse, running (and now tris) has made me about the skinniest dude I know. And I’m just yer average 5-10 and 150, not super skinny … But for dudes, fat/buff (ie football players) has always been “cooler.” My sister says many gals like big guys because it makes them feel smaller … Whatever, I’m at peace with my scrawniness. -TB, aka Scrawny Ass G.

14

That really depends… I’m also 5"10 and 140 lbs, and I’m by no means skinny compared to a lot of kids my age… I could actually stand to lose another 2-4 pounds (of fat! I’m at around 9-10% bf, and I want to get down to 7%)…

I guess you feel skinny because of all the fat people in America. Something that’d be ‘average’ in Europe is skinny in the US… although I’m starting to see more and more overweight people around here too…

Now skinny is someone who’s 5"10 and 115… He keeps f*cking dropping me on climbs… I would never want to be that skinny though…

15

I am no fashion expert but here’s a few observations:

  1. Most/many people in North America dress like slobs - the baggy, unkept look seems to prevail. It really is a shame. I suspect that this is because a huge percentage of the population is overweight and they somehow think that by dressing in baggy and unkept clothing that people will not notice that they are fat.

  2. For men, I am told, the cut of the suit is critical. As another poster suggested, seek out a good men’s clothier and seek out their advice on what suits, pants and shirts are best for your build. At a recent fitting for a new suit, I was told by the salesman, that many suits are now cut for men that are overweight and have a gut! You don’t want those ones.

  3. If it is important, I have been told that women, do notice a man that is well dressed, physically fit and takes care of himself, with out being obsessive about it. Apparently shoes( not running shoes), are key!

  4. If you are wearing “jeans and a sweatshirt” most of the time, perhaps it’s time to change up the wardrobe. Perhaps, I am getting old( only 43)but it amazes me when I go to a social or work function, how poorly dressed many men are. I suspect that this has to do with what I call the “cult of casualness” - it’s all casual all the time.

16

This is exactly why I’ll likely never be really awesome at triathlon (that and I run really, realy slow). I’m not gonna walk around under 180 pounds (6’3). I don’t want my clothes to look better on the hanger, and I don’t want my sleeves to blow in the wind. I want to be muscularly lean (emphasis on muscularly) and very fit. You can do both … you just won’t be shooting for the podium (like I was anyway).

My ultimate goal is to be 6’3 215 @ 8-12% BF and hit an IM distance race under 12:00. Once I’ve done that I’ll spend the rest of my life with a torn rotator cuff from “patting myself on the back”.

I don’t understand why folks would want to walk around at “teenager weight” and not be elite triathletes at the same time. If you’re gonna be really good at triathlons, then go for it … make all of the sacrifices you can. If you’re just gonna be “average” as a triathlete, why not improve other areas of your life?

I guess since I’ve spent most of life not having muscles, that now finally having some is pretty cool. When I strength train, I like the way I look. When I put on dress shirts, etc I like the way they look. It’s kind of cool having traps and a thicker back.

I don’t see why more folks don’t aim for a more muscular physique. If at any point the reason for my triathlon failure is that I’m “too garsh darn muscular”, then well … I can handle that.

Seriously, I don’t see why more folks don’t try to achieve a balance between muscularity and fitness. Those that are competing for cash and prizes are exempt.

One more thing … triathlete appearance is all perception. They look great by themselves or next to other triathletes. You have someone 5’11 200 pounds at comparable BF% come stand next to the triathletes whose pics get posted, and it’ll be an eye-opener. What looked good before will look really, really small. It’d be like standing a professional athlete next to a Men’s Health Model. Dwarfed.

17

vidaeboa,

Here’s the deal… The European’s definitely have use beat in this department. They KNOW how to dress. Now i’m a business guy and I LOVE Boss suits. Here’s the catch… They have a more european cut so they’re more fitted.

In your everyday attire… Some insightful posters pointed out that the American style tends to lean towards the baggy hip hop / skater type styles. Look more towards urban styles and you’ll have the ladies (and Smartasscoach) complimenting you in no time.

18

You’re just jealous :slight_smile:
.

19

I’d rather be ‘scrawny’ like Hell-on-wheels than look like this…

AGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

http://www.leehayward.com/2001pics/frontlat.jpg

20

ahhh link that sh*t man!