Triathalon is steeped in the tough competitor ethos, but when I ask why the hell (usually on a long, hot run), its not to compete against others but rather to compete against myself.
Hell, as an AGer, the elites are toweling off by the time I hit the bike anyway so maybe they go after each other. But for me, the thrill is beating my resistence to the whole thing. Conquor thyself!
So, are you in to beat the next guy and win, or are you in it to conquer the self and finish?
I’m in it to challenge the greatest adversary any of us face: Our own concept of our limitations.
Realistically, we *are *our own greatest competitor. The concept that we have a set of limiting factors is an ugly and vigorous competitor that we are constantly at odds with. The influence of this competition- and the ramifications of succumbing- spill into every part of our lives.
Therein lies the greatest opportunity for getting something out of the sport. The ability to expand what we feel we are capable of. That is quite an accomplishment.
Slow workday for me too! Overcoming my demons mentally and physically in a race is competition enough for me for sure. I am not a gifted athlete (MOP mostly, except for running which I can be in top 5 most times) so I don’t even pretend to be a studette. I do enjoy picking out someone ahead of me though and trying to overcome them. Preoccupies the mind to the distractions of the body, at least for me.
I’ve only completed my first tri weekend before last, so maybe there’s hope for me? (dreamer!)
I guess you could say at this point I’m chasing past glory. And while that sounds sad, really, it’s not that I’m after the accolades of winning the AG or anything like that, but to challenge myself to see how CLOSE I can get to those times of 15 years ago. Or maybe even exceded them. Would I enjoy winning an AG? Sure. Already did that in a small race. But I also know that when the really fast guys are there, that probably isn’t going to be repeated. And since the AGs aren’t written on the guys’ calves, I don’t even know who my competition IS during the race. But I do race the others around me when I race. That’s just my nature.
I love the spirit of competition, and try to chase down everyone I can, but in the end I’m in it for me. The thrill of racing is not enough to make me complete that long run or ride in the Houston heat and humidity. Triathlon makes me feel good, and healthy, and I don’t have to feel guilty about having that occasional ice cream cone!
Gotta keep switching up and find something my relatives aren’t doing. My older sister passed me up long ago running marathons. My older brother did a marathon time I’ve yet to achieve. I think I still have the fastest 5k in the family and I was the fastest swimmer in H.S. They don’t do triathlon, so I have my nitch. If my sister ever thinks about getting into it, I may have to move into competitive badmitton or something. I think my sister is more likely to get into ultramarathons, though, and my brother has gotten into outrigger canoe racing.
For me competitions like others it is with yourself and your AG. I love the feeling of pushing myself further and further, it’s a great feeling. And hopefully I push others just like they push me.
Realistically, we *are *our own greatest competitor.
we are also our greatest critic.
Look at the number of post where the poster has said he or she is not a good athlete. Our coach asked us two weeks ago how many of us thought we were good athletes, not many hands went up. He then proceeded to give us a lecture about attitude and the difference between winning (what ever that means to the individual) and losing. He is a roadie so might not eb completely applicable.
I think in general the goal in sports is to see how far we can push ourselves and how good we can be. In most cases though we need help from other competitors to push ourselves further.
That’s a gripe I have with some tri formats, I think racing needs a head-to-head component to it. Then again, when I think of my biggest breakthrough moments, in any sport, it’s usually during practice/training with friends or teammates.
I don’t really go into races thinking about my competition. Granted, I’m in my second season of mostly sprint distance races. But I know how I place is largely a function of who shows up. So I don’t worry about that.
Rather, I plan my race in my mind (often without knowing the course beforehand). Swim medium to hard, bike medium, run hard. If I end the race happy with my execution, I’ve won.
I also never check my times while I’m racing. Don’t set the bike computer and don’t wear a watch. Waiting for race results is a little like Christmas morning for me. I can always find something about my race that I’m really happy with.
I know this would never work with hard core triathletes. I’m really serious about training, but I’ll never be a pro, so I really try to keep it fun/fast (for me) on race day.
That’s very interesting to me. I’ve been swimming now for 4 years and am completely baffled why I’m still so slow. The reason I’m so baffled is, and I don’t usually admit this, is that I think that I am waaay to good of an athlete to take so long to pick this up. I also, again I rarely admit this, always think I have a chance to win every race I enter despite all evidence to the contrary. I really love training but I really, really love competing. No disappointment with where I place as long as I feel like I laid it out there.
There was an article on Ironmanlive.com yesterday about mental preparation that included this bit of advice:
“Understand that your fellow competitors represent something to overcome (a personal barrier), not someone to beat. This will help keep competition healthy and goal-oriented.”
I don’t get my jolliles out of placing in my age group when I know damn well that most of the people participating are just out for fun. But I’ve been racing long enough to know who my peers are and have an expectation about how they’ll perform. I don’t obsess with how or what they do, but I can tell you that I think I’d have to be dead and bloated if I didn’t care that someone I know I can match on raceday passes me on the bike or run (or, that I feel a little fire when I pass them!). On the other hand, I consider these people my friends - at least friendly acquaintances - and I am as happy to see them perform well.
I like to win and I think being competitive and having pride is a good thing, but it requires a sense of balance and reality. If being competitive becomes some kind of obsession or you make it personal, or you let it throw your sense of relativity out of whack, then its really time to step back.