Why Do Distance Runners Hate Triathletes?

I switched from being a pretty reasonable but by no means exceptional runner (PB 69mins half marathon) to triathlon last year and it's threads like this that make me very glad that I did - I honestly can't believe some of you guys. Point by point:

I think if you want to go flat out training for a triathlon it's far far harder than training to be a runner. Most people's bodies start to break down when they get anywhere near 100m a week running (mine certainly did) and the many of the best runners in the world 'only' log 120 or so. at 6m a mile that's 20hrs a week (+ physio weights etc but don't bother flaming me for this triathletes do it too). My point is I know lots of IM competitors that log 40+ hrs a week and need to to stay FOP - there's just no contest.

Secondly the 'gay' gear - get over it. Triathletes who konw they're going to be suffering for the next 15 hours wear what in their experience in the best gear for them - for some (but not that many anymore) that's speedos for some it's tri shorts and for some it's running shorts. Do any of these really make you feel so insecure you need to post on a board about it?

Finally spending money on a flash bike. In about a year I'm going to get a pay rise that will put in reach pretty much any bike out there. There's a good chance I'm going to walk into Nytro and Bikesport and drop an obscene amount of money on a bike that wouldn't be out of place in the lead pack of Hawaii for no better reason than I want to, have wanted to for years, have worked hard for all of those years and finally can. If it makes me happy what difference is it to you?

P.s. I just replied to the last post in the thread and can't remember what it said - this is more a general response that a specific reply

I just get pissed off because the tri people get loads of exposure and our running administration can not get our sport even a tenth of what it deserves.

i believe the look you are trying to describe is called the skeletor

Running Stick Boy wrote:

I don't like triathletes because I prefer to look like an emaciated, sickly stick boy.

Those are all pretty weak swim programs. Actually very weak in the grand scheme of things. Not true Div 1 by a long shot.

Because the majority of them are pretentious, trust-funder posers

in your "defense" of trisexuals, you just bought up several of the reasons WHY we don't like you guys. Wow, you don't get it!

EXACTLY.....some of you Obsessive Compulsive tri-guys train FORTY+ hours a week?!?! AND work 40-50+ hours a week?!? (work at least that much, I know you need to make big $'s to pay for all your status symbol toys). WHAT the hell else do you (not necessarily you, but the 40+ hour trainer you talk of) do??? Do you have a famiy, or date, or ever just go for a walk in the part?? Jesus Christ. I don't respect that at all, I abhor that. You hit the nail on the head. Running at a top level takes a LOT LESS TIME, and that is a PLUS, not a negative. One can still have a family and a life and train full-time as a runner. But train like the tri-guys YOU mention? That consumes your entire life and is UNHEALTHY.

No, I won't get over it. Running in a speedo and a man-bra is GAY.........PERIOD.

See, the fact that you are willing to spend around $5000 on a bicycle just proves to me that you are-

a) a gear-obsessed yuppie who want to look "cool " to his fellow competitors.

b) someone who has too much $ and are willing to throw it away on toys, AND/OR.....

c) if you think it will help you in your sport it just proves that Triathloning is an obscenely expensive sport where the richest people have a big advantage over the poorest

Thanks for reminding us why we hate you guys and your sport.

I'm a triathlete and I coach runners. In the US the depth in triathlon is very low. Most triathletes that train a ton will put around on a $5000 bike for 5 or 6 hours and feel accomplishment. Its not that hard. Its hard if you work your ass off to be the best you can be just like running. It doesn't take 40 hours a week. That is just dumb. Very few train that much and the ones who do are usually pro and it is their job. If not then they have no life and probably can't even beat me...

Runners you will like this one:

The athletic ability at a good high school state cross country meet it MUCH better than at the Hawaii Ironman. As for NCAA cross country there is not even a comparison.

This is what I have always said and will stick to it. Most people that do Ironman are slow as crap and just do it to impress people that don't know any better.

And I'm a triathlete ... I love it that people enjoy the sport and want to work out but spending $5000 on a bike to ride 21 mph is dumb.

Your posting name says it all 'You dont get it'. The fact is you are right.. you just don't get it. When you accept the fact that everyone has different motives for doing things, you might see the light. Anyone saying that we choose to do triathlons b/c we couldn't cut it at being a superior runner is like me saying you are ONLY a mediocre runner b/c you can't swim for shit or that you can't bike 5 miles b/c your tiny legs would blow up. It just doesn't make sense. You may not like to swim, are scared to death of water, who knows, but you choosing to be a 'runner' may be your passion or hobby- doesn't bother me. To each his own. You don't need to be such a hater. You should be glad were not sitting on our asses in front of a tv eating chips and getting fat. That's a far bigger problem than we as triathletes are to you.

I really don't get it. I'm a runner and I'm a triathlete too. Triathlon has actually made me a better runner. I switched to MAINLY doing triathlon b/c I was getting bored after running soley for 15 years AND I was getting injured from only running. Those were my motives. I have even more fun doing all 3 (and that's not to say you would too) Furthermore, anyone that thinks that running a 2:45 (I'd even say 3:20hr) marathon after biking 112 and swimming 2.4 is not elite or at least deserving respect has never done an IM or just doesn't get it.

As far as the toys triathletes get to purchase.....- why wouldn't I (or anyone for that matter) want the best that they could by if they can afford it. Why does it bother you so much... just curious. If you don't have the money to spend $5,000 on a bike, so what? It doesn't mean I or anyone else is going to look down on you. How is that being a 'poser'? If you are going to spend a considerable amount of time invested into something, why not buy what you consider the best if you can afford it. Your in the minority if you think/do otherwise.

