Trilife and Relationships

Do triathlons and tri training enhance or detract from a relationship ?

There is no right or wrong answer, and probably as many opinions as there are people doing tris. But having personally watched others relationships - and a few of my own - stretched to the limit or even to the point of collapse as a result of the training and partnerships and friendships formed during all that time spent training, I really have to wonder.

Is it the time spent training and hanging out together, the socializing after the workouts and races, the travel to races and time spent in hotels, or the hard bodies that make us jealous ? Or is it an inherent insecurity most of us endurance athletes have that keeps us humble and constantly striving to do better. And why does it seem to get get worse the more training we do ? Or maybe its just me. But I don't think so.

Ironman training and racing however seems to bring with it insecurities and issues other triathlon distances don't really have to deal with - time and money. This sport is expensive and time consuming, and there is a lot of athletes with a lot of disposable income - and a lot of free time. And if you don't have either, your already at a disadvantage.

The pros have all the free time, are fun easy going, and FIT. The top age groupers have MONEY. Money for the latest clothing and equipment, money for training supplements and coaching, money for race entries and travel expenses, money for IM stuff .... not to mention the Hummers, and Porches. And in a sport with 80% men, the competition for the attention of the few women in the sport is fierce. And as a result the guys with money or lifestyle use it to their advantage.

As a man in our society, we are taught that money is power, and a berometer for how successful a man is. And with money comes confidence in addition to all the many luxeries it can provide - both of which are very attractive to members of the opposite sex.

And when your partners success ultimately surpasses you, and they are constantly surrounded by both athletes with BIG money or professional athlete good looks your really F#$KED.

I personally think these insecurities are a combination of all these things, and leads us to feeling jealous and ultimately resulting in us to acting stupidly and to losing perspective on things. ultimately F#$KING up the very thing you value the most. Because you see, insecurity is like a cancer that slowly eats away at you, and gets worse with each passing day. Ultimately comsuming your thoughts and actions, until it destroys the one thing you tried soo hard to hang onto - your relationships.