Retention in the Sport
3354
Member
1412 days
RV posted 1 year ago.
I know one guy that had a horrible swim first time out and will never do another one again. - I thought I was going to drown in my first race, but I still signed up for another and another...
And not quite the same thing but I know another guy that did an IM and vowed never to do that distance again - though I've been working on him. He is still doing short course.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
2949
Member
1368 days
Anton posted 1 year ago.
With anything...people come...people go.
It's very hip to do tri's at this point in time so I think many folks are trying it to see which way the wind is blowing...this will pass and things will settle out and the numbers will drop and stabilize...it happens with everything.
I have met "Life Listers" who have done an IM because it was on their list...I met three at IMLP this year...it was their first tri...ever... and they had no plans to do another...
I raced bikes for 5 years in the 80's..have run for (OMG) 37 years and done tri's for the last 12...Been a climber for 38. Yet I still run into folks who consider me a youngster in "their" sports.
I say welcome to all..stay as long as you'd like...but respect the sports history and don't trash it on your way out.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://agingsuperhero.blogspot.com
372
Member
460 days
Leroy Bonkers posted 1 year ago.
I did my first race in college and made the "never again" vow. I had no concept of what it took to train, how to swim (breast stroke half the way), or even how to ride a bike. That's right, I learned to ride a bike at age 18 entirely to complete an olympic distance race.
Ten years later I saw a copy of Triathlete Magazine in a hospital gift shop and decided right there that I was going to get into racing, and figure it out better this time.
453
Member
505 days
stewarba posted 1 year ago.
I'm a newb to Triathlon and really enjoy the sport. I find the community easily approachable and helpful. I would like to say that I will be doing this for the rest of my life, but only time will tell.
Trying to jocky training, job and family is hard at best, but I do have goals and once they have been achieved we will see. I tend to move on to something else once I can check off a goal. Right now I am in the first year of a 4 year plan to IM distance ;-)
Pain is the sensation of weakness leaving the body!
110
Member
910 days
hakadoru posted 1 year ago.
I raced for two seasons: 1993-1994 and then moved on to other things. I was nearly dead last in both events.
Having "unfinished business" in this sport, I decided to return in 2006...still near the bottom, but moving up.
I love the people that are in the sport and nearly everyone is supportive of one another on race day. We're all out to prove something to ourselves...not necessarily destroy the competition.
On training rides, I can always tell the difference between a triathlete and roadie. Triathletes will say "hello" or chat with you with you for a minute or so. Roadies won't even acknowledge your existence.
When I was younger, I had a difficult time justifying the expense of training and racing (all races back then were a day's drive away). It was easier to use that as my excuse to leave the sport.
Now, I have a bit more disposable income, yet more commitments. With everything on my plate, it's been a challenge to train lately...which is one of the reasons I'm sticking to sprint distance for the foreseeable future.
hak
The Outdoor Journey: Exploring the multisport life through the crucible of endurance
30
Member
516 days
jasonm posted 1 year ago.
Statistics from Triathlon Australia showed the majority of triathletes were 30-44 years old, male (women usually had a partner already in the sport), had a high disposable income and stayed in the sport for 3 years only.
These stats are a few years old.
Given all the people I've seen who have tried tri's and just love the sport and will continue doing it again in some capacity...I have to wonder how many "tri" and decide they will never do it again after their first race?
It seems to me that percent is pretty low (of people who never come back). Maybe because you have to get through the training and have some level of determination and enjoyment in the training to try a race in the first place?
I've only done two races but the first was a Danskin and filled with newbies. With the hundreds of women I personally ran into out of the couple thousand there, I only heard one woman say upon leaving, "I will never do this again" in a very determined voice.
I'm curious to see what others have heard and seen. I wouldn't be suprised if this sport has the highest retention rate out of any I've tried. What are your thoughts?