Still contemplating the word, <em>Triathlete</em> September 16, 2005
Posted by Amber D. Evans in : Reflections, Chico CA , add a commentHmmmm … it's still tricky, isn't it? Am I or am I not a triathlete? What about you?
Libor and Linda commented yesterday and it appears that even after years of tri participation, folks still have a hard time self-identifying as a "Triathlete." Why is that?
See, I think it has more to do with the mental projection of what we think a triathlete is: a finely-tuned human machine, chiseled, lean, and fast. I mean, that's all I see in the Triathlete Magazine. But obviously, we can't all be that way. We're all different ages, sizes, abilities, etc. We have different goals, training allowances, commitments, etc.
So, are there levels of triathleticism? Like "Entry-Level Triathlete" up to "Professional Triathlete?" If so, what are they called in those stages? I'd really like to know. I know how I stand in the rankings, but where do I stand otherwise? I don't want to be a cyclist (first) who does tri's (second). I want something more than that.
But am I enough to be considered a triathlete?
See, I kinda' like "slothlete." (Courtesy of Libor) Somehow, I think that fits me, too. But
to all of my friends that don't do this/any sport, they refer to me as
"the triathlete," but Lord knows I'm certainly not a fast triathlete.
I
do it for the same reason most regular people probably do it, because it's fun and rewarding. It's
a constant challenge and does wonders for my mental and physical
health.
So again, I pose the question, what defines a triathlete? The races?
The rankings? The training of three sports? Or am I just a cyclist
(first) who does triathlons (second)? How would you define yourself? How did you come to that conclusion? Help my find which skin to wear! 
And so, am I a triathlete, yet?
Posted by Amber D. Evans in : Reflections, Chico CA , add a commentI've been thinking about this a lot. I'm a lot of things, but how do I know when I'm able to call myself a triathlete?
When I wake up everyday, I'm always something-or-another. I'm a wife, a grad student, a college lecturer, a computer instructor, a consultant, and more. I know I'm a step-aerobics addict, a snowskier, and a jogger. These make up a part of me and have for a long time. But am I a triathlete?
I suppose that it's a state of being; it's being the triathlete. I guess doing it, staying with it, and practicing for it makes one a triathlete? I eat with it in mind, I drink with it in mind, I sleep with it in mind, and I wake with it in mind. It's just funny because in the past I would never have called myself an athlete, let alone calling myself a TRIathlete. I mean, that's three sports. Three sports in which I'd be an athlete. I suppose my biggest problem is that I don't think I look like an athlete. I look so … normal. Well, except for my "man-calves!" Those aren't so normal. So maybe I am an athlete …
But I did it, liked it, and am doing two more this season. I train 6 days a week because of it. I've particpated in one Tri Sprint. I'm
training for two more. (Does that qualify? Where is that line?) When is the moment I finish and yell, "I'm a triathlete?"
Could I say I'm a triathlete? I suppose so. If not yet, hopefully it's
soon, because I'm planning on doing this for as long as my body can withstand it. Masters 60+ here I come (in ~30 years!)
Finishing is not the same as <em>racing</em>.
Posted by Amber D. Evans in : Assessments, Locale: Other, Chico CA , add a commentI raced this weekend. Actually, I finished. That would be more accurate.
I wouldn't really call what I was doing racing. I was more concerned about being sure "DNF/DQ" would not show up next to my name. Especially after I got kicked in the face while swimming. (Ouch!) But since I signed up for the event, I got ranked as though I was racing.
My stats aren't … um … good. I came in 33rd out of 37 women in the 25-29 age division. I'm 139th out of 202 women. Overall, I'm 340th out of 439 people. Although not impressive, I'm not discouraged. I'm intrigued. This is the comparision, the competition I'm up against. It is not only reflective of myself, but of the condition of othwers. And even if I did poor or well this time, it doesn't necessarily guarantee the same kind of placing at the next event.
What seems to matter more is the overall time.
My overall time was 1:28:07. I am actually very proud of that. Eleven weeks ago I had guestimated it would take me at least 1:45:00 to finish. I came in 17 minutes sooner than I expected. Yea!
The breakdown of times are really interesting … I wasted ~10 minutes in transitions, and way too many minutes on "swimming," so I come away with some serious numbers to help me improve weak areas. And with numbers and times like these, improvement is the only way I can go! In some ways, I really wish I'd done a Tri "cold-turkey" just so I would have an excellent assessment measure to gauge all future progress against. But then, I may never have stuck with it.
It's strange … I've been tracking weights, distances, times, etc. during training, and those are pretty good measures by which to see progress. But there's something sexy about the race results. Something titillating. Something so factual that you can't ignore it. And now I want more race numbers to record, to crunch, to seek elusive winning answers. I almost think I could make a full time job of it! But then, I'd have to be racing full time …