Ironman hype

"Norm" <nomd @ netcarrier.com> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I don't think it's very healthy to push to the point where we lose control of basic body
functions.

Lose control of bodily functions? No, we pee on our selves on purpose!

Seriously though, this hapens to a very small percentage of people in the race, some who push too
hard and keep pushing 'till they can't, others who just have a bad day and get caught by surprise.

Tom

Norm' nomd @ netcarrier.com said:

I respect a person trying to find his or her limits but do not think they should be
portrayed as gods.

BOW DOWN BEFORE ME, MORTAL!!!

Seriously, who's portraying us as gods? Yeah, you get some respect within the tri community when you
wear a finishers shirt, but I don't think that's too surprising. It does show a level of achievement
in the sport.

The NBC hype? One day a year. Most folks outside triathlon think the IM logo is for a Timex watch.

I don't think you'll find many of us ordinary finishers who think of ourselves as gods or wish to be
portrayed a such. The race is too humbling for that.

It's been said that we're really just a bunch of ordinary people who in one race, on one day, do
something rather extra-ordinary. That says it up for me.

Quoted message said:

If you dedicate enough time to proper training, can avoid injury, and have the desire, I'd like to
say anyone can do it but that's probably not true, I will say a lot of people can do it.

Most people can do far more than they think. More people can do an Ironman than think they can. But
they don't think it, and that's the difference. They don't have the desire (which is a bigger factor
than you seem to think.)

It's not about trying to be a triathlon god. It's about personal achievement. It's about seeing if
you have the personal discipline and dedication to achieve a goal that seems outrageous to nearly
everyone around you. It's about taking your training to a whole new level - beyond anything you've
ever done. It's about challenging your perceived physical limitations and seeing if they're real or
imaginary.

Some folks are willing to find out, to put it on the line, to risk it out there on the IM course.

Others sit on the sidelines and try to cut those folks down a notch.

Quoted message said:

I am not trying to belittle the sport just cut it down a notch.

Oh....

Mike Tennent "IronPenguin"

In article <[email hidden]>, Mike Tennent

Quoted message said:

It's not about trying to be a triathlon god. It's about personal achievement. It's about seeing if
you have the personal discipline and dedication to achieve a goal that seems outrageous to nearly
everyone around you. It's about taking your training to a whole new level - beyond anything you've
ever done. It's about challenging your perceived physical limitations and seeing if they're real
or imaginary.

I agree, and I'll add that there are few things that can compare to the feeling of crossing that
finish line when you set a goal and spent 3 years working to get there. It was very close to the
feeling I had watching my kids be born.

As my time will attest, I'm no god. But I did push myself harder in one day than a lot of people do
in a lifetime, and I that makes me feel good about myself.

I'm also happy that I did NOT lose control of any bodily functions.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night, and party every day. Then it was every other day. . . ."

- Homer J. Simpson

Tom Henderson said:

Lose control of bodily functions? No, we pee on our selves on purpose!

Oh goody goody can we have that annual thread again? Has it really been a year? You have to see it
to believe it; some of the best posts ever have sailed under that flag. To pee or not to pee; that
is the question that haunts all ironman wannabe mortals, whether fools or not.

Ruth Kazez

"Norm" <nomd @ netcarrier.com> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I enjoyed the Ironman coverage but may not bother with it next year. I really got tired of hearing
" If I can finish an Ironman I can do anything" I've competed in some sprint tri's and would like
to do an Olympic dist.

but

Quoted message said:

do not aspire to go much further.

Any person can go through life in mediocrity. Some like to achieve higher goals, to step beyond the
norm for what ever reason motivates them. It has been an observation in my rather long time on this
orb that those that push the envelope in one aspect seem to carry that to other endeavors such as
productivity at their job or profession. It could be for ego boosting or just dedication to doing
ones best.

Quoted message said:

I don't think it's very healthy to push to the point where we lose control of basic body
functions.

I have done several IM races, even pushing to limits that let me win a few in age group, but can't
remember losing control of body functions. Sure, I pee'd in my shorts to save time but never because
of loss of control. Actually, it takes serious training to learn how to do it well. I have found IM
training and racing to be a very healthy life style. Well, except for a few bike crashes which could
occur at any distance.

