Why we (I) do triathlons

I originally had some kind of canned response. But your comments made me think a little bit deeper. Why do I do triathlons? It is a good question. We commit a lot of time, money and resources to this sport.


I did my first triathlon on my 35th birthday. It was because I wanted to do something that I was not sure I could do. I just found a triathlon that was not too far away and it being on my birthday sealed the deal. When I signed up I had never swam laps in a pool. That first time in the pool opened the door t so many doubts. I was scared. I knew that if I put recourses towards the goal then I would be successful. So I got in the pool and on the bike and on the track and started to rack up mileage.

When I got to the race I did not know anyone. I did not know how to set up a transition. I did not know what to do. But by the end of it I had some new friends and some new experiences. I was hooked.

Buy why? After that first commitment I started to see all of the other aspects of the sport. It is the lifestyle that is the sport. It is the camaraderie, the tactics, the improvement, the community, the gear - if it was just the races then I don’t think it would have become a passion.

Triathlon is a sport that does not seem to have the pretence of other sports. The pro’s are not signing the hundred million dollar contracts – in fact, although I love the pro aspect, it is not what makes the sport. The sport exists because of you and me – the age groupers, the middle and the back of the pack.

Triathlon also allows you to diversify. Cross training is the sport. This aspect of the sport allows longevity. We get to do the sport longer. We get to make lifelong friends. We see improvement over time. The sport becomes our lifestyle. Triathlon starts to define us. We like to push ourselves to higher limits. It allows us to achieve, to succeed. To reach goals that were once impossible.

Triathlon makes us walk past that piece of cake. Triathlon makes us get up at 4:30 in the morning to ride our bikes to Master’s Swim. Triathlon makes us get on the trainer with the music turned up loud and suffer like no tomorrow. Triathlon makes us do these things for one reason – to be better.

Triathlon makes me better.

Are you hooked?

I read this over on EverymanTri. -

You probably already suspected this, but a new survey by active.com confirms that once bitten by the triathlon bug, most amateur athletes are hooked on the sport. The study also confirms that triathletes spend thousands of dollars per year on gear, and of course spend long hours training each week.

According to active.com key findings include:

•Once someone participates in a tri, they are hooked on the sport: over 90% of panelists surveyed plan to participate in an event in 2011

•Triathletes spend to support their passion: Regardless of income level, the average triathlete surveyed spent $2,135 in 2010 on gear alone

•Triathletes make time for training: Despite professional demands, 50 percent of triathletes surveyed train for 10-15 hours a week
 

You can read the entire press release below:

SAN DIEGO, CA – September 21, 2010– With the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, less than a month away, The Active Network, Inc.,(Active Network) a technology and media company, today announced the results of a new survey focused on the motivators and behaviors of triathletes.

The survey of 1,560 triathletes, recruited exclusively from Active Network’s Active Lifestyle Panel, reveals that once someone participates in a triathlon they are hooked on the sport. In fact, over 90 percent of those surveyed plan to participate in a triathlon event in 2011 with 32 percent indicating they plan on participating in five or more triathlons in 2011.

Data provided by the World Triathlon Corporation shows that the number of Ironman events being offered around the world continues to rise. In 2006, when Ironman 70.3 was launched, there were 17 events worldwide. Today that number has grown to 42 Ironman 70.3 events spanning 22 countries.

"We continue to see an increase in demand for Ironman and 70.3 events globally," said Jessica Weidensall, spokesperson from World Triathlon Corporation. "Each year, more than 160,000 athletes attempt to earn coveted slots to the Ford Ironman World Championship and Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3. We expect to see even more growth across all brands as we offer new, exciting opportunities in the sport."

Additional key findings from the Active Lifestyle Panel include:

Triathletes spend to support their passion: Regardless of income level, the average triathlete surveyed spent $2,135 in 2010 on gear alone to support their event participation and training (excluding travel or event entry fees).

Triathletes are affluent and educated: The average age of triathletes surveyed was 40 years old, with close to half earning an annual income of over $100K. Education levels are high as well with 40 percent having a college degree and over 40 percent having a post graduate degree.

Triathletes make time for training: Despite professional demands, 50 percent of triathletes surveyed train for 10-15 hours a week with 33 percent indicating they train for three to four months leading up to an event.

In addition, the Active Lifestyle Panel (which recruits exclusively from Active.com’s family of media properties) also revealed that regardless of distance, the number one motivator for competing in a triathlon was to accomplish a personal challenge, followed by staying in shape and enjoying the training journey.

“Having witnessed over 200,000 individuals cross the finish line at Ironman events around the world, the sport of triathlon is not just about the physical transformation, but an emotional journey. For many participants, finishing any triathlon represents a huge lifetime milestone,” explained Mike Reilly, the voice of Ironman and vice president at Active Network.

Active Network™ is one of the largest providers of sports registration software for endurance events and organizations in North America.

About The Active Lifestyle Panel

The Active Lifestyle Panel is composed exclusively of consumers recruited from the Active Network family of media properties. It is a new panel that provides access to a highly engaged and motivated community of active consumers.

Obviously this is true for most of us.  But what got you hooked?