Anyone Racin' this weekend??

[Running Mommy]

Sigh.... So is it like gods cruel joke or something? Why can't I have a body that actually reflects all of the training that I put in???
I eat such a clean diet, watch my portions, and the scale won't budge.
I was having a bad body image day, and then I went to the race expo to pick up my number. I got this comment from some random stranger- who by the way looked very fit, and probably a traithlete herself- and it through me over the edge!

Stranger: " Are you walking the 5K? " (why do people look at me and assume I'm a newbie??)
Me" No. I'm doing the triathlon"
stranger: " Oh. WOW. Is this your first one?" (here we go)
Me: "No. I actually race Ironman"
stranger: (does a very obvious- though shes trying to hide it- quick up and down of me) "Oh, wow. And you have finished the Ironman? well god bless your soul"
Me: "umm, thanks. Yeah I'm just doing this to keep myself tuned up"...
Stranger: (with that look like she STILL doesn't believe me, and with a sing song tone in her voice) "well good luck tomorrow"...

Uh yeah- WHATEVER!! I think this lady was a part of the race staff, and I know the race staff are pretty much all triathletes themselves.

And FWIW- I have friends in the south, and I know full well that the phrase "well bless your soul" is their way of putting you down without being obvious. As in "god bless your soul it's hard to lose that baby weight"...
So I guess my question is (like I don't know the answer) WHY ARE PEOPLE SUCH ASZES?!
Triathletes come in ALL shapes and sizes! Variety makes the world go round! Sure I would LOVE to have the body of Kate Major or Heather Gollnick, but I have to race with the body that god gave me! SHEESH!!
And for the record, I think I'm looking pretty dang fit right now! So she can go stuff herself!!
Wheeeww.. I feel better now!!

[rocknrollgirl]

Well,
I have a response for her, but will her head actually fit up her...ooppss, gonna be nice. As we say her in Jersey...Beotch....

Anyhoo...I have ONE WEEK TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tapering for me....

Ok before I sign off. RM, just go kick butt in the race....

[Tri Girl]

Good luck this weekend Denise!!! I know it'll feel good to get out there in the lake again. This time the distance will be so short you'll feel like you just got warmed up when you're all done.

Sorry about the woman being so judgemental. She shouldn't have assumed that you were doing the 5K for ANY reason (and shame on her for judging your book by it's cover). You ARE an Ironman, and damn all the people who think triathletes are rail thin. We "thicker" triathletes are just as capable and worthy of the title as anyone. And like you said- you gotta race in the body God gave you. Well, I wish he gave me 5 more inches in height and 20 less pounds, but you make do with what you have. And you have A LOT of powerful, shake and bakin' muscles (and I'm right there with you, sister).
Next time, look over her and say "are you doing the 5K tomorrow, cuz you look like you'd be a fast walker yourself."

[rocknrollgirl]

Ha!!!!!!!!! Love IT Tri Girl, Love IT!!!

[tangentgirl]

Good luck, Running Mommy! Have fun out there! Superpppffffffttttt to the rude race lady.

I don't quite get the whole women-only race thing either. Maybe I just have never felt intimidated by dudes being in the same race. I've only done a handful of tris, and I'm no FastyMcFasterson, and it seems like everyone's generally supportive. Go fig.

[Running Mommy]

Next time, look over her and say "are you doing the 5K tomorrow, cuz you look like you'd be a fast walker yourself."[/QUOTE]

HA!! Now that's pretty funny tri girl!!

Yep, we gotta race with the body that god gaves us. And dang it if I don't think us thick chicks deserve extra points for hurdling our mass over the line. I mean it must be easier for the light weights out there...

And tangent, no. I'm not intimidated by the men folk either. I guess maybe I just have thick skin or something? Even the really fast guys don't get to me..

[Wahine]

Good luck Denise on your 5 k walk ....

Just kidding!!

I think I've voiced my opinion before but I'll repeat it here. I'm no Fastie McFasterton (love that BTW) either, but I've been blessed with athleticism. I go out and suffer for 12 hours at IM. You suffer just as much if not more and for longer time. IMHO, that makes you all the more Iron than I am. I have so much respect for people that get out and do these races with "the bodies that god gave 'em, as you ladies put it." It would have been great to come up with some retort off the top of your head like "well, I've put in 500 or so hours training and 1000s of miles on the bike getting ready for Ironman, I think I can finsh here."

Have fun racing!!

[tprevost]

Have a GREAT race tomorrow Denise!!! Go kick some booty!!!

[beetle]

good luck tomorrow. I'm doing my first (in 4 years) tomorrow. Unfortunately it's just short (300/10/3km) but hopefully that will leave me wanting to come back for more. It's the end of the season so not much else around. I know what you mean about people making assumptions based on looks, I know people think the same things about me - I like to see the look on their faces though when I (or usually my husband) mentions what I've done

Happy race!!!!