Triathlon - Just a premature thought about triathletes

I'm a newbie to traithlons. And I have to admit, from both of the tris I have competed in, the fellow competitors have been really nice. I thought you all were gonna be dbags but most of you guys are really nice! Lets keep it that way :D

funny i have found the same too. Very nice people.

My guess is that it's because people are racing for themselves. So if other people do great, thats great. If I do great its only my own doing and my own "fault."

Another thing ive noticed is that there are no "prizes." Cheesy trophies for AG and overall winners. I think this is a GOOD thing. You do not have people killing each other over 20 dollars.

The races are longer, and I would assume for almost everyone a Half distance is pretty much an epic... you finish that and you're like wow..... i made it. 4 days later I'm still in that state of wow! I'd be happier doing an epic race every 2-3 weeks, than trying to cram 2+ races into every weekend of my summer, which is exactly what I've done for the past 2 summers.

Finally, no points. Points are annoying, and upgrade coordinators are annoying. If you are good you prove it by your times. My time is better than his, yours is better than mine, there is no gray area there. I think Age groups are a little cheesy but they get the job done. Cheesy because when a 44 F and 55 M are beating me (and I'm a 28 M) well what does it matter if I'm #1 Male 25-29... I've got an older women and even older man beating me. THEY are the winners. But AG gets the job done. I am hoping to be competing in the overall in 2009 anyway,at least in the smaller local races.

It amazed me looking at the TimberMan results for 2008, 100+ people are doing sub 5 hour 70.3's. That is 10% of the entire field!!!!! At my local race this past weekend, 3 guys I think, broke 5 hours. Maybe 1% of finishers. A sub 5 70.3 is a goal for me, but at TimberMan I'd just be in the middle of the field,a good humbling experience (I wasn't planning on TimberMan... just an example).

In cycling, it is stressful and annoying getting beat by people who are weaker riders than me. It is also annoying as hell to me, to ride for 4 hours and only really be RACING for 30 minutes. Sure, I could grab the helm and kill myself to lead the pack but it would put me out of contention when it came time to actually race.

I have been changed so much in the past 2 weeks by tris, I will probably not be doing any Mass start road races in 2009. I will do TTs , hill climbs and triathlons. I think this really comes down to my personality.:D

I totally agree. My fellow triathletes are some of the nicest people I have met. I'm a noob, only two races under my belt, both sprints and I am totally in love with this sport and how supportive everyone is. :love:

Welcome to the sport!

For the most part and I am a pretty much a optimistic person. 99.0% of the people in the sport are great people. As life there are “dbags” out there and the longer you stay in the sport, sooner or later you’ll run into one. For me I pretty much ignore the “dbags”.

Have fun in the sport and don’t let the “dbags” get you down. :)

Coming from a road riding background, I always thought of tri-geeks as snobs. Thay don't waive and they sure don't want to draft. However, at the three tri's I compeated in this past summer, everyone I came met was so positive, and supportive and excited to have new people to their sport. I agree with the above poster, road races are you against the field, triathlons are you against yourself.

I just bought a swim pass at the local Y to tri and figure out how to swim. (Am I a tri-geek now that I am using "tri" as a verb?)

Yep, triathletes are pretty friendly. When you can chat with the pros while your both waiting for your waves to start, you know your in a cool sport.

Like tasr says there are dbags everywhere, just ignore the jerks at triathlons like you ignore the jerks in life. Welcome.