I’m post op for my left shoulder (MV vs Runner) and although the shoulder is healing and I’m recovering, I’m wondering about whether it’s time to stop racing and just train to have fun. Take the stress out and just ride, or run or swim.
This season is pretty much trashed and I was thinking about giving it one more year and seeing how I do. One last IM.
Thoughts?
CS
I completed 3 IM’s and was training for my fourth and one day, was out riding my bike and thought I was just going up and down the road with no real point, other than to train. Wouldn’t it be neat if I could keep going, stay overnight, and repeat. I started bike touring that summer and suddenly became very bored with “training” and simply went out for fun.
I now run a few times per week and add the occassional bike ride but mainly do things like hiking, kayaking, squash etc. and find it far more enjoyabale. No goals, no watching time or logging workouts.
I’m starting a 2-year bike tour this summer and wouldn’t even think about going back to triathlons. They were great at the time and got me interested in cycling but after a few years, it gets pretty repetitive.
I try and think about sports in this way: (as I’m not making any money off the sport… quite the opposite)
Is _______ improving my quality of life or not? If yes, continue. If no, time to find something else.
My racing season started in February, and wildflower was the end. I’m glad to just run/swim/bike whenever for a little and then maybe structure it later. It’s fun to climb and in general take advantage of the fitness. Maybe just cut out IM’s and have fun with the shorter stuff?
Most of us are not in this for the $$, and have other, full, lives outside training and racing. If it’s a hobby/outlet for you, then it should be fun – else why commit all the time and resources to it.
As others here have said (and more will if this thread stays on the front page …), try to just get out and enjoy being outside swimming/biking/running w/o a HRM or watch, etc. That may help you feel more connected and fit. Whether to race on top of that is really up to you and whether you feel you can only race at the top of your potential (whatever level that is for you) or if you can be comfortable racing with less fitness/success and simply enjoying being out there.
if this season is already trashed for you, then just maintain your fitness, go out and ride for fun with no computer or whatever. That way, if you want to next year, do the ironman and you will be well prepared for it.
I’m post op for my left shoulder (MV vs Runner) and although the shoulder is healing and I’m recovering, I’m wondering about whether it’s time to stop racing and just train to have fun. Take the stress out and just ride, or run or swim.
This season is pretty much trashed and I was thinking about giving it one more year and seeing how I do. One last IM.
Thoughts?
CS
By all means, yes. I love the sport because the training to race (and the race itself, of course) is where the fun is for me. If racing/training isn’t fun for you, then why do it?
I don’t even start rehab for 3 more weeks, then it’s 4 mths. No swimming, running will only be allowed in the last mth and i’ll be able to bike in 2 mths. That’s a lot of down time.
I’ll see about sitting on a recumbant in the gym in the next month, but I know my ortho is gonna say do nothing.
BTW, I’m 45 and raced for 7 or 8 years. I’d like to do one more IM, but I’m not sure if I can be ready for next year. (In other words I wanna toss the “L” and compete, not complete.)
CS
That’s a toughy, but I’m just re-entering after a long, long layoff due to work/travel obligations. I am so happy to be living the multisport lifestyle, camaraderie, health…racing is inconsequential to me quite honestly. With somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 multisport races under my belt I don’t ever ‘need’ to race gain, but will cherry pick a few neat races each year just to soak up the race day vibes. I’m just grateful my knees are behaving:) Enjoy whatcha got!
if you are recovering and are going to be forced to take time off from endurance exercise, why try and get one a recumbent bike for 45 minutes? seems like a waste of time and a potential increase in recovery time. I would suggest using this time to just enjoy life with low intensity stuff. Go on walks and hikes, eat real foods, learn how to cook (which will make eating real foods much easier and much more enjoyable). Take this hiatus to focus on health, lean out, and if you choose to go back to IM you can start much leaner and watch your PR’s fall. When you arent exercising 2+ hours a day and eating all the carbohydrate of an endurance athlete you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to change your body composition.
When did you throw in the towel?
My son was born July 13, 1997. I was scheduled to race IMC at the end of August. While out on my last really long training run, I decided that, that was it. IMC would be the last serious race - and it was. I was lucky on two counts, it had been a great long run in the sport for me until that point achieving and doing way more than I had ever imagined, having started in the early 80’s and, as fate and luck would have it, that IMC race in '97 went really well for me, so it was good to walk away after something like that.
It’s always been about fun - even when I was racing seriously, but since '97 it’s only about fun! 
I think we all get hooked into goal setting particularly when you have to sign up for some races a year in advance. Don’t worry about that “next IM” or “last IM” and find the things you enjoy. Your rehab might be tough or it may be easy. Only time will tell. Don’t decide now. Take it as it comes.
If you decide that you want to go long, there are lots of independent iron-distance races that you can sign up for a couple of days before the gun goes off. As you recover, go play and see how you feel. As others have said, an unplanned, uncompetitive year of riding, jogging and playing is great fun. If later you decide you have the itch to compete, you’ll have a base to go from and you’ll have the flexibility to pick whichever independent race you want to sign up for.
