tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585977526609462673.post5389922082817387634..comments2023-12-13T07:38:43.480-08:00Comments on Triathlon Tips: 9/2 - 9/8 - Professional Triathlete Training Log - Weekly Swim, Bike, and Run MilesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585977526609462673.post-29560716612081483082013-09-12T09:08:10.294-07:002013-09-12T09:08:10.294-07:00While not everyone may understand the decision, th...While not everyone may understand the decision, they should at least have respect for it. Not many people on this planet do multiple IM's in a year, much less month to month. TG is a pro with tons of experience. That experience has taught him what is best for his body and his career. It's his choice to make and no one else's.<br />Good luck in Kona! chris moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877401804001802038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585977526609462673.post-37761795184631970002013-09-11T08:56:16.266-07:002013-09-11T08:56:16.266-07:00Anonymous, if you would like to get into bashing I...Anonymous, if you would like to get into bashing I would prefer that you don't remain Anonymous. What kind of message are you sending by remaining Anonymous. To me it sounds like someone who is not willing to accept responsibility for his/her own words. And isn't that kind of what you are suggesting to me. Accept responsibility for completing a race?<br /><br />Simply put every single volunteer and competitor is out there for a different reason. As I said in my previous post, completing the race would come at a huge cost to my race next month. The number of things that I take into consideration is large. <br /><br />If a volunteer was working a shift and continuing their shift would mean they would have to give up work (and pay and benefits) do you think they would do it? If a volunteer was struck and injured on the bike course would you expect them to stay? If a competitor was out there and finishing meant they couldn't work for a period of time without pay and benefits would they continue? If you are a 9-5 person, have you ever left the office early? Have you ever made a personal call or scheduled an appointment on the company's time? Are you a professional by doing that? Was I a professional out there if I took some of the turns cautiously when I could have gone faster? It all comes down to the eye of the beholder. Often times we make decisions for a certain reason that many people will not often understand but less I tried in writing. Did the other 8 pro's who did not finish. Did they have a written explanation of the day just a few hours later? Ultimately their are few job requirements and many different ways to get to the top. This is my path.<br /><br />However, I think the biggest thing here is that racing Ironman affects the body to much greater degree than many people realize. It is similar to what is going in football with concussions. The difference is that the people playing football with concussions will at least be provided medical care or be able to afford care. That is not the same for Ironman triathletes. 70.3 and Olympic racing is much different. Finishing an Ironman is always risky. Why do the packers pull Aaron Rodgers out of game 15 and 16 of the season? Athletes not finishing happens every single day across every single sport.I can assure you if I had an agent or coach that yes I would have not even started but less I tried. <br /><br />And when I put "raced" in quotes I did not mean to the best of your current abilities. I really mean about making true sacrifices. That means leaving your job and a steady income to live a transient life where you have no home. Give up every sense of comfort that you have in life. Say goodbye to meaningful relationships. Sleeping on floors. Giving up all sense of a normal life. The list goes on and on. And don't get me wrong I love it and have chosen to do that, but to finish the race should mean that I should be fired from my job. That I am not a true professional. And there were just a couple of other qualifiers in there as well.<br /><br />And my personality is not that of a short-term thinker. I don't think about the instant gratification of finishing a particular race, I am here for the long-term. It is easy for people to make short-term decisions and not think about the long-term. In the long-term I have a much better chance of affecting triathlon in a positive way. It isn't an easy decision to make in pulling out of the race, but it was the right one. I don't expect everyone to understand this. But as long as people remain Anonymous and I can't learn about their own life, then I really can't make meaningful analogies to their own life to help provide a better perspective. Cheers, -TGThomas Gerlachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02201737621337374644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585977526609462673.post-3561955045405059362013-09-11T04:27:04.857-07:002013-09-11T04:27:04.857-07:00I have "raced" IM Wisconsin three times ...I have "raced" IM Wisconsin three times to the best of my ability (recognizing that my ability is not nearly yours). It sounds like you should have never began the race. But you did, and a professional would have finished out of respect for the sport, the fellow competitors, and the many volunteers. I am glad the volunteers at miles 13-26 of the run course didn't quite and stop handing out aid because they weren't "feeling it." Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585977526609462673.post-18343429155946028552013-09-10T20:58:43.620-07:002013-09-10T20:58:43.620-07:00Anonymous. Thank you for the question. This is a m...Anonymous. Thank you for the question. This is a matter of perspective. Unless you have "raced" an Ironman, preferably many and within weeks of each other, and as a pro, it MAY be impossible to understand the decision fully even with explanation but less I try. <br /><br />Ironman's are incredibly hard on the body and no you just can't recover for them at a snap of the fingers. And even if you could recover from them, you wouldn't have enough steam in the engine to do a race to anything close to your potential in one month's time. As a result you have to keep the training going. You can also see that I kept the training going through race week as well. <br /><br />The last half of the marathon is where the majority of the damage is done. It is where the body is already most fatigued and form starts to go out the window. To finish would be a sacrifice at a much bigger event. That would be worth it from a financial / career standpoint for a podium in your hometown but not for anything less in my eyes. This sport is incredibly poor from a pro standpoint and unfortunately we can't race Ironmans every week. It simply wouldn't be smart. <br /><br />Had Ironman Wisconsin not taken place 1 block from where I reside I would have never traveled to the race and done it. With that being said, had I not toed the start line people would nonetheless question why I wasn't starting when I live 1 block from the race start/finish.<br /><br />I would encourage you to take a look at every single Kona qualifier on the pro side and see when the last time they raced an Ironman was. I don't think you will find one that raced later than Aug 25 and there is a reason for that. It takes a long time to recover from an Ironman. <br /><br />I would also encourage you to read Matty White's article regarding the same topic from earlier this year. It can be found here: http://firstoffthebike.com/news-and-features/its-not-just-about-the-t-shirt/<br /><br />Hope this helps. -TGThomas Gerlachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02201737621337374644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585977526609462673.post-79406593748729916202013-09-10T20:03:16.784-07:002013-09-10T20:03:16.784-07:00As a mere age-grouper, I don't understand the ...As a mere age-grouper, I don't understand the mentality of you and other pros of "if I don't podium" I am not going to finish the race. How would running the second lap - even at a moderate pace - ruin your chances in a race over a month away?<br /><br />In what other sports do professionals quit - literally - before the end of the game?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585977526609462673.post-38541223259625940982013-09-08T17:20:11.019-07:002013-09-08T17:20:11.019-07:00I was wondering what happened! I can't imagine...I was wondering what happened! I can't imagine the pressure of doing Ironman professionally! I don't envy the tough decision you had to make today. But like an age grouper might pull out of or not do other races before an Ironman to protect that dream, you as a professional have dreams and goals too and you have every right to protect them as anyone else would. Can't wait to track you at Kona! Keep your eyes on the prize! Hope to see you at my next Ironman! Katie Webernoreply@blogger.com