This week’s Friday Five link up is a “free” topic-oh the possibilities!! A few years back (2006) I did my first tri race. I loved it and I felt like a rock star afterwards. I continued to do them for a few years and then I just sort of got burnt out and stopped. It’s been a few years now but I’ve decided to jump back into them. Here’s why:
1. Everyone likes a challenge-Training for a tri race is a challenge. It’s way harder than doing a plain old running event. Most likely you are already not swimming, biking and running on regular basis and training requires you to reallocate your workout time. Forces you to step out of your comfort zone.
2. Mix it Up-Signing up for a tri race forces you to cross train. When I did tri races before, I was never injured. Then I stopped doing all of that cross training and upped my running miles. You guessed it-injuries started popping up. Coincidence? Who knows! Cross training is good for all of us. Keeps us from burning out on one sport. In addition, when you do the same activity all of the time, it is hard to see changes in your physique.
3. Cool lingo-You can start throwing around terms like “brick” , “T-1” and “T-2” and it just makes you sound hard core. Or you can just say you did a “threesome”. Plus you might actually get a “hard core”.
4. Excuses –to buy all new Gear. You can’t just bike and swim in your running gear. It’s fun to buy new gear right?
5. Bad Ass factor-It sounds so much more bad ass to say, “yeah I am doing a tri this weekend but have fun at your 10k” LOL.
Any other reasons to try a Tri??
Linking up with the fab DC Trifecta Cynthia, Courtney & Mar
Good points, I love the cross training one. I am guilty of shying away from swimming and biking, but someday I would like to do a tri, so someday I can give them a go. Thanks for planting the seed 🙂
You would be great at it! Swimming takes a lot of time but I’ve been enjoying it lately as I am still not able to run very much. Thankfully running is the shortest part of the tri -LOL
I like your reasons – they almost make me want to try a Tri!!! For years I’ve thought that being able to do an Iron Man would be the ultimate in a fitness competition. But I probably will never even do a sprint tri because I hate swimming. I just like the pool/beach for laying out reading.
ha ha yes you have to swim but it is the shortest part of the race. I don’t think I will ever do an ironman but a few shorter sprints can make you feel pretty fit too! Give one a tri 🙂
SOLD! Well as long as I can get myself a little more comfortable in the pool.
That is always where I am the most anxious but I’ve been doing lots of swimming this winter.
Um hello to get more fun fitness stuff to fill up your house 😉
I know seriously! But you have to be prepared and stylish 🙂
One day I will try a tri!!! It will have to be a pool swim though because the big swim free for alls in open water totally freak me out.
Oh me too! I certainly prefer a pool swim. My first one this year is a pool swim.
Cross-training’s great, but I don’t really swim. I never took to water and I don’t like the thought of it now. Maybe because swim lessons never seemed fun, or having to swim in gym class *cringe*
Ha yep you have to swim. That is the part that makes me the most anxious as well.
I agree with all of your 5 reasons to do a tri! I especially love #5, people are always so impressed when you tell them you’ve done a triathlon. What triathlon are you signed up for?
I am currently signed up for the Reston sprint and I’d like to do a longer one in August trying to figure out schedules. I may do the Quantico sprint or the nations tri. You??
The Iron Girl Columbia triathlon is a great race too. I love the face that it is an all female race and there energy is great there.
That was my first tri race back in 2008. Loved it I wanted to do it this year as well but the dates don’t work for me
i’m with you! can’t wait to try my first tri this year!! 🙂
It’s been a few years but I am excited to get back to it. I just need to get my dumb foot to stop hurting.
try a tri? Sounds totally terrifying!!!! I will stick with one of those silly little runs! 🙂
ha ha chicken! 🙂
Love the list. Making me more excited for my first tri in May. Kinda really hoping I like it a lot to keep doing some. I’ve been more concentrating on running right now for RnR DC but looking forward to the different types of training I’ll need to do for this. But if nothing else, I’m glad to be tackling the challenge to say I did it.
Saying you did it yes!! You will love it-it’s addictive
Participating in a Tri is absolutely badass! (I am not badass material – I’m such a chicken!)