Quoted message said:

I respect a person trying to find his or her limits but do not think they should be portrayed
as gods.

Why would you without provocation attempt to diminish the achievement of an IM finisher. I have
never seen anyone praying to those that cross the IM finish line. I have seen a few that crossed the
finish line praying but it certainly was not to any finisher I know.

Quoted message said:

If you dedicate enough time to proper training, can avoid injury, and have
the desire, I'd like to say anyone can do it but that's probably not true,

I

Quoted message said:

will say a lot of people can do it. I am not trying to belittle the sport just cut it down
a notch.

Perhaps you should do one before you "cut it down a notch". That of course, as you mentioned,
would take some ambition as well as dedication to training.

Quoted message said:

running, biking, and swimming are three fine forms of aerobic activities

if

Quoted message said:

the average American would catch onto this we may have a healthier nation. I guess it's hard to
make a triathlon into good entertainment to anyone other then the athletes.

I have not seen criticism of anyone for just wanting to do sprint or Olympic distance events. I
respect them for that effort. All do not have the time nor desire. Those that do have the desire
usually manage to find the time. Personally, I did not watch this years IMH on TV, I was out
training for my own upcoming IM race. No time for TV is my problem.

Feed the troll,

Ken

"Norm" <nomd @ netcarrier.com> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]... ...

Quoted message said:

If you dedicate enough time to proper training, can avoid injury, and have the desire, I'd like to
say anyone can do it but that's probably not true, I will say a lot of people can do it.

...

You're close. As an Ironman (well okay - Iron "distance" - no M-Dot) finisher I would say that your
statement above is correct.

IF you dedicate enough time to training IF your training is done properly IF you can avoid injury IF
you have the desire

That is the whole point. The race is just the reward. It is the training and preparation where the
heart-ache, the pain, and the sacrifice resides.

Happy to say that I didn't soil myself - purposefully or otherwise.

-CF

"ChronoFish" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:J1FBb.52426$dO2.8949
@lakeread03:

Quoted message said:

IF you dedicate enough time to training IF your training is done properly IF you can avoid injury
IF you have the desire

and IF luck treats you well.

You have just listed a number of great reasons why you shouldn't do an Ironman. And it's very
important that you should go with your feelings on this. Ironman is too long to do one just because
you think you should or any of the other reasons that might come forth. It sounds like you really
don't want to do it. So you shouldn't.

However, if you do triathlon long enough; maybe, just maybe, Ironman will speak to you. And if it
does, you will do one. But until that time, its right not to subject yourself to it.

Ray

"Norm" <nomd @ netcarrier.com> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I enjoyed the Ironman coverage but may not bother with it next year. I really got tired of hearing
" If I can finish an Ironman I can do anything" I've competed in some sprint tri's and would like
to do an Olympic dist.

but

Quoted message said:

do not aspire to go much further. I don't think it's very healthy to push to the point where we
lose control of basic body functions. I respect a person trying to find his or her limits but do
not think they should be portrayed as gods. If you dedicate enough time to proper training, can
avoid injury, and have the desire, I'd like to say anyone can do it but that's probably not true,

I

Quoted message said:

will say a lot of people can do it. I am not trying to belittle the sport just cut it down a
notch. running, biking, and swimming are three fine forms of aerobic activities

if

Quoted message said:

the average American would catch onto this we may have a healthier nation. I guess it's hard to
make a triathlon into good entertainment to anyone other then the athletes.

I love when Ruth gets one of these things started. I once saw a guy on the way up to Hawi who had
perfected his technique in relieving himself going uphill. I really can't go into it, but it was
magnificent.

Ray

"rtk" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tom Henderson said:

Lose control of bodily functions? No, we pee on our selves on purpose!

Oh goody goody can we have that annual thread again? Has it really been a year? You have to see it
to believe it; some of the best posts ever have sailed under that flag. To pee or not to pee; that
is the question that haunts all ironman wannabe mortals, whether fools or not.

Ruth Kazez