My Trek to an Iron Man

A friend asked me why I do Triathlons, and I didn’t have a good answer.  After some thinking here are the reasons I get up at 5:00am on a Saturday to bike 40 miles:

1. Its Cool.  It impresses people.  Everyone knows what a tri is and it is a badge of honor and source of pride to be known as a triathlete around the office.
2. Health. I am in the best shape of my life.  It is sometimes hard to get motivated to train, but I know I get healthier each time I click into the pedals.  It keeps me from smoking cigarettes.  I had the habit for 20 years and it was difficult to quit.  All the training keeps my blood pressure low and my body not wanting to smoke.
3. I look good.  My body is in great shape.  Legs, abs, arms, shoulders, the whole package.  It’s vanity I know, but its nice to get a second glance from people driving by when I am running without my shirt on.  Plus I wear my triathlon shirts with pride.
4. It is a challenge.  To get out and do this is a big challenge.  Not just physically, but finding the time, money and motivation to do this is a challenge.  I have a wife, 2 kids, a job, house, mortgage, taxes, etc etc etc.  I have to keep motivated to run at 11:00 at night.
5. It is separate from work. No one knows what I do for a living when I dive into the lake to swim.  All they know is my age (35) and what my number is (56).  No talk of bosses or office politics.  Just conversation about transition times.
6. It gives me a reason to exercise. Running a couple miles can be like watching paint dry.  To keep me motivated I just imagine crossing the finish line and raising my arms in victory that I have done it.
7. Its not the average sport. Football, softball and other sports are good, just not my thing.  Tris are for individuals.  You are competing against your self.  There is no one that can carry you across the finish line.  You have to do it your self.  You have a lot a support from your friends and family, but you have to place one foot in front of the other to get across the finish line.
8. It makes me feel young(er). I’ll admit that I feel middle aged at 35.  All this training and being around other athletes makes me feel younger and healthier.
9. It gives me something to obsess about. I can put a lot of energy into it.  I can channel my energies into training and thinking about training, and eating right.
10. It gives me small successes to build on.  If the other parts of my life arent going so well, I can push my self a little more in training.  I may ride 24 miles one week, but then I try to ride 30 the next.  Or I run 5 miles one time and then I run 5.5 the next.

The biggest reason:

I feel good about myself.