this may not be an original question, but is one that without a doubt, we ask ourselves a few times a year. So…why do you do this crazy sport? The money, the time, the blisters, the pain, the a-holes that leave their GU packs on the ground at races…
Why, for the love of God, do you do it?
Kittycat
The ladies.
it’s fun?
Well, I’ll answer my own question.
I do it because for some reason I’m motivated by challenging goals. NOt small easily attained goals, but goals that are big, demanding, unique, and punishing. I have no idea why this is, but it’s true. On the enneagram I’m an 8 (I do believe this has something to do with it). If you don’t know what I’m talking about go to www.enneagraminstitute.com and take the free profile. Then, read more about yourself under traditional enneagram. As a lover of astrology, personality profiles, etc this one floored me (but I digress).
The reality is that if I could run forever with out getting hurt I would do it. but, since I’m trying to be smarter and not put myself totally in injury’s way, tris are a terrific thing to do. The only event that I hadn’t done before was the bike, and I really have come to love it. Although I didn’t predict it, swimming can be daunting because I burn out at the pool. but, overall, tris are liberating, theraputic, and a great thing to pour myself into. It allows me to be as intense, vengeful, narotic, obsessive, or competitive as I can be without complaints. It’s perfect! LOL!
The tri chicks
No really, two things, the competition, with others and within myself, and the comraderie that I have will those who I race and train with. By far, they are the best people I know. Positive outlook on life, high level of integrity, etc.
Rocketboy
My $28,000 per year state salary leaves me with so much disposable income, and I’ve got to spend it all on something . . .
How about because, although it is very difficult physically, it has a unique combination of three sports which does at least two things that give it very wide appeal.
The first is that a wider range of body types can be quite successful in swim-bike-run (vs. just running a marathon or a fast 10k). The second is that a person starting out in only one sport has to learn how to be fast, successful, or decent in two new fairly complex and technical sports, and learn how to do two transitions quick.
So we got a sport that many can do well and that stimulates our intellect and the human desire to learn new things. Plus, it’s tough, so it satisfies our love of challenge.
And its fun.
My background is auto racing. In my garage is a race car that eats money at an alarming rate (If you think bikes are expensive just try buying 114 octane racing fuel for a 550 hp GT1 Corvette) and I find I get less and less time at the track. My kids are all swimmers and my youngest son challenged his fat old dad to do a tri. I bit. Now I find myself being the one serious about it and really enjoying the training.
Money once spent on the my race car is now spent our on bikes, time once spent at the track is now spent with my wonderful wife and my kids either on runs or bike rides. Everybody wins.
John
Too many reasons to count…great gear/equipment, races in places that are breathtaking, fun people, get to eat a lot, and having that incredible feeling of pushing yourself so hard both mentally and physically that it hurts so bad but feels so good, you don’t know why you do it but you always have a smile on your face when it’s over. And then you go back and do it all over again because there’s nothing else like it.
“get to eat a lot”
That’s definitely a big plus.
“My background is auto racing”
I raced production sports cars and formula fords years ago. It got way too expensive so I gave it up. Came back a few years later racing go-carts since it was much cheaper, but even that became too expensive. Now my money goes into my bicycles. At least I can afford that.
To answer KC’s question I’d have to say it’s all about having fun and maintaining fitness after the age of 50.
Well, next week I leave for the south of France to do a race along the Riviera. About a month after that I go to Thailand to do a race on one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Then, I come back for a few weeks and go to a southern Caribbean island to train for next season.
So, it is an aesthetically beautiful sport. I enjoy that. Among many other reasons.
Coworker: How do you stay so thin?
Me: I don’t know. Last week I ran 35 miles, rode my bike 230 miles, and swam 8000 yds. Other than that I eat like a pig and like to drink a few beers on occasion.
Coworker: Oh that’s too much work, I cant imagine doing that. Why do you do all that?
Me: I race in triathlons.
Coworker: How much money do you win?
Me: Ha ha ha he he he ho ho ho.
when asked in my Sports Medicine class (ha) last night about my bruise on my leg, I said that it was from a cortisone shot. He asks why the shot? I say, I have a half-iron this weekend, but I’m only doing 2/3 b/c I want to do my “fun race” which is a beach sprint next weekend. Then he asks, are you getting paid for this? or is this actually a hobby? I just smiled.
WHY? why not? besides, my cervelo dual is “one sick bike” according to my non-athletic roomie, and I look damn good in a wetsuit.
the guys aren’t bad either.
Me: I race in triathlons.
Coworker: Didcha win?
or
Me: I race in triathlons.
Coworker: So yer goin’ to Hawaii"
I recently went to a talk given by Wendy Ingraham, and she attributed Bill Bell as saying “Chicks and beer.”
.
The groupies. Definitely the groupies.
i don’t want to die in bed…no, not even that way
.
hey **Robert Preston **… how about sponsoring me? just kiddin’…
Well don’t really know but just love it and…
… I really must love the pain 
Oh yeah almost forgot… I also race to have that feeling… you know… that feeling… the one… what you feel when you cross the finish line
maybe its because, as big as triathlon is getting (its growing exponentially, just think how early you have to register for races), we are still in a very select group: of either extremely excellent all around athletes, or regular people who have the cojones to say hey “i can do that”…and we like spandex.