We all have an inner bad ass! You just need to find it 🙂
Nice reasons! I hope to try a tri at some point. I still need to get swimming down as I’m not a very good swimmer and swimming in open water scares me. Hopefully once I get that down, I’ll be able to do a tri!
The swimming is the part that causes me the most anxiety but I feel better about it this year.
Ok, so a tri has been in the back of my mind. Someday… 😉
I haven’t done much biking or swimming since I was a kid, and I strongly suspect that riding a bike isn’t that much “like riding a bike.” 😉
ha ha yes the bike is the longest part of the race! You can do it though 🙂
I tried it twice and realized I’m a runner. I LOVED the training, it’s nice to switch things up, but I just don’t like swimming and biking was kind of boring. During the race, I felt happy for the first time when I started the running leg. That was the moment I knew I am a runner 🙂
Agree the training is great and I think it can help your running as well. It’s great that you tried it!
Haha I totally think everyone who does a tri is a badass!! Happy Friday!!
Ah thanks! I am excited to get back to them this summer.
Haha! I love this! You’re right, it does make you sound way more bad ass! I also like that it forces cross training that most runners are quick to avoid.
Yes absolutely! The cross training is great no matter if you actually ever do a race or not. I’m excited to be back to them this year
I can honestly say I will never be doing a tri. I am just not a strong swimmer and don’t enjoy it enough to work on it. I have great admiration for those that do, though.
Ah but you never really know until you tri 🙂
I would drown if I tried a tri but kuddos to you- it really does make you look like a bad ass!
I seriously doubt you would! But thanks 🙂
Amazing how swimming is the limiter for so many respondents to your post. I was terrified of it at first but now I love it. There are other multisport options for swim-o-phobes as well, like duathlons and adventure races that may have kayaking as an alternate to the swim (but many of those require mountain biking, which is my phobia!). I’m all with you on the pluses for multi-sport. Reasons to cross train and benefits to the physique! Bye bye wimpy runner arms!
I totally agree! Swimming does seem to be the reason lots are afraid. I love swimming in a pool but I really do get anxious on swim portion of a race.
Awesome reasons, I think I love your “bad ass factor” the best, LOL
One day I would like to try one! My sister does them, she is seriously hard core, wakes up 4am every morning to swim a couple of miles before she goes out for a 6-10 mile run. She kicks some major butt in them, and can run circles around me. But she does inspire me:)
You are right though, Tri’s are something people should try, especially for the mix it up factor!!!
That is inspiring! They are a great way to cross train.
Good reasons – especially the bad-ass factor 😉
Yes for sure!
I wish I liked to swim. Really, the only thing good about swimming is jumping out of the boat to get to the waterski!
ha ha yes bc I think you’d rock a tri
Love it! Doing a tri is so much fun and you meet the coolest people. Plus you do feel like a rockstar after you get out of the ocean (or lake) – even more so when you are done!
We sold our road bikes after the dust started getting so thick on them 🙂 With the kiddos it was hard to do all three sports and my true love is running. With that said, an Ironman is on my bucket list for sure!!
Hope your vacation is dreamy and wonderful!
oh my vacation was nice and warm and sunny thanks! Ironman huh?
Excellent reasons. I’m still terrified of the idea of biking with a pack of people. And swimming in the ocean LOL!
The biking part wasn’t as scary as the swimming part for me! It builds character right?!
Great list – #5 made me giggle. Can’t wait to hit the pool, I hope with signing up for the Quantico Tri and not hitting my monthly goals the past two months will motivate me 🙂
I am thinking about the Quantico tri too. I keep checking the website and it says they may change the swim from pool to open water. I was hoping it would be clear. I haven’t been able to run much the past 2 months so I am hoping to get back out there myself. We’ve had some crazy weather.
A tri sounds so cool! What a great challenge!
Who doesn’t love a challenge!
Even more reasons for me to “try” a tri! I’m not sure it’ll happen this year as I do have racing goals that take precedence right now, but it’s definitely on my list of things to do! I may have an advantage in the training factor though- due to my obstacle racing, I tend to do a lot of cross training and am used to rather strenuous endurance events 😉
I think you would crush one!