Sarge
FF-No reason to throw the towel in just because of some setbacks. 8 yrs is nothing. You really never know what might be your passion in a year or two. Your heart will tell you (ahhhhh). I started doing Tri’s in the late 80’s. It was my life for about 4-5 years! THen on a whim for some cross training got into MTB riding and racing. It was my life!!six years or so later I needed to limit all day events due to kids and decided to RR. Yowza. It was my life!!6 years later and a nasty crash at a local crit for a few bucks coinciding with the pro woman who crashed and died at a real race, I re-evaluated weather my field sprint risks were really worth it. Enter Long distance MTB Races which ultimately lead me back to my current sport of choice Triathlon. Who knows. Kitebaording,golf,ultras,skeet-shooting,ballroom dancing. You never know. Hold on to the towel though!!
46 yr old MOP’er. 13 years of tri-ing Funny thing is, even though I mostly compete w/ myself, racing motivates me. I need the carrot to get out the door and (sometimes) push hard. After years of structure I’m winging it this time around. The results are secondary.
If you can do it w/o racing all the more power to you.
That being said, I think after two IM’s I’m done. I’m looking to do some different things and will end the year with SOS then NYC marathon. I’m thinking NYC will be the last of the long stuff for me. I like the idea of ending it with a bit of bang.
I had gone at it pretty hard for about eight years and was also throwing in off-season marathons so I had taken no real break during that time. About a few months before IMLP in '07, I had decided that it would be my last time going long. I wound up having an awesome day on race day so it made walking away that much easier. About a month later, my wife and I found out that she was expecting, and not long after that I wound up taking a promotion at work, so the increased family/work responsibilities took away much of the time I used to devote to training/racing. No regrets though as I still work out for fun and to stay fit and maybe jump into the occasional small local race, but that’s it.
When other things I love to do suffered because I **had **to get a run, bike, or swim in that day. I remember days when I was running on the b-walk back home and there was surf, but I had to get a run in. I eventually got into other things as well, mtn. biking, climbing, and of course just wanted to surf more, I actually spent 14 yrs. out of triathlon, sold my bike and all. I still ran and swam, but on a much more fitness and fun level. I only got back into this about 3 yrs. ago and even now it’s purely for fun, I might do two sprints a year and that’s it. But I do notice a lack of tolerance on the part of my aging body.
Will of course start out as always cheering for England - family ties/roots and all. Then when they disappoint and bow out as they in variably do in the round of 16 or the quarter finals, I will have to pick another county. It would be fitting and great for one of the African countries go all the way, but after much flourish and fanfare, none of the African countries have really taken it to the next level. My suspicion is that it will be the usual suspects beyond the quarter finals - Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Germany, Spain, The Dutch, + a surprise or two( but not African)
I haven’t thrown in the towel yet, but I can see it coming in the not too distant future.
NOt that I’m bored with tri, just that there is a growing list of other things I want to do as well. something has to give.
My wife and I have 2 kids, a boy (man actually) and a girl (a woman already) and my wife wanted a 3rd child. I asked what would a 3rd child give us that the other 2 didn’t. She couldn’t really answer that. I got the chop, to prevent any accidents.
IM is sorta the same. I’ve done a bunch (never well, but I’ve done them) and like a 3rd child, I’m wondering what the next IM will give me that I haven’t already got. Might be time to GET something from something else.
For example, I’ve been plotting to build a 35 foot mahogany speedboat in my garage. Problem is that I need to build the garage first YOu know, stuff like that.
When I DO start the garage, I think IM and tri in general will have to take a back seat or possibly retire altogether.
NOt the answer you were looking for, but an answer of a sort.
I threw in the towel when I was 21…now I am 32 just trying to have some fun and be fit. It is all relative, and unless you are a top guy or gal making money off of this, the towel was thrown in a while ago.
My wife and I already have, sort of. We’ve cut back this year and are only doing a few sprints. We used to do a sprint or oly every other weekend plus throw in a 1/2 during the season. In 2006 she went to the ITU world’s long course in Australia and then to Kona on a lottery in 2008 but now seems to have lost interest. It’s sort of like when we were scuba fanatics. We used to scuba dive every single weekend in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River during the season, but now we only want to dive in warm tropical locations. I’m 59 this summer but want to plan a good tri season when turning 60. After that who knows. My wife is quite a bit younger but she is of a similiar mind. i can see us getting into long distance bicycle touring if we cut back on triathlon
I’ve been doing tri’s for the past eight years. I did one x IM each of the past four years. I was having fun, even though I was never competitive. However, after last year’s Silverman, I thought I’d take a break from the long stuff.
What a difference! No more planning my weeks around “when will I be able to get in the long bike and long run? OMG, what am I going to do if something comes up on Saturday and I can’t get in a long bike ride?” I’m happy, my wife is happy, and I’m still getting in enough training to stay in shape and be reasonably competitive in sprints and Oly’s. But it’s all about having fun and staying in shape, the race results are secondary.