my favorite part is getting out of the pool and running into TI, that is when i know the real race has begun and the "drowning" is over

My favorite part is just moments before the race starts. There is so much excitement and energy in the air, it's catching. :) You look around at everyone...some people with their game faces on, some people with huge grins, some people with nervous smiles...and you realize that you belong there, that you are one of them, and you are ready to GO! :)

Lisa

For real

coming out of T1 and mounting the bike knowing all those guys who just passed me on the swim are mine. Huntin'em down one by one

I never thought of that part beads. Yes, I get that from my son. He did his first this spring and now keeps asking if he can do another. My daughter is also in the same frame of thought. They see me training and also want to do one of their own. It's fantastic to see them wanting to do tris. Only thing is I told them after Aug I will take them swimming and once they work on to swim better then they can enter.

Yes, I have to say. THAT is the best thing about Tris. Hands Down! :cool:

BBB

In a few years, my favorite part of racing will be when my kids are racing with me.

Of course, soon after that, passing me, and waiting for me at the finish line. :D

my favorite part is the run...because i have never been pasted by anyone on the run

My favorite is the second half of the bike. I'm probably winded from the swim to start my ride, and it takes a while to catch my breath and get into a rhythm. Then its time to take off.

At the Mighty Wolf Triathlon last month, I was fourth out of the water and I heard a girl yell "go old man." Half way through the ride I caught the eventual winner, and we sprinted the last three or four miles hard --- I knew I would need a good lead going into the run. After yo-yoing that entire stretch, I pulled ahead a few hundred yards from the transition --- hoping that girl noticed the old man was in the lead.

Needless to say, I got pasted in the run and finished 6th. But that was quite a ride.

thehitman

Actually, I thought I had taken 3rd place. Some young whippersnappers from a college triathlon club were in a heat several minutes behind me, and 3 of them beat my time. There may have been an octogenarian or two behind me, too.

My run times have shown definite improvement this year. After being passed countless times on the run last year, I've been passed a total of 3 times in 5 triathlons this year; about the same number as the bike. Don't ask about the swimming.

thehitman

Gotta watch out when thehitman comes down to Florida
and you see the number on his calf as he passes you by.

:D

o..and just fyi...i love chicago..i was born n Hoffman Estates and lived in Rolling Meadows and Arlington Heights

My very very favorite part of the race is when a 53 year old man who formerly weighed in @ 260 lbs and smoked a couple of packs of Kools a day passes a less than 30 year old dude who is built like a Greek god wearing a eentsy weenie Speedo. Just makes me feel like all the work is worthwhile.
And if there are no 30 year old "victims" my second fav part of the race is when I get in to the run
rhythm, start to feel like I am actually running, all becomes right with the world and I break in to song.
Lean on me, when you're not strong........

I'll be in Florida for the IM in Panama City Beach.

I'll have my hairy legs and will only be "pasting" half the field.

But I will finish, and get my cool t-shirt . :D

Beads-- I was just trying to inject a little humor. I'm not THAT intense. I have to admit though, part of me likes to compete and wants to see how I stack up against everyone else. And as I learned in my last race, I have a lot of work to do. Nevertheless, the thought of competing really helps motivate me.

hey hitman, if all those young guys ever come up here, lemme know... and come do the rockford ymca tri on sunday - you'll prolly beat me since i just had final exams today and haven't exercised at all in the last 2 weeks!

and yeah... i like everything about tri's except for the run! I only ever get passed on it...

Hey jsoder,

I am intensely trying to bust your b@lls.
:D
Just having fun!!

My favourite part of tri is the bike, I hate the swim I do the best that I can on the swim but I dont do well!! I swallowed major quantities of Lake Ontario It was not plesent. But I got my s...t togeather and finished the swim! I will never forget this I choked on Lake Ontario but finished the swim ! Then getting out on the bike I kicked ass!!! I really did!! I also knocked 4 min off my run from the last race I did!! But my fave is the bike!!!

For me the best part about tri's is just the electric atmosphere, it's contagious.
I like the spectators clapping, I like exiting the water, T1, the feel of your legs when you bike in the Aero position, going into T2 and finally begin the run and the felling in your legs when you do the miles.

Noel.

My favorite part about racing is exiting the water, I love the feeling of a great swim and the last mile of the run where you really dig down to finish strong.

On a side note...I think it is great when someone twice my age passes me, I think wow this is what I have to look forward to! And after that moment I try and push a little harder :)

Aside from every aspect of training and racing - the best part is seeing the improvements from the hard days of training paying off in a race.

Or the look of those receiving the sweaty gross hugs :D

Hey!, I hadn't even that triathlon on the schedule!
I'm doing the sprint at the Ripon Medical Center Triathlon Saturday.
Maybe if these old legs feel up to it, I'll do a double.
Now that should even things up!

thehitman

Caroline24--what is the Spam for?...to make you slippier?

Beads—I wasn’t 100% sure…but figured I’d roll over and show you my belly and see what happens. You can bust my b@lls whenever you see the need.

Sfricks—that’s funny. I ask myself the same question every time.

Motivation:
I agree...I like the spectators too...I just wish there was more. During a race last weekend we were on the bikes going through some large suburb areas. It was really cool because they had all of the streets barricaded off and cones setup for miles. In fact, on the way to the venue, I saw all of this and thought to myself, "could this be for the triathlon?...nah...the scope is too big...and we are too far away...they must have some kind of construction project going on." Sure enough, it was for us...can't imagine what that must have cost! Anyhow, to the point, I was feeling really tired around the half-way point and we hit a long semi-steep downhill. We were pounding our largest gear and hauling @ss!...going 40+! The cops had all traffic stopped at the intersection at the bottom of the hill and we came SCREAMING past them only feet from their bumpers!! My mind drifted to what the drivers of these cars must me thinking! (IN THE NAME OF EVERYTHING HOLY, WHAT THE HOLY @$&^#!?!?!?!...and the looks on their faces!! (wide eyes, slack jaw)

...and for a second I forgot about the pain.

Jeremy

Caroline uses the Pam so she can be butter flavored without all the fat and calories of real butter,

and to void the warranty on her wetsuit. Though it helps to get in the wetsuit
but so does bodyglide. :D

Beads has it right... its all about the butter flavor. I actually think its better than bodyglide (and tastier). Its especially important around the ankles.

Pam the low cal, low fat alternative with the yummy buttery flavor!!

Now also available in Olive Oil flavor. :D

It is much tastier than Bodyglide I must admit.

Does your wetsuit seem affected by it?

How come they can't make a spray on bodyglide??

Inquiring minds want to know!!!