How’d your race go today?
“IS THERE something more fulfilling?”
Of course there is, but you have to think of it! There are many things that I would say are more fulfilling. Raising children, academic and/or recognition in your field of work. A stage win in the Tour de France, just being in the TDF! Climbing K2, Everest, contributing to your local community, learning another language and travelling and perfecting that language. Finding the love of your life. The list is endless. IM is but one dream, a designed, manufactured and marketed dream, we can have our own dreams that can never be taken away.
In the grand scheme of things very, very few people are privleged enough to even consider doing it. It is a gift not to be squandered. It is a beautiful sport: Beautiful sunrises, water, roads, terrain, crowds, venues, challenges. It keeps me fit. It gives me that elusive and valuable feeling inside that I belong to a fraternity, a group, that I am a player and a part of something big. It is the opportunity to be in the big show. The history and origin and pure Americana, pure sport. It provides a portal into the most fearsome frontier of all exploration: Yourself. The discomfort and pain makes a kiss feel so good. Without the pain and the discomfort and the difficulty and the long training you cannot possibly understand the value of a hot shower, a cold drink and clean sheets. The equipment is the closest thing I will ever get to being a Formula 1 driver with a $10 million race car. It is something I do entirely for myself: It is private. It has provided me with an identity: When I am on an airplane travelling to another country to race, when I go through passport control on the way to a race, when I arrive at the check-in counter at the airport and they ask the reason for travel, I tell them, “I am an athlete going to Ironman.”
I don’t think Henry David Thoreau could have put it any better.
Did you have that already written out from the last IM existentialist thread?
Clm, really, do I need to reply to your post?
Of course I don’t think 100% of a person’s time belongs to the “family.” Silly, really.
Not understanding a family’s sacrifice for IM training is equally silly, no?
Cause I can.
Guilty as charged…first group.
otherwise…i don’t have a clue. i’ve been trying to figure it out for 2 years now, and keep telling myself that i’m going to take a year off, not do one this year, etc, and guess what, i’m heading back for the 3rd in 3 years this year, as well as to Long Course Worlds…i swear i’m slowly losing my mind from this sport…
oh well…at least there is solitude out there that i can be nuts in 
I couldn’t agree with you more. I have yet to do an ironman and I will do my first one in 2006 (IMC). My reasons for doing it is because I want to see how quickly I can complete it. My reason is not solely to get to the finish line. That said, I understand the full costs of IM training (even triathlon training for any distance) - it is not the cost of the races, it is the cost of time and effort. My wife will have to take on more than half the work in raising the kids during this period of time and she will have to deal with me being tired as hell many times. For this reason I have decided that I will only do IM’s for 1 or 2 years maximum. After this period I am going to sell all the gear and find a sport that all the family members can partake in.
I laugh when people say they do it because it keeps them healthy. Any person in their right mind knows that healthy means 1 hour of brisk exercise a day and brisk is defined as a fast walk or jog. Any more than this and I believe it is more so for personal enjoyment rather than health - nothing wrong with that, but just stating the facts.
I am not knocking devoted IM athletes, and I applaude the ones that can pull off IM training with no strain on family relationships. I have met few that meet this description, but nevertheless I am sure they are around.
Another point. I have heard many people say they do their workouts before the family wakes up. If I was to do this I would have to go to bed at 830pm which would mean no quality time spent with my wife after the kids go to bed. There is no free ride in my opinion. If you can get by on 6 hours of sleep a night, I am jealous. 
I can’t help but think how much nicer it would be for the entire family if the athlete got up at 5 am, not to train, but to do the laundry or clean up to give the other spouse a break every once in a while.
I’m not making any judgements, but I think you’d agree that successful IM training certainly takes the commitment of the family. It certainly seems to take some free time away from them.
Dude, you don’t get it. I have three kids and volountarily run their USA Swim team. That’s managing over 50 swimmers, scheduling meets, registrations, logo wear …etc. I never miss one of their concerts, sporting events, recitals, ad infinitum. I play catch with my son just about every day after work. My wife and I do everything together and have a great relationship.
So what is so terrible about getting up early and working out for an hour or two while everyone is sleeping. This makes me a bad guy by keeping me fit and happy and energetic? What am I missing here?
Balance can be found in life if you truly seek it. devoting yourself solely to Ironman or your children for that matter without any other outlets or interests is unhealthy for both you and them.
One more thing, you don’t have to train 30 hours a week to be competitive in the Ironman. I’ve had a good deal of success on 10hrs/week.
There’s a popular saying in the Harley-Davidson crowd, “If I had to explain, you wouldn’t understand.” I am going into my fifth consecutive year of IM, and frankly I don’t really even understand all of why I do it. I came to realize very early on, though, that Ironman is not merely a day - its months of preparation and a dedication to a lifestyle (isn’t that lifestyle what this Web site is all about?) When people ask, “when is your next Ironman?” I respond: “It’s right now!”
I can say, to anyone here who’s made an observation as to the selfishness of perennial IM participants, that I met the love of my life and the woman I married through my participation in triathlon. My life might be very different today if it were not for triathlon - and Ironman in particular. Maybe worse, doubtfully better, but definitely different. Ironman is not just something I do, its part of what I am.
Pigeonholing people is usually easy and usually wrong. I’ve met the lonely triathletes, but I’ve also observed many people - good triathletes - who have turned Ironman into a family affair. You don’t need to have an all-or-none attitude; nothing is that black and white. Like with any other pursuit, training 15-25 hours a week while meeting other commitments takes maturity, creativity and sacrifice, but it can be done.
A couple of corny sayings that sum it up for me.
