How do you spot the Triathlete at your office?

[Dakota rube]

Originally Posted by Thomas

Damn, man - I'm sorry to hear this. Generally I try to keep these sorts of things to myself, except when I'm in Understanding Company - and even then I try to not say a whole lot. For some reason, it's kinda personal to me. Oh, and I don't have any of those ******* stickers on my car. No 13.1, no 26.2, and certainly no USA-T

When the **** did "tri" become the accepted terminology? She told me she was working at "Tri" and I was all "huh? Tri what? Try? Tri-City?" I admire her a bunch for her energy and her determination: she's run several TC marathons, a bunch of Grandma's and Boston. Good for her. But ****, this has now crossed over into the obsession territory for her. And, as I said, she is at base bat-**** crazy, so adding in this has kicked her right off the normal plane.

 

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by Dakota rube

When the **** did "tri" become the accepted terminology? She told me she was working at "Tri" and I was all "huh? Tri what? Try? Tri-City?"

I admire her a bunch for her energy and her determination: she's run several TC marathons, a bunch of Grandma's and Boston. Good for her. But ****, this has now crossed over into the obsession territory for her.

And, as I said, she is at base bat-**** crazy, so adding in this has kicked her right off the normal plane.

Well, it's a fairly typical progression. Not excuse the rampant jargoneering and general chest-thumping ass-hattery of your typical marathoner/triathlete, but most folks go from "oh no not me - I'll never run a marathon" and then they dip their toe in, and they face the struggle of pushing your limits - some come through the other side a truly changed person. Mostly those changes are positive, but sometimes a person's exuberance can exacerbate an already shaky relationship with the outside world.

Where is gets bad is in the ramp-up (hey I'm Doing this!, Look at me!), and the eventual waning of talent/desire/time (I Still Have it, dammit!). Given the explosion of tri-events, you're seeing a lot of the first, and in a few years you'll see a lot of the latters.

As for me, I'm still pretty low-key, but I take a personal, visceral thrill in watching some tatted/gear-laden triathlete cross the finish line...well behind me.

BTW...Rube, congrats to RBIII for Boston. That's one of my goals for next year, once I'm (ahem) 40 and the qualifying standard gets a tad easier.

 

[Dakota rube]

Originally Posted by Thomas

BTW...Rube, congrats to RBIII for Boston. That's one of my goals for next year, once I'm (ahem) 40 and the qualifying standard gets a tad easier.

It is my sister, not one of my daughters, but yeah, I congratulated her on her accomplishment.
She and her daughter actually both qualified for Boston and ran together.

Not bad for an old broad.

 

[VaderDave]

I like to run and have run a marathon, but I don't really talk about it that much because I'm (relatively speaking) like a lumbering rhinoceros compared to some of the tiny people out there. My goal in any race is not to have anyone be twice as fast as me. So far I've managed to pull that off.

 

[OakCreekHitter]

Originally Posted by DerekS

I play REAL sports....im not trying to be the best at excersizing.

or spelling

 

[Reggs]

People involved in any kind of MA are the same way.

 

[ThatGuy]

Agreed. All these people talk about is "Are you running this Saturday?"...

Usually undersexed + masculine looking women, beat up skinny guys. But, let's be real, finishing is one of life's greatest accomplishments...

 

[Gradstudent78]

Originally Posted by Reggs

People involved in any kind of MA are the same way.

Really? Most people I know don't talk about it.

 

[rjmaiorano]

Originally Posted by Gradstudent78

Really? Most people I know don't talk about it.

You can get the younger/college age kids who run their mouth and think their **** rules all.

 

[CunningSmeagol]

Do you think anyone would get it if I made the sticker "6.55"?

 

[db_ggmm]

Originally Posted by Magician

Only thing worse is straight cyclists. ughhhhhhhhhh.

If you won't shut the **** up about your bike it better be a Triumph or a Harley.

Bicycling makes no fcking sense to me at all.

 

[rjmaiorano]

Originally Posted by CunningSmeagol

Do you think anyone would get it if I made the sticker "6.55"?

I hate what google teaches me.

 

[antirabbit]

I love the hype over the 13.1 distance. Seriously, anyone can run that far....maybe not fast.
The **** that they sell to commemorate your "accomplishment"is insane.
I remember the first one I ran, I was given a rock that had 13.1 etched into it. What am I going to do with a 1/2 marathon rock? I think I used it as a skipping rock with my kids.
Triathletes though, a whole different world of insane dedication and 24/7/365 talk/think/**** the damn thing.
Anyhow, its all better than not running, biking, swiming.

 

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by antirabbit

I love the hype over the 13.1 distance. Seriously, anyone can run that far....maybe not fast.
The **** that they sell to commemorate your "accomplishment"is insane.
I remember the first one I ran, I was given a rock that had 13.1 etched into it. What am I going to do with a 1/2 marathon rock? I think I used it as a skipping rock with my kids.
Triathletes though, a whole different world of insane dedication and 24/7/365 talk/think/**** the damn thing.
Anyhow, its all better than not running, biking, swiming.

jeez, thanx rabbit. Thanx a whole heck of a lot!

 

[antirabbit]

Originally Posted by Thomas

jeez, thanx rabbit. Thanx a whole heck of a lot!

You are fast Holmes.....come on now!