About the training... anything that borders on obsessive is not good. I wouldn't be suprised if Luckyleese over exaggerated that he knows several triathletes that train 40 hours per week. If he does it's not the norm and that is most likely a peak week in the scheme of things. I know 2 pros (middle of the pack pros) and a friend that is coached by an IM Hawaii winner. None of those pros go over 32 hours in 1 week and that's on a peak of an ironman build. Most of thier training hovers in the mid to high 20 hours per week. I, as a 10hr IM finisher have never put in more than 22 hrs in one week in 4 years! it's consistantly 14 - 18 hr weeks, so that leaves PLENTY of time for a balance in work/life.

For the most part- everyone I encounter in triathlon is supportive as is running- I just amazed many haters on this site there are. (Is anyone else here getting the impression that most of these posters are immature teenagers making these ridiculous comments about triathletes?)

"I just get pissed off because the tri people get loads of exposure and our running administration can not get our sport even a tenth of what it deserves"

I think that right there sums up the hate pretty well. It is jealousy based. Tri athletes dont specialize in running, but they certainly talk alot about running, and magazines focus on it, however many triathletes dont support or enter us distance running.

Why cant people accept other people's hobbies as different, but not bad?

scooleen wrote:

Why cant people accept other people's hobbies as different, but not bad?

I can do that. But my hobby is tri-bashing. You can see the inevitable conflict this creates.

Out.

scooleen wrote:

"I just get pissed off because the tri people get loads of exposure and our running administration can not get our sport even a tenth of what it deserves"

I think that right there sums up the hate pretty well. It is jealousy based.

Why cant people accept other people's hobbies as different, but not bad?

That may be true for some people, and it may be a justification for others, but, as I said above, the most visible triathletes are giving the others a bad name. I know that I have been on the receiving end of a condescending dismissal from a triathlete because I "only do one sport." The tri who said this was a 20-something yuppie who couldn't maintain an 8:00/mile pace through a 5K, but in his mind, I was inferior because I'm "only" a runner. In the same way, the jerks on this board are the most visible people on it, and give the rest of the posters a bad name. And since they're the most visible, they seem like they're the majority, when actually most of the people who come to the board are decent people. It's just that they're speaking in a conversational tone, while the jerks are all yelling in unison.

Purdue,

Your comment about runners having superiour athletic talent doesn't make much sense with out any opinions by you to back it up. Just wondering how you come up with your assumptions. To me, it's like apples to oranges. 2 different sports with athletic ability specific to each sport. Make some of those State cross country champs or NCAA cross country champs toe the line in Kona with thier athletic ability and see how miserably they fail. I doubt many of those guys could run the entire marathon after the swim and bike kicks their ass. At the same time, you wouldn't expect a Kona competitor to be very competative in an NCAA meet either. The fact is, the majority of those that make it to Hawaii are some of the best conditioned and all around triathletes IN thier respective sport (just as the NCAA competitors are tops in running). Doesn't mean either is more or less of an athlete in my book.

Since you coach runners, do you think someone is ridiculous who bust thier ass training, but no matter what still sucks as a runner but still keeps on trying? I mean, you discount triathletes who spends 5k on a bike and averages only 21mph as 'ridiculous'. How fast should one be able to bike before they are allowed to spend their own money on a carbon bike with zipp wheels before you don't scoff at them? What an attitude.... I bet you are a real top notch coach.

I don't know many people who spend $5,000 on a bike. Even the local tri shop here in atlanta doesn't put it's team on $5,000 bikes

Sure there are people that do, but again, can someone explain why it bothers them so much how someone spends their money?

Still haven't seen any good reasons why some of you hate triathletes either. Most of you just list a bunch of generalizations that could be said about runners if you ask me.

Don't let it bother you so much dude. He's the one with the problem.

I have just as much respect for runners as I do anyone else.

Kilgore is the type of guy that gives all runners a bad name..

unintelligent and not good at any sport (go ahead, post some recent results - let's have a look)..

I don't mind the triathlete. The fringe of running, triathlon or any other sport is easy to make fun of..

I prefer running..

B/c most of us are runners too. That's why [K]ilgore.

I've yet to see Kilgore offer much intelligent thought or response with his/her postings. I don't take it personal. Doesn't change my opinion that most runners I know are class acts.

Flack wrote:

No, it takes being average at three events to be a triathlete.

Yes, That is why national caliber and professional runners, swimmers and bikers have all competed in triathlon and have all pretty much ended up being medicore triathletes.

I honestly think we should have that as an event: The Beer Mile. We should have it at track meets and score it accordingly.[/quote]

There is already running with beer, it is called HASHING, look into it!

I know ironmen and marathoners who participate! Try chugging a beer, running 10K, chugging more beer, running again, and so on, and so on.

Toughen up guys.[quote]brettman10k wrote:

kevin in atlanta wrote:

Don't let it bother you so much dude. He's the one with the problem.

I have just as much respect for runners as I do anyone else.

I don't let them bother me, but I hope you can see why someone like that breeds dislike between different types of athlete.

With this particular guy, he got his when I beat him by more than 5 minutes in a 5K--I'm something like 20 years older than he is. I didn't gloat or make fun of him, just shook his hand and said "nice race."

I have a lot of respect for any kind of athlete--that is, anyone who is trying to improve his or her performance and is willing to put in the work--whether it's in running, biathlon, triathlon, modern pentathlon or any other single- or multi-sport.