“The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmonting it” sums it up pretty good
“It’s the journey not just the destination” This can apply to both the body of training preceding the race and race day. Getting either right is elusive at best but both are extrememly rewarding when you are clicking on all cylinders.
Ironman Florida will be my 10th Ironman race and I can honestly say that each of the first 9 have provided me many lessons. Many of which can be applied to life outside of triathlon (time management, focus etc). The elusive search for the perfect race preparation/ race day execution is a journey which will give me a lifetime of enjoyment.
How often do you meet an Ironperson in their 50’s who have been doing it every year for 15 years? Usually, the 50 year old you just met at registration is just like you, having completed a small handful.
I am married to one. Well he’s only 49 and 8 months, but he’s finished 39 IM and I have spectated 27 of them since 1987. I have met many long time athletes with strong marriages. The secret is that it becomes a part of you FAMILY’s lifestyle too. That doesn’t mean they have to become athletes either.
Sure, it takes some work on everyone’s part. If you are all part of the work, then you all take pride in the accomplishment too. Isn’t it important that your family respects your interest as much as you do theirs?
The time it takes for successful IM training can be accomplished with a job and family. It has a lot lt do with optimizing your time. Of course your kids come first, but my parents didn’t stop living when I was young and I think I turned out just fine. We didn’t stop living when our daughter was young and she is a 26 yr old, happy, healthy and independent young woman today.
Support Crew
I’ve been racing, progressively longer races, for 7 years, culminating with IMCDA last year. I love the distances, both training and racing. I have no hopes of actually qualifying for Kona, but the whole process makes me feel good. Plus, it shows a good work ethic to the kids. I think the whole family benefits. If IM racing goes away, I think I’ll try rock climbing or surfing.
- I wanted more toys so I sold the wife and the house
Wow, didn’t know this was an option. What did you get for the wife, or was it a house/wife package deal?
“I think I’ll try rock climbing or surfing”
Some of the most grueling endurance experiences I have had have been long hikes into climbing spots, lots of climbing and long hikes out. anywhere from 15-22+hrs of non stop. Once you do a few of those you’ll realize IM is actually a pretty tame endurance event.
Surfing is probably the best sport know to man.
I did it because I wanted to know if I could. Now I want to know if I can do it better. The cycle begins!
I can identify with the comments about family. I got up at 3:30 every weekday to get most of my workouts in, so for the most part the weekday short and mid distance workouts didn’t interfere with family time. But unless you can stand getting on a trainer at 2:00 am on a sunday to get in your 100 miler, there’s no way to pull off the regular intrusion of IM into family life. It’s not easy for a spouse to spend 8 or more hours every weekend wondering where their IM SO is, or fearing the worst every time the phone rings. Not to mention that during the time you are with the family, you are recovering from those long workouts and not up to par.
I don’t think anyone said that people who train for IMs are bad people. They did say it’s a selfish act. I also think the family should have a vote/veto right in your decision to train.
Having said that, I will be seeking a family vote for a 2007 return to IM. I’d really like to see if I can get in with more than 12 minutes remaining before midnight!
Tom
I have yet to complete an IM, in fact my only 1/2 was a du. However as to IM, for me that was the point of getting into tri. I could of very easily become one of those stories that the expierienced guys tell about “this dude was at IM florida and had never swam open water before”. I started 3 years ago and at that time thought Kona was the only triathlon in the world. When I quickly learned the difference, I decided to start slow with duathlons, then move up. For me it’s not about it being a tri, I’m addicted to distance, I love 50ks, centurys, 1/2 iron and up. I enjoy testing my body to the limit. I am not fast in any discipline, but I’ve always had the ability to go forever if I set my mind to it. My first IM will be Japan 06, I may continue to race IM after that but am already wondering what a 50 miler would feel like. I am also planning to run a marathon end of july on no specific run training, I am training for 1/2 iron in august and will try to run under 4 at a local marathon with out changing my training plan.
Same here, training with first IM in mind for 2006. I’ve already said to myself it will be my one and only attempt…but reading posts on ST makes me think I might have a different opinion after…
My wife is supportive 'cause she knows the health benefits that come from the effort, but in my mind I don’t want to alienate her and my little baby girl at the expense of the whole exercise.
I can sort of imagine the feeling of crossing the finish line (which is my sole purpose) but I’m sure it will be better than anything that I achieved in tri so far (which isn’t too much!).
Just concentrating on the LSD at the moment…long way to go …quite literally!
Damm…3:30 EVERY WEEKDAY!! You’re a stud…
Lots of great comments by everyone. Seems that it might be possible to juggle IM, family etc…but definately takes ALOT of work and dedication…not just from the IMer…but also from the family and loved ones…
Nothing comes easy…
Damm…3:30 EVERY WEEKDAY!! You’re a stud…
Unfortunately, I got VERY lazy after race day. I’m probably in the worst shape I’ve been in for the last 5 years right now. Finally getting back into the groove, but I’ll only do a few sprint races this year. I think GCT next spring, and maybe back to IMFL or some other IM in 2007.
I like the family’s right to veto concept you mention. I am doing my 1st and likely only IM later this year (IMWA). I am doing this while my daughter is still very young (she will be only 21mo when I race). Why? Because after this race I want to spend more time with her as she becomes more interactive with the world and me & daddy. But I tell ya for the first year of their life, you can get a lot of training time in if you are creative and disciplined with your time. (i.e.: those early morning trainer rides, lunch time runs, etc.)
I do think it is a selfish act. Every weekend when I head out for my long ride or brick, I see it in my husband’s face. My daughter doesn’t really mind it, she’s not a total mommy’s girl yet. But it’s definitely hardest on my husband.
There are many days when I wish the race was here, now, so I could get it over with, and return to a more sane lifestyle. Sigh. Only 7 months to go